Christmas Presence

Growing up my parents helped make the Christmas season a special time of year for me. From the incredible decorations and tree put up with artistic precision by my father to getting Christmas cards sent out by mom to the wonderful smell of fresh baked apricot and nut cookies to delicious mushroom soup made by my father. The Christmas Eve service at a packed church with a beautiful rendition of 'Oh Holy Night' that took you back to the manager. Having friends and family over after service at my parents house was joyous. Cookies, hors d'oeuvres, drinks, music and laughter ruled the evening. Christmas morning was incredible. The magic of opening gifts wrapped with the utmost care by my father brought a big smile to my face. And when I got older the joy of giving mom& dad gifts equaled then exceeded what I received. Then I enjoyed going to church on Christmas morning. Later in the afternoon we would head up to my aunts with what one could only describe as a decadent feast. My aunt could out cook anyone on the Food Network. Ham melted in you mouth. The most moist turkey you ever had. Chicken soup with homemade noodles. Apple and pumpkin pies that made you always want a second piece. After we went home I always fell asleep with a smile on my face. I was blessed that all three of my children were able to experience this as well. With all that being said my parents always made sure the focus was on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fast forward to today. My parents and my aunts and uncles have passed away. Unfortunately the last time I spoke with my cousins was three years ago when my mom passed. I have resigned myself to the fact that we probably will never get together again and that saddens me a great deal.

In 2011 my life took the best turn possible when I met and married my soul mate Valerie Geis Horosz. Soon after that God blessed me with employment after looking for three years and in 2014 God saw fit to bless me with the best job ever in IT with Publix Supermarkets. We also were blessed with Will & Peter moving to Brandon and enjoy seeing them.

I can't say enough about Valerie's parents. I see both my parents in both of them and Im truly blessed to have them in my life. They really do make me feel loved and a part of the family.

My wife truly enjoys decorating the house for Christmas. Lights, decorations, garland, battery candles, and a beautiful tree with ornaments made by my dad. It looks fantastic !
But for myself the past couple of years it's almost been a chore for me. Decorating, music and the season felt hollow. Gifts are nice and my wife does exceptional with what she gets me. But something was missing.

A few weeks ago I found out through a Facebook post that one of my cousins passed away. It really hit me hard. When I sent a sympathy card to her husband I remembered what he told me three years ago when my mom passed away - "we never hear from anyone anymore". It all makes sense now.

I wanted so desperately to recreate what my parents had. But I've come to the realization its gone. For one reason or another my family has splintered into their own units - with brothers and sisters only. Despite attempts to reach out to my cousins they have not responded.
It's up to Valerie and I to make memories for our children to enjoy and remember. That's why we have a celebration of Christmas at a nice restaurant for all of our children to enjoy ahead of Christmas. Christmas Day we exchange gifts then go out for Christmas dinner to make sure our children know how special they are to us.

The best part of Christmas to me is not presents but presence - the presence of Christ in our hearts and in our home.

Merry Christmas !

Happy New Year 2016

Wishing all my friends a safe, healthy, and blessed New Years 2016 !

Use and practice these words more often in 2016: love, joy, peace, encouragement, gentleness, patience, kindness.

Pray without ceasing.
Worship wherever you are.
Read God's word.
Be a friend.
Enjoy family.
Encourage, support, and love your children.
Take care of the temple that God has given you.
Tell your spouse, children, and family that you love them.
Set attainable and realistic goals for yourself.

2015 Highlights.

In February Valerie and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. Every day with my beautiful bride is better than the day before. I am truly the most blessed man in the world.

In early March we drove down to Bradenton and caught a Pirates spring training game with Will & Peter. Perfect weather and a beautiful ballpark.

Mid-March we celebrated one year in our new house. We are thankful for God blessing us with a nice place to live.

In late March we travelled to Pittsburgh to catch two Penguins games, pay respect to mom and dad’s graves, and take a day trip to see our beautiful Victoria Horosz & Andy Skaggs.

We were pleasantly surprised as my dad’s grave finally had a marker from the United States Navy. We also found one of our favorite burger places called Burgatory.

We hosted Valerie’s family for her dad’s birthday. We had a blast. Her dad was very animated and makes me smile every time I think of him.

July I completed my first year at Publix Supermarkets. This is by far the best job I have ever had with the best manager I have ever had. With God’s blessings I would love to retire from here.

Will and Peter moved into a two bedroom apartment almost right across the road from where Will works.

Had oral surgery in April to remove my third tooth since moving down to Florida.

Valerie and I had the pleasure of attending a Stanley Cup Final’s Game here in Tampa. In spite of losing we had a lot of fun.

We took a second trip to Pittsburgh in September for my 35th reunion at Geneva College. It was the best reunion by far as I got to show off my beautiful Valerie to all of my college friends. Lots of sharing, laughter, and fun.

The church we had attended back in 2011 (Crossing Church) started Saturday afternoon services which fit perfectly into our schedule and lifestyle. Rock solid teaching not above or below you but meeting you right where you are.

Passed the Technician Class exam for a Ham Radio License.

Mid December we flew Victoria down for a weekend. I took her shopping to Kohl’s, visited Moreno’s Bakery, enjoyed seeing It’s A Wonderful Life at the Tampa Theater and capped it off with a family dinner at Maggiano’s.

Christmas day we celebrated by continuing our tradition of eating out by going to “Spinners” at St. Pete Brach – a revolving restaurant. Food was excellent and the views were magnificent including a beautiful sunset.

Celebrated New Year's Eve with Will & Peter by watching two Star War's movies.

Some scripture I’d like to share:

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8

 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Our Christmas Wish For All

Our Christmas wish for all !

