Unexpected photos from Christmas

I thought I would post some photos from the past few days of spending Christmas with family in north Florida. We had presents, turkey, pie, singing,hugging,but none of that is pictured below. Take a look at these photos including a Christmas service at a local Tallahassee church, glowing balls, a camel, trees full of buzzards, and more!

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

She/He/They Tested Positive

The title automatically makes you think this will be a story about a hip, woke, person who cares way too much about which pronouns people use but I will give you some immediate relief…it’s not! It’s actually about 3 people- 2 she’s and a he– who tested positive for Covid in a matter of a week or so.

Covid has been the story of this Christmas for my immediate family. Among the 10 of us who were able to gather for the holiday, one of my nieces tested positive, then me, then my sister.

My symptoms were unlike any sickness I had before so even before testing, I was 99% sure it was Covid. When I get a cold, for instance, it’s very predictable. Starts with a scratchy throat. Progresses to a runny nose and sneezing. Then it’s over.

This one, though, was nothing like that. The first night of symptoms included cold sweats, a headache, and an achy body. Cold sweats made me think I had a fever….but my temperature has been 97/98 the entire time.

Then on day 2 my throat started to hurt and it got really bad by day 4. It felt like swallowing glass for a couple of days, actually.

I’m on day 8 now and thankfully my throat is back to normal but I’m still feeling a lingering achiness and lethargy.

My sister is on all the meds and vitamins I had been taking so hopefully her worst days are in the past also. The peculiar thing about her catching it is that she’s been vaccinated! So much for that, I guess.

For Christmas gift exchanging, we all sat outside, spread out, and opened presents. One of the benefits of December in Florida, I guess.

2021 isn’t wrapping up the way I would’ve planned it for me or for the time spent with my family, some of whom I didn’t get to see because of getting Covid. But we are rolling with the changes (as the REO Speedwagon song goes) and hopefully with this story not going how we would’ve liked, were about to turn some pages.

-Out of the Wilderness

Publix Gives Back Commercial – The Meals, the Music, and More!

Grocery store chain Publix has recently been airing a commercial celebrating togetherness, a warm look into families just like our own. Here it is…

The Meaning. The ad is a ‘thank you’ for helping Publix donate meals to those in need. I wasn’t sure exactly what they meant so I did a little digging.

In the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic (early 2020), Publix began buying crops that would’ve gone to waste and connected the food to Feeding America. It was a way to help people needing food as well as helping the farmers who grew the crops. This article explains it well.

Another article (here) talks more about Publix’s ongoing effort to end hunger in America.

So when you see the ad, this is what they’re referring to. It’s about helping the community, many of the stores affecting families and people in need right there in the same zip code, not just on a national level.

The Music. My best guess is the song playing in the background of this commercial was made exclusively for Publix. They’ve done this before, check out this commercial with a song specifically composed for their ad campaign. I will update this as new info is uncovered.

The Colors. Publix and the creators of this ad do a great job of blending all kinds of colors whether it’s the delicious meals on display, or the diverse families gathering around their respective tables. It just goes to show that, just like the ad says, sometimes people give help and sometimes people need help. There isn’t anything in the ad that shows who’s giving or receiving help, they’re all just gathered together enjoying time with people they love.

Another great ad from Publix. Did you like it? What would you have done different, if anything?

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Happy birthday to… ME!

Today’s my birthday and with every year that goes by, I’m more grateful for what has been, what’s in the present, and what’s still yet to come.

I love that my birthday comes at end of the year because it’s easy to reflect on the past year in regards to the calendar and the last 12 months since I last celebrated my own birth. What do I want next year to look like? So much possibility!

For Out of the Wilderness, 2021 included a blog post every single day. It’s actually the second year in a row I’ve posted something daily and I have LOVED doing it. Not that it’s easy, of course, but it’s challenged me to write when I don’t feel like it, research when there isn’t much to go on, and think more creatively.

So this will be a short post but it’s one that comes with gratefulness, happiness, and donuts.

Pictured below: me celebrating my birthday with family and vegan donuts.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Merry Christmas – a guest post from my Dad

I thought today would be the best day of the year to call on my dad for a guest post. He and my mom have been followers of Jesus for many years, so on the day we celebrate Jesus’s birthday, here is a quick read courtesy of my dad…

As I reflect back on this Christmas season, I think we remember the holiday part, not the Holy Day part.  Think about it…we are all excited about extra time off from work, going on the tour of lights, visiting relatives and friends, hosting Christmas parties, exchanging gifts.  We begin to focus on Santa Claus, our Christmas tree decorations, colored lights, tinsel, wrapping paper, etc., all of which are good things, however we never want to lose focus of the main thing at Christmas…whose birthday we are celebrating.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the first chapter verse 23 – “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Christmas really means “Immanuel”… God with us. Do you see the Deity of Christ?  From the very beginning someone special, the Son of God! 

I find the most startling thing about the Christian faith is that when God chose to let us know who He is and what He is like, He sent His Son in the form of a servant!  From the very humble beginning of Jesus in a manger… to the triumphant rising of Jesus from the grave, God has given us this gift of life.   

It is this gift of life I would like for all of us to celebrate today!

Fred Wilder, Ben’s Dad

Merry Christmas!

-Out of the Wilderness