Chris and Mareesha

Christmas Letter 2005

Ok, this is a year late, but better late than never, right?  We managed to write a Christmas (well, in this case New Year's) letter last year, but we never found time to mail it out.  So here it is!  This year's Christmas letter is on it's way and we will try to remember to post it here after New Year's.  Enjoy!

Download new_year_letter_2005.doc

Oh Christmas Tree!

This year Chris and I decided that we would still get a Christmas Tree even though we will not be home for Christmas. When deciding to doing this, we agreed that it would be best to get a small tree (about 4 or 5 feet tall). When we got home from the tree farm with our friends Rob and Amy, Chris and I went to work on setting up the tree. We first started by cutting off some under branches and then decided to cut off about a 6 inches from the top of the tree. We then took the tree upstairs to what we thought would be it's final stop till after Christmas. Well, lets just say that the tree wouldn't even fit in the section of our house where the ceilings are 7 1/2 feet tall, as our tree is about 8 to 8 1/2 feet tall (and to think we cut off a 6 inches before we started).

We only partially decorated our tree and the rest of our house, but things are in the Christmas spirit, as even my chrysanthemums are blooming.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Is Life Too Full?

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf
balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.


The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."


The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.


The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else--the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes
for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.


"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your
happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls
first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."


One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. 

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."