Today’s blog is titled Christmas blessings. I received it in email form and wanted to share it with you. There’s no doubt about it now. The holidays are in full swing and it’s easy to get caught up in the trappings of the season – the decorations, the shopping, the parties, the endless to-do lists. Your refrigerator is filled with leftovers and the mall beckons with the promise of great bargains.

But, I invite you to take just a moment in all the hustle and bustle to be kind to others this season and to share with those who may be less fortunate. Sometimes, just a simple act of kindness can change a life forever.

An excerpt from

The Simple Blessing of Christmas by Mark Gilroy

Norman Vincent Peale, noted minister and author from the previous century, tells the story of a young girl from Sweden spending Christmas in big, bustling New York City. She was living with an American family and helping them around the house, and she didn’t have much money. So she knew she couldn’t get them a very nice Christmas present – besides, they already had so much, with new gifts arriving every day.

With just a little money in her pocket, she went out and bought an outfit for a small baby, and then she set out on a journey to find the poorest part of town and the poorest baby she could find. At first, she received only strange looks from passersby when she asked them for help. But then a kind stranger, a Salvation Army bell-ringer, guided her to a poor part of town and helped her deliver her gift. On Christmas morning, instead of giving them a wrapped present, she told the family she served what she had done in their name. Everyone was speechless, and everyone was blessed – the girl for giving, the wealthy family for seeing others with new eyes, and the poor family for receiving an unexpected gift.

All of us have opportunities both large and small to show kindness, especially at Christmastime. We can help strangers by delivering gifts to needy kids or serving homeless families at a soup kitchen. Or we can simply look for everyday ways to be kind, like allowing someone to go ahead of us in a lengthy line at the department store, or giving that bell-ringer a little change and a few encouraging words.

Maybe it’s because we’re in gift-giving mode anyway that giving to others becomes so important at Christmas. Or because we’re more aware of our families and friends and communities. Or maybe it’s because two thousand years ago, the earth received the most perfect, most loving gift of all, helping us to understand true kindness.

Whatever the reason, don’t let Christmas pass you by without showing kindness to someone. Because it is truly more blessed to give than to receive.

Happy Holidays,

Herb Hunter, 734-285-6792, hunter645@aol.com

Merry Christmas to you. I just received a website from a friend that is great for people of all ages for Christmas. Its called Santa TV and Its Free.. The video is made available through UgroupMedia Inc.

This is a site where you can send a video email from Santa Claus to everyone from children to adults. You have the ability to put in names, location of where they live, what they want for Christmas, pictures and information to personalize Santa’s message.

It is a wonderful free service that my children and adult friends got really excited about. Here are the links to the one’s that I sent to my girls so you can see what it looks like..

Hailey
http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/7c19d9bacb0c0ed00d42c305c3d3caaf

Claire

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/b03881b4d21ac050e3def89d2a7e5feb

Here is link where you can do your own for anyone you would like to receive it. If you get a error code just keep trying. It is a very Busy site.

http://portablenorthpole.tv/home

I hope you enjoy this as we have.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you,

Herb Hunter

734-285-6792

I have been overwhelmed with emails and calls about our Christmas music post a couple of days ago. So many of you have asked me to post more songs that I decided to do so. I am pleased so many enjoyed the music. Here are a couple more tracks off the cd, Herb Hunter Sings The Songs Of Christmas edition 2.

I feel honored that you let me know how the music added to your Christmas spirit. Lets all do our very best to keep the joy in our hearts for the balance of 2009 and all through out 2010.

(1) Herb Hunter sings Happy Holidays

(2) Herb Hunter sings Ring Those Bells

The holidays are upon us and I wanted to share with you some Christmas music that I recorded. Christmas is a special time for our family. My wife loves to decorate with 10 Christmas trees and lights everywhere. Its like a Christmas wonderland. Cookies baking in the oven, and our girls full of glee and excitement. Our family has been so very blessed and we wish these very same blessings for each of you. The cd is called Herb Hunter Sings The Songs Of Christmas.  I hope you enjoy the music and I hope it warms your heart for the Christmas season.

(1) Herb Hunter sings “Winter Medley”

(2) Herb Hunter sings “The Christmas Song”