December 5, 2023

  • Christmas 2023

    Magic Moments
    There's a feeling that flows
    from the magic of things
    that happen this time of year--
    it's the love that this season brings.

    It could be the lilt of a special song,
    or the smell of those baking pies,
    a glowing menorah, a fragrant tree,
    the twinkle in children's eyes.

    Family or friends just stopping in
    to share some holiday cheer;
    a peaceful feeling begins to grow
    as that special time draws near.

    May your cup overflow,
    boundless blessings receive;
    make a wish, say a prayer
    and truly believe!

    2023 Cheri Neuman Herald
    ----------------
    Merry Christmas, Xanga friends!!

     

December 7, 2022

  • Christmas 2022

    Be Still and Know

    The lights, the gifts, the special plans--
    so much, so much to do!
    Don't lose your peace or spoil your joy;
    take time today for you.

    Don't wait 'till clutter's put away
    and all your errands run;
    take time to pray and then reflect
    on good things God has done.

    A grateful heart, like medicine,
    will cheer a troubled mind.
    Think back to blessings poured on you;
    just seek and you will find.

    So, trust the Psalmist's words anew--
    the verse that points the way:
    Be still and know that I am God,
    and rest in Him today.

    2022 Cheri Neuman Herald

    Merry Christmas, with Love!
    --Cheri

December 17, 2021

  • Christmas 2021

    Celebrate Christmas

    So when you do good, you stop foolish people from saying stupid things about you. This is what God wants. Live as free men. But do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God. --1 Peter 2:15-16

    Freedom to worship,
    freedom of choice,
    freedom to gather,
    freedom of voice,

    no one can dictate--
    not in this land;
    people all over
    taking a stand.

    Freedom's not license
    to do others ill;
    love for our brother
    governs us still.

    Celebrate Christmas
    your own special way;
    freedom eternal--
    thank Him today!

    2021 Cheri Neuman Herald

December 11, 2020

  • Christmas 2020

    Lessons From Lockdown

    I'd use the time well
    get lots of things done
    the country locked down
    was no time for fun.

    I sorted the Tupperware
    homecooked my meals
    burned some old paperwork
    searched ebay for deals.

    Polished the silver
    trimmed my own hair
    purged all the closets
    of clothes I don't wear.

    Then I slowed down
    stopped watching the time
    slept a bit later
    began a new rhyme.

    Sat on the porch
    and noticed the birds
    listened to music
    and heard all the words.

    The quiet is lovely
    without all the cars
    I laze with the cats
    and gaze at the stars.

    Learned that my days
    are sweeter spent slow
    It took a pandemic
    to learn what I know.

    2020 Cheri Neuman Herald

    Merry Christmas Xanga friends!!

July 22, 2020

  • Who Knew?

    Who knew? From Wikipedia:

    "Christopher Isaac "Biz" Stone[1][2] (born March 10, 1974)[3] is an American entrepreneur who is the co-founder of Twitter, among other Internet-based services. Biz was the creative director at Xanga from 1999–2001.[4] Stone co-founded Jelly, with Ben Finkel. Jelly was launched in 2014 and is described as a new kind of search engine with the core assumption that for every question there is a person with the answer. Stone was Jelly’s CEO until its acquisition by Pinterest in 2017.[5] On May 16, 2017, Biz Stone announced he was returning to Twitter Inc. in an unannounced role."

December 15, 2019

  • Christmas 2019

    Peace, Christmas Peace

    Nothing in life
    is ever one-sided,
    but this current strife
    has our country divided.

    Not since the years
    of the Vietnam War
    have political fears
    hurt relationships more.

    But it's Christmas!
    Relax, get some sleep.
    Our families need us--
    the battle will keep.

    In World War I,
    in the midst of the fray,
    a truce was begun
    on a chill Christmas day.

    One soldier voiced
    "Silent Night" in the cold,
    then both sides rejoiced
    in that carol of old.

    Divided, we fall;
    let the arguing cease.
    Descend on us all
    sweet Spirit of Peace.

    2019 Cheri Neuman Herald
    ----------------
    Merry Christmas old friends!!

December 1, 2018

  • Christmas 2018

    With a Grateful Heart

    For diamonds of dew
    on a spider's web
    that strikingly catch the eye,

    for that double bow
    a special treat
    that colors a dreary sky,

    for a special friend
    with stalwart heart
    that's always standing by,

    for Cardinal birds
    and butterflies
    they say are sent from Heaven,

    for our Savior's grace
    and sacrifice
    that mended what was riven,

    with a grateful heart
    give thanks, rejoice!
    for gifts that God has given.

    2018 Cheri Neuman Herald
    ------------------------
    Merry Christmas Xanga friends! I'm grateful for you.

December 18, 2017

  • Christmas 2017

    And Grace Will Lead

    Some days the world seems bleak,
    a colorless landscape, all uphill,
    whose horizon stretches so far
    we cannot speak, and home
    seems impossibly out of reach.

    Yet, hope ensures--
    that small bird
    that finds the will to try again,
    endures, when strength is gone
    and sleep almost seems the fairer answer.

    Drawn steadily toward infinity,
    the harvest ripe, the reaper ready,
    face upturned to the beckoning dawn,
    and grace will lead us home.

    © 2017 Cheri Neuman Herald

    Merry Christmas! Wishing you the hope ensured by grace.

December 16, 2016

  • 16th Xangaversary

    The 24th is my 16th Xangaversary. We fledgling Xangans came here from Geocities or Angelfire by invitation of a fictional PR person, "Bianca Broussard", who said she liked our writing. Instead of a thumbs-up, we awarded e-props to each other for liking a post. We read each others poetry, short stories, and rants. There were artists and photographers here, too-- good ones. Much of the writing was excellent, as was the camaraderie. We old-timers refer to ourselves as "relics", and I guess we are. Some of us keep in touch. Our Xanga is dying, but until it is extinguished, I'll keep the light on. Merry Christmas, old friends.

December 4, 2016

  • Christmas Poem 2016

    Mary Was Willing
    I am the Lord's servant, May your word to me be fulfilled.-- Luke 1:38

    From Judah's kingly tribe,
    perhaps from Levi's, too,
    came a humble woman willing
    to do what God would have her do.

    An angel brought the news
    that Mary was the one
    to bear the savior of the world,
    God's only begotten son.

    Her reply made no demand
    of proof his words were true;
    Mary was willing,
    how about you?

    2016 Cheri Neuman Herald
    -------------------

    Merry Christmas, Xangans!