fa la la la la, la la la la......
The Christmas tree is up and decorated... check.
The Christmas decorations are out... check.
The Christmas lights are up on the outside of our place... check.
Are you seeing a pattern here?
It's Christmas time! The most wonderful time of year!
Okay, I know a lot of folks out there get very stressed and grumpy this time of year, but not me! I can't get enough of it! It is such a great excuse to be a part of such beauty. Soon, my husband and I will drive around and look at Christmas lights. Sure, they're the same every year, but nevertheless, still wonderful.
When I was a little girl, there was a house in the neighboring town who would decorate their entire front yard and driveway (along with the house) and it would extend all the way out to the road. They invited people to park and walk around their front yard. Every single year we would drive to this house. It was only one year where we actually got out and walked around. Just about a week ago, I was visiting family in my home town. I drove out to this house at night to see the lights. They had a sign out saying the decorations would be completed that coming Saturday, but I still got to see part of it. It gave me a warm feeling just being there. It is such a special experience when people's traditions (perfect strangers!) become the community's tradition. My goodness! I live over two hours away, and it's STILL my tradition!
Last night was what gets me geared up for the holiday season. The "Community Sing" in my town. This is a very special event (I've never heard of anything else like it), where about five churches in our area get together, and each church sing a couple of songs. In between each church's performance, the entire room sings a very well known Christmas carol (such as, O Come, all ye Faithful, Joy to the World, The First Noel, and Hark! The Hearld Angels Sing). Our church sang "Who is this Child?" and "Silent Night". I have never heard of "Who is this Child?" before practicing it, and it is such a beautiful piece. There is a strong feeling of togetherness when all these churches gather and celebrate the Christmas season and spirit. I feel like I sing better that night than any other night of the year.
This has me wondering lately... does anyone go "Christmas Carolling" anymore? I remember being little and strangers would be in front of our house and sing Christmas Carols, and sometimes we would go outside and listen to them... and sometimes we would just hear them from our house. This is something I would love to see happen.
My head is still bouncing back and forth with the idea of traditions. What are your Christmas traditions? What do you look forward to each year? I know I mentioned something about this in my last years post, but some other traditions my husband and I do are go to our church's temple and walk around outside and look at the lights. They are beautiful! We also make cookies and pass them out to our neighbors. This is a tradition he had with his family, and I'm so happy that we do it. I'm thankful because it was this tradition which gave us the great opportunity to get to know some of our neighbors, and now we know them all. This reminds me of a scripture:
Luke 2: 13-14
Hmmm... "Good will toward men". I want to carry this phrase with me, always...
Happy Tuesday to you and yours...
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