"I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat...
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (Peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep (Peace on Earth, peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men
And the bells they're ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we'll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells they're ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men"

See

Five Years Ago

Five years ago today I wrapped gifts for the kids and was getting ready to go to Christmas Eve Service at The Vineyard Columbus at 3:00 PM followed by a friend asking me to her church at 7:00 PM. Will, Peter, and Victoria were going to stay overnight with their mom and come over Christmas afternoon. This gave me a lot of time to reflect. I had driven down to Memphis a couple weeks earlier to meet someone who in short order crushed me. I had no significant other in my life. I had been looking with no success for over 2 years but still didn't have a job. After I got back from the second service, I got on my hands and knees in the middle of my apartment and prayed. Not for a Christmas miracle but for someone who loved me. God told me right then and there to get off all the other dating websites except for Christian Mingle.
And in short order in a few weeks I met the most beautiful woman in the world who became my bride 15 days latter. Not long after that I landed my first job in almost three years. God had told me all along that a relationship and job were going to go hand in hand. And I had prayed pretty specifically fro what I was looking for in a spouse. Well God ripped that up and gave me a lifetime more than I could have ever asked for with my Valerie Geis Horosz. Don't ever give up on God. Don't ever stop praying. I give praise, honor and glory to Jesus Christ. "With God All Things Are Possible".

Who Is Mike Johnston ?

Mike Johnston obviously has lack of control over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game versus the Red Wings with five Pens in the penalty box. On national TV no less. Discipline starts behind the bench. There was none this game.

Penguins lead the league in penalty minutes. That's a cold hard fact. Most of them have been due to lack of discipline. Quite a few cost us games.

Penguins also lead the league in giving up short handed goals. Well coached teams do not have this problem.

The calls from the referees have been atrocious this season to say the least. In his book Johnston said that you never win an argument with a referee and that it's his and the team Captain's responsibility to get the facts from the refs. Again too many times have we seen Pens who are not the Captain do that and get on the bad side of them. And Johnston should get an explanation and plead His teams case. When this happens you gain the confidence of your team. Didn't see much of this at all.

And the numerous blunders in arguably the most important Pens game since 2009. Putting Sutter in on a critical face off who's only at 33% and Crosby as a winger ? They scored right after that. And before that whole blowing the lead thing, why not employ what even an AHL team can execute to perfection - a Neutral zone trap? Your percentages will tell you that when its executed properly it will shut down even desperate teams. And it doesn't take the top five players in the league to do this.

Looking at Johnston behind the bench. No confidence whatsoever. The players can see that. The opposition sees that. And the fans see that.

Book co-authored by Mike Johnston

Pittsburgh Penguins Season In Pictures

Below are several pictures from the 2014-2015 Season for the Pittsburgh Penguins:

Crosby looking focused during the loss to the Senators 4/7/2015

MAF sporting the new Pens alternate jersey

Loss to the Flyers 4/5/2015

Five Pittsburgh Penguins In The Penalty Box 3/15/2015

Pens Playing Poker







 

Head Coach Mike Johnston

Mike Lange honored for his 40 years as the voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Our "Pens Den"

Our "Pens Den"

Our "Pens Den"

The best looking female Pens fan ever !

We Are Not In Kansas Anymore

The past 6 seasons the Pens have been in Kansas heading into the playoffs. "Well Toto it looks like we're not in Kansas anymore".

We've made the playoffs every year since 2006. There's the old saying "to whom much has been given, much is required". When you have arguably the two best players in the world, expectations should be high. This season has been incredibly frustrating from a fan perspective. Look at the record up to 12/31/14 and after 1/1/15. The core of this team is intact.

Everyone asks why ? Why are the Pens playing their worst hockey since 2009 ? Well the well oiled excuse machine has generated several "problems":

Problem is not injuries although Pens have had their fair share.

Problem is not officiating although there have been some horrific calls and non calls go against the Pens.

Problem is not the Pens are not a physical team although they could use a couple of smart big physical agitators.

Problem is a lack of leadership on the ice and behind the bench. The game against the Red Wings was one of the greatest examples this season of the lack of leadership with 5 Pens in the penalty box. Total lack of discipline and composure. Last night’s game against Ottawa was truly epic. When you are up 3-0 in the most meaningful game in years, you don’t blow it. You treat it like a Game 7 and do everything you can to win. You don’t put in Sutter to take a crucial faceoff with the game on the line. You block shots. And you make decisions like employing a neutral zone trap to shut them down.

Numerous blogs employ graphs, charts, and excellent breakdowns. No fault with any of them but this doesn’t take a Ph.D. to discern what is wrong with the Pens.

Shero has created problems that will take years to resolve. Hind sight is always 20/20 but if the Pens just fired him and reigned in Byslma, we would not be at this point. But Byslma was guilty by association. Shero was probably the worst GM the Pens had with JR not too far behind. There had to have been better GM candidates than JR but the reason he was hired is that they are grooming his assistant to take over in a year or two. That's not going to work. The only move that JR did that has worked was the Neal trade. Everything else has been an epic failure. And the bungling of hiring MJ was a sincere joke. If you remember, JR had picked out the one assistant coach of the Kings - but they locked him up. Plan B was Desardins but he bolted for the Cannucks when he was told he couldn't choose his staff. We ended up with Plan C in MJ who is great x's and o's guy but a poor motivator. My feeling is that the Pens should have pursued Guy Boucher but he was under contract I believe.

I'm a die hard Pens fan through and through but there will be significant changes that are needed to get them back on course to make a serious run for the Cup. Good luck to them on Friday against the Islanders and hopefully in the playoffs. Let's Go Pens !