Three Days Before Christmas

It is now three days before Christmas. I will be making one more trip into town to finish up my shopping. The decorating is enough to lift my spirits, as I so enjoy white lights and greenery throughout the house and colored lights on my tree. The tree doesn't have any ornaments yet, but in the evening it sure looks pretty all lit up. I still haven't managed to find my Precious Moments figurines, but, as long as they're out on Christmas Eve, I'll be happy. I did get all but one card sent and I baked cookies and put presents in their boxes yesterday. Today, after some shopping, it'll be cookie decorating and present wrapping.

I've often told Mark that he is sometimes like a bull in a china shop. He again demonstrated that the other day when I was away for a time. He was a real sweetie and washed the dishes that I hadn't managed to finish the night before. Unfortunately, he hadn't taken into consideration the little merry miniature nativity figures in the window above the sink. Somehow, he managed to take out the entire display. He did try to put it back together, it was a real mess, to say the least. I found the little shepherd boy in the dish drainer with the clean dishes. And when I finally got all the dishes put away, there was Mary in the drain trap under the dish drainer. Not exactly the place for the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I was thankful for the help with the dishes and the little figures are plastic, so no harm done.

The doggies were creating a real commotion yesterday while I tried to get some things accomplished. All five were barking hysterically out the front window. When I finally went to see the reason for the outburst, I was startled to see five turkeys in the driveway in front of the house. They appeared to be frozen in place, standing in a straight line, equal distances from one another. After they eventually broke their formation, I herded the five dogs away from the windows and into the basement. I didn't see where the turkeys went, but later when we went out for a break, I saw all their really strange tracks left in the snow.

I am looking forward to spending time with friends and family over these next several days. I hope to visit friends in Paris to deliver cookies. I still need to take cards to some of my neighbors and it will be wonderful to spend time with the kids as well as the rest of the family come Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

These past several days have been really difficult for so many. The holiday season is wonderful, but life's problems continue and many times seem amplified during these hectic days. I'm praying for peace and joy for all throughout this season. I only hope life's challenges don't interfere with the specialness of the celebration of Christ's birth. He came into this world for each and everyone of us. When we find ourself in troubling circumstances, remember His wonderful name, Emmanuel, which means God is with us. He is. Ask Him for the strength and support to get through.

Three days left before Christmas, I better get busy. Have a wonderful, safe day, luv, Susan