Our newspapers tell such a depressing story each day of hardship and recession, you’d think we were acting out, in real life, the movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” At times it seemed like the end of life as we know it. Yet today I went to the bank. It was still open, with money in my account. Then I went to the store to buy groceries. They took my credit card, and I left with a weeks worth of food. At home, the utilities worked, and I fixed dinner. Then another solicitor called promoting something. …Get the picture? Times are tough, but the world has not ended, and we will survive.

That’s the theme of our 20,000 light annual Christmas display this year. We used over 50 channels of digital controllers to synchronize the lights to songs broadcast on low power FM 107.9. The music tells a story focused on the traditional meaning of Christmas as a time of joy not in any way linked to expensive material gifts. It is the story of celebration rooted in history going back thousands of years. Even skeptics marvel at the archaeological findings supporting the oldest writings of antiquity in the 66 books of the bible. Visit the display live and then learn more from our web site LivoniaLights.com.

Ken was the oldest participant in his first-ever steeplechase at the prestigious Gina Relays at Hillsdale College in April….something he longed to do and never did in his years of Big 10 track competition. In the 2-mile event, the runners, like horses, vault 28 barriers and 7 water pit jumps. Never mind that he finished last, behind those young “whippersnappers.” With the Hillsdale coach egging him on, the crowd cheered as if he were Secretariat coming down the home stretch. It was in effect a father-son day, with Timothy in the same meet, and they were interviewed on MichiganRunner.com.

Timothy, (21) a junior at Hillsdale College, was the summer recreation director at Michigan Christian Youth Camp in Lapeer. Those poor kids! He had them playing some strange games, like capturing stuffed animals, finding staff making animal noises, eating spaghetti w/o utensils or hands. More important, he had an opportunity to reach out to some troubled kids with the love of Christ, so it was time well spent. His Christmas obsession continues. Despite being away at college, he burns the phone lines several times daily about the light display status. Every track team member is now aware of his passion, since the day he arrived at practice wearing his Christmas running shorts and hat. Rumor has it that the girls laughed to the point of tears.

Our oldest son, Scott, (24) had a memorable fall. He was part of the first men’s cross country team at Schoolcraft College in 25 years and was named most valuable member of the team! His season highlight was competing with the team in a meet at Disney World in Orlando. It was his first plane trip by himself. I was so envious!!!

Shawn, (18) a senior at Livonia Stevenson, participated in a 3 day relay race across the entire state of Michigan. Each team had 10 runners, and each runner ran 8-16 miles per day. They started at 7:00 a.m. and ended at 7:00 p.m. every day. I think his attitude was the same as a climber contemplating Mt. Everest – he wants to climb it because it’s there, for the challenge. His Cross-country season was interrupted by an injury. He missed qualifying for the state Cross-Country championships but post season he made a come-back and qualified to compete in the USATF National championships near Richmond, VA. Shawn and Dad had a whirlwind 2 day trip where he ran well despite a muddy tough course.

Our youngest son, Franklin, (14) became passionate during the political campaign. He called almost a thousand people from a local campaign office, urging citizens to vote for candidates supporting strong family values. It didn’t matter how callers reacted. Some were rude, but he kept on going, even though one of the candidates he supported was not popular with his classmates. He was even briefly on Detroit’s Channel 7 news when they were covering the election. I was very proud of him.

Connie: Franklin’s middle school band director began a Parent Band, called “The Reruns.” Curious, I attended a rehearsal and found myself performing as the only violinist with a bunch of brass and woodwind players and an accordionist (Really!). With my musical motivation perked, I got more seriously involved this year with the musical aspect of our annual Christmas display. I wrote the commentary in between songs, and vetoed any suggestions that didn’t have a Godly theme and lyrics, a good melody, and “synchability.” That meant that the barking dog “Silent Night” song didn’t make the cut (much to Franklin’s dismay). Nor did “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” or “The Chipmunk Song.” I was the final word – somebody had to be the bad guy!

In August, we traveled to Virginia, to explore Liberty University as a possible college choice for Shawn. While in Virginia, we toured CBN Studios and attended a taping of “The 700 Club.” We were given an opportunity to submit questions for Pat Robertson, the host. Both Timothy and Ken did, and were shocked (and more than a little nervous!) when they were escorted to the front row of the TV audience and allowed to stand up and ask them during the broadcast reaching more than a million viewers.

Franklin’s love of dogs motivated us to travel to Frankenmuth, Michigan for an event we had never seen before…jumping dogs. Dogs of all sizes leaped off a platform into the air, hit a toy, and landed in a huge tank of water. The one that jumped the furthest won. It was quite the event. The competitors (dogs included) were as serious as if it were the Olympics. It reminded me of my much younger dog-training days.

For the third year in a row, our Easter vacation was spent at Indiana’s Spring Hill Camp. Again, my ageless, 87-year-old mother, joined us, and said later that her Spring Hill visits have been among her life’s most memorable experiences! This year I was privileged to review their procedures manual, be sure they complied with regulations, and make camp improvement suggestions. To be entrusted with the job was humbling.

Also, this spring, we volunteered for a Habitat for Humanity project through Comcast. We worked as a team to clear land to build a house for a low income family. The kids discovered the joy of serving the community with a few bonuses along the way…such as the experience of being interviewed on camera. Our animal-loving youngest even found a buried treasure….a huge, very dirty stuffed Big Bird.

Ken’s father Ray will be 95 on December 29. He loves to tell anyone who will listen that he is still living in his own house (with help, since he is not as mobile as he was prior to his stroke) and make sure everyone knows how old he is. If I were almost 95, I’d tell the world too!! As we are dealing with the pain of losing our close friend, Roger Hartman, to cancer Thanksgiving weekend, it has become clear what is important in life. Two years ago, he was healthy and vibrant, athletic and in love with life. Now he has succumbed to cancer, at a young age, leaving behind a wife and two children.

Roger’s desire, and ours this Christmas season, is that we would honestly examine the priorities of our lives. He knew where he would be when he died – with the Lord, whom he deeply loved and had always served. Are you sure where you would be if you died tomorrow? The baby Jesus, whose birth we celebrate annually, eventually died on the cross for you and me, so we have the option to live forever with Him. If you are willing to humble yourself, you can join his “team” and serve Him. Why not do that today, and make this your most memorable Christmas ever!