GIFTING

 

My mum gave me a gift and the receipt,

Like she did every single year before

Then I could take it back if I didn’t like it,

So actually, what she gets me is a chore

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 800

Pope Leo III crowned Charles the Great of the Franks, Charlemagne, Roman emperor.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – NORTHPOLE (2014)

 

Northpole, the magical home to Santa & Mrs. Claus (Robert Wagner and Jill St. John), has grown into a huge city powered by the magic of holiday happiness around the world.

However as people everywhere get too busy to enjoy the festive time the way they used to, the great city is in trouble.

So if there is anyone who can help save the cherished traditions of Christmas they had to be found and a young Elf girl, Clementine (Bailee Madison), thinks she knows someone, a young boy, Kevin Hastings (Max Charles), who might have a chance if he can convince his protective mom, Chelsea (Tiffani Thiessen), to rediscover the magic of the season.

So with the added help from Kevin's charming teacher Ryan Wilson (Josh Hopkins), and a gospel singer named Josephine (Candice Glover), and bringing his mom in on the fun Kevin and Clementine set out to save Christmas.

IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS

 

Sometimes when you least expect it life can really slap you in the face and then it kicks you when your on the ground.

The slap came when Jackie Melville was taken ill in January last year and needed surgery.
Her husband Bob had a steady job and they even had limited medical insurance and although they had to pay the difference Bob knew he could cover it by putting in some overtime.
Then came the first kick, in February with two thousand dollars in medical bills unpaid, Bob lost his job.
In April Another kick, with the medical bills still unpaid and Bob unemployed and Jackie unable to work for several months because of the surgery and with mounting bills and no money for rent they lost the house.
Bob, Jackie, 9 year old son Sam and seven year old twins Ben and Josh moved into a mobile home in a trailer park.
Over The following seven months the Melville's worked hard to rebuild there lives.
In June Bob found another job and although not as well paid as the one he lost it seemed to be more secure and In July Jackie fully recovered was able to return to work herself.
The boys did their bit as well by washing cars, cleaning windows and doing odd jobs on the park.
By December they had managed to pay off their debts and even had a bit left over for Christmas.
They were doing so well that in another six months they would be able to move back into a house.
Then on the 20th December life kicked them again.
During the night the electric heater in the mobile home burst into flames and rapidly spread.
The alarm was raised by Clinton Avery, a shift worker and one of the other residents of the park who was returning home when he saw the burning trailer.
Thankfully everyone was rescued safely but the Melville's lost everything all that remained after fireman Billy Daly had doused the fire were a few scraps of melted toys half-burned books and scorched and tattered clothing.
They had lost everything to fire, smoke and water, including all the childrens clothes and the Christmas presents.
How cruel for a family who had worked so hard to get back on there feet to be dealt such a blow.
This would be bad enough at anytime but just before Christmas compounded the cruelty.
But it is under the very circumstances experienced by the Melville's that brings the best out in people.
That night the family were boarded in various homes on the park and the next day they had a visit from a man called Howard Daly.
Howard was the brother Billy Daly, one of the firemen, and he gave Bob and Jackie the key to a mobile home on the park belonging to him which he wasn't using and he said that they were welcome to stay as long as it took to get back on their feet.
The Melville's were overcome with Howard's generosity but that was only the beginning in the space of a day-and-a-half, friends, family and strangers helped the family get back on track.
The pharmacist at the drugstore refused to accept Jackie's money for the twin's asthma medication.
In fact nobody would accept any money and people just kept on donating goods.
One man, he wouldn't give his name, pulled up at the trailer park in his pick up, unloaded some bunk beds and he said “I had these at home, and I heard you needed them more than me,” got back in his truck and left.
Pat Phillips who was a teacher at the local School, and knew the family drove Jackie from place to place to collect medications, clothes, dishes and such like.
Come christmas day the boys had some toys including a race track, a football and a baseball glove.
Due to The generosity of friends and strangers alike the Melville's were able to enjoy their christmas and look forward to hopeful new year just five days after they thought their Christmas dreams had burned away.
This story goes to prove without any shadow of doubt that the Christmas spirit truly dwells within the hearts of mankind.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1100

 

Boudouin I of Boulogne was crowned King of Jerusalem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS # 36

 

Twas the night before Christmas

And all along the street

The faithful walked to Church

Where they would meet

To celebrate the Mass and wait

For Christmas Day to greet

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – HEAVEN SENT (2015)

 

This is the story of Good Samaritan Sarah Fitzpatrick (Lindsey Gort) who has a fatal accident just before Christmas and finds herself in the “lobby” within touching distance of the gates of Heaven where she meets Daphne (Kathleen Rose Perkins), who is St Peters successor, who has some unwelcome news for her.

Having walked the Christian path and lead a good life Sarah is certain that she will be let in, but she is shocked to find out that her name is not on the reservation list, and as she was not “Good” enough the enter and too “Good” for the other place she seems destined for an eternity in purgatory.

However, she is granted the chance to return to Earth as an “angel in training” with the requirement to help a soul in need.

The needy soul we find out is her ex-boyfriend Jordan (Derek Theler) who she broke up with on Christmas Eve a year prior to her own passing.
Sarah has the 12 days before Christmas to secure her place on the list to enter heaven by making Jordan move on and begin a new life with Amanda and her son Mason (Melanie Liburd and Caleel Harris).

Jeremy Luke puts in a very creditable performance as Jordan’s friend Stuart in this is a very enjoyable film which I would readily recommend, even though it has a really dumb ending.