December 16 Blog - Mel Cottle

December 16, 2007

Last week was a week of goodbyes. All week we have been saying adios to students headed home for winter break and on Thursday we bid Elder and Sister Wilson goodbye (they have completed their mission). We have enjoyed their company and will miss them in the days to come. On Friday night we met Randy and Theresa at Staunton for dinner and a visit to the Blackfriers Playhouse's Shakespeare like rendition of A Christmas Carol - quite unlike what you might expect from Shakespearian actors - it was a comedic blast. After the play we also said goodbye (for a while) to the Millers as they are headed to Canada for the holidays, all in all, a goodbye week.

Saturday we again participated in the Rockbridge Christmas Box program. I described this program (provides food and toys for needy families) last year so I won't go into details again, but suffice to say I am Impressed with the organization and the scope of the program, from the putting together of thousands of boxes at the Virginia Horse Center thru the distribution to the various drop off points throughout the county to the many volunteers that take the boxes from the drop off locations to the individual homes. And so many families involved. At the VHC we watched children and teens joining their parents in stocking, boxing, bagging and stacking all that stuff, what a good thing to be doing together as family during the holidays. We also visited with several interesting people while standing in line waiting to fill another box – a horse women from Lexington that was having trouble getting her “new” horse to get along with the old one, and a couple that had retired from Connecticut to Florida and the settled on Lexington area because they missed the change of seasons. Back at the Buena Vista drop off point we loaded the Saturn to the hilt with boxes - added two teen age girls as my "delivery assistants" (the girls were –like – you know – like – non stop talkers – they even gave their opinion on the paint job on the corner building with the 3 grouches sign - ‘love the grey, but the blue trim, uck’) and away we went. Four trips and 20 some families later we were finished. Visiting each of these families makes me most thankful for my own and my family’s blessings, and also honored to assist – even in a small way- in making the season a little brighter for people that have some tough challenges in life.

By the way, have you seen the dancing Cottles and Millers on the Cottle family Blog, check out, among others, Sam’s moves and Theresa’s somber facial expression. It is a blast. And we have some new sign-ups this week. Welcome to our newest and youngest member – Bailey (thanks for the help Holly). So what are the rest of you waiting for, sign in today.

Last week we got an early Christmas surprise. When we came home from work there was a FedEx package on the step, noticing it was from the Craig Cottle family we debated opening it or waiting until Xmas. Curiosity got the best of us and anyway, we reasoned - the gifts would be individually wrapped inside – to our surprise and delight – it was a Yule log, a real log, cut by Craig and Sam and decorated by Kristin and J’Neil, with three holes in the top for three candles. Why is it so special? Some of you may remember that my father always cut a fresh Yule log each Christmas, and as the years went on he gave each of the children a log of their own, so thanks Craig and family from bring back some special memories.

The best to everyone as you all make last minute preparations for Christmas. Remember the most important things you do over the holidays are the things you do as a family.

Love Grandpa/Dad/Elder Cottle