How To Explain Santa

 

Merry Christmas!

HOW TO EXPLAIN SANTA......

Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?."

Dad: "Ok, I agree that your old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the “truth” is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it. Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now. So my question is: Are you sure you want to know?"

Brief pause...

 

Son: "Yes, I want to know"

Dad: "Ok, I'll tell you: Yes, there is a Santa Claus"

Son: "Really?"

Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand. The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea. Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years. I actually bought those myself. I watched you open them. And did it bother me that you didn't thank me? Of course not! In fact it gave me great pleasure.

You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement.

When I saw that woman collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance. I was being Santa Claus when I did that."

Son: "Oh."

Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now.

That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"

Help each other this Christmas and...be kind

Celebrate!!

 

"Celebrate!!"

liz sekerke

Today is the beginning of a weekend of celebration!

For some reason, we think it means "family, gifts, eating, drinking, loneliness, black clouds and unrealistic dreams of a family like those we see on Hallmark movies" and wonder why we're disappointed on December 26. We set ourselves up for failure...because our focus is all skewed.

But what if instead, we concentrated on the original meaning of Christmas? The true meaning. The day we were RESCUED from this POW camp called Earth from the greatest military Soldier there ever was. He left the safety and security of His Homeland....put on His fatigues....and traveled to Earth to rescue....wait for it....YOU!!

And don't think for a second He didn't feel every hit of that hammer that placed spikes in His hands while He was trying to get you to safety! He felt the pain just as you or I would.

Friends, enjoy the family time.....eat too much...give each other gifts....and celebrate. But don't forget to acknowledge the Soldier in the room. The One who made it all possible...our Rescuer from the prison of this earth.

 

Merry CHRISTmas.......

SOLD!

 

Look who sold her house last week!!! The crazy excited one next to me is my SUPER COOL and AMAZING realtor Angie Johnson with Keller Williams who sold it in 4 days and is truly the best realtor this chick Liz has ever used buying and selling homes over the years.

The guy in the next picture is my husband upon arriving home that day and finding this sign waiting for him as he drove into the garage. 

 

 

Our home (not "his"...not "hers" but "OURS") we're building in Mansfield is just a few short weeks away from being complete!!

Merry Christmas from the Homeless Sekerke's.

Couples Adventure Challenge #8

 

Couples Adventure Challenge #8

We decided since our 1st Anniversary was yesterday, how fun would it be to do our Couples Adventure Challenge in celebration of this special day!

The Challenge said to "Go on a progressive 3-course meal adventure from 3 different restaurants in 1 night (appetizer, entree and dessert). Attempt (key word) a different accent at each place and give yourself a new name. You must give that name to the server. Film yourself."

 

 

Soooooo.....we headed to Zen Zen Wine Bistro who catered our wedding reception. We decided on Australian accents and names for this 1st stop. Wayne was "Paul" (he wanted to be Crocodile Dundee Paul Hogan) and my new name was Penelope (no stinkin' good reason). We spoke with criminally bad accents to our server using words like "Bloody" and "Plonk". She just went with it and looked at us weird. We finally told her what we were doing and shared that Zen Zen had been the caterer at our wedding the year before. She then said, "I KNEW IT! You guys looked so familiar but the accents through me off!! I was the cake cutter at your wedding!". I personally didn't know how our cake got cut...but now I do!!

We then moved on to Date #2....but not until we took some pics in front of the wedding chapel and accidentally ran into Carrie, the Chapel's wedding coordinator. As she walked towards us, she smiled big and remembered everything about us and our story. I guess when old people get married, people remember you.

We, Maria and Francisco (our new names complete with sick accents), then had a nice dinner and toast on the patio of Harry's On The Harbor as we watched the sun go down. Year 1 was in the books!

Oh but wait....we still had Date #3....Dessert! We decided to head to the movie theater and let popcorn be our dessert as we watched the Johnny Cash movie. We ended our Adventure Challenge with our wedding dance in front of the theater whether anyone wanted to see it or not. Check it out here:

https://youtu.be/OkEzhCc799I

 

I love this man MORE with each passing day. He's the real deal....he loves doing crazy adventures and he loves me with all his heart. I simply couldn't ask for more than that.

Happy 1st Anniversary to Us.

#lizandwaynesworld

#couplesadventurechallenge

 

Guest Post by Cindy Fulton

 

Happy One Year Anniversary to one of my dearest friends Liz Etheridge Sekerke and her beloved husband Wayne Sekerke! 

 

These two have a love story that only the Lord himself could think up - with both being widowed on the same day over four years ago, after having faithfully loved and taken care of their spouses during their long term illnesses, meeting two years later. They truly set a beautiful example of how to lovingly introduce and integrate two worlds of friends and families impacted by grief and the loss of a loved one in their dating relationship. 

 

 

As they moved forward towards engagement and marriage which was like a real life Hallmark movie, I often told Liz she should write a book on how they are doing this in a way that honors each family member. I’ve loved being a witness and walking alongside their journey together as they exude living life with intentionality, with grace, in Christ, and not taking their time together or moments for granted. 

 

 AND they are hilarious and FUN too, and are ninjas at the Couples Adventure Challenge! #lizandwaynesworld

 

 

One year down — a lifetime to go! Happy Anniversary!! Love you two to infinity 

 

https://youtu.be/NFFusz4hC9g

 

Happy 1st Anniversary, Chief.

It's been a FAST-PACED year.....married, sold 2 houses, built a house, traveled all over the country, and each step of the way, laughed till I hiccuped as we waited to see who God was going to drop in our path that day.

Thank You for choosing ME as your 4th Quarter partner. Life is never dull with you.....What a gift from God you are to me!

I love you. #lizandwaynesworld

 

(Click on our wedding video below)

Anniversary Weekend #1

 

Day 1…….of Anniversary Weekend.

This day last year, my sis Debbie & cuz Sheri and I were going hotel to hotel delivering little “goodies” for our out-of-town guests headed our way for our wedding in 2 days. 

 

 

This year, we are in historic Jefferson in my cherished East Texas and sharing a B&B with my husband & introducing him to this magical little town.

 

 

#lizandwaynesworld