Almost Christmas

It's almost Christmas, and I'm almost ready!  Today was wrapping and counting day.  I have a few things to finish but I'm nearly ready.  The two 'grands' (darling granddaughters) and I went to the grocery store and the drugstore today for some final shopping.  Boy, I love Walgreen's!  We got boxes, wrapping paper and tape, plus some hair accessories -- very necessary items in the female world.

I finished knitting and sewing together a sweater for a doll, and tomorrow I'll have time to finish up the last two gifts I'm making.

Then I have to make one robe for a Wise Man.  Our church does a sort of a live nativity play each Christmas Eve, with whoever has the newest baby playing Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  We have shepherds and live sheet, a donkey and some goats.  And of course three Wise Men!  I help with the wardrobe.  This year we got some new crowns.  I always remind the Wise Men that their wives said when they are done with the service they go back to being wise guys!

It adds a note of reality to Christmas Eve to have the live action.  We are in the fellowship hall with the tile floor, because you know what happens when you bring donkeys and goats in from the cold, right??  It's kinda smelly, but I guess if the Holy Family could endure it, we can do it too.

The kids in the audience are transfixed by the animals and the baby.  The Christmas story is read and acted out, and we sing all the appropriate songs.  It's a lovely tradiition.  Then it's home for dinner and presents.

For the people without kids, or those who want a serious service, there's a later candle-light service later in the church, but I like the live action play and having entire families there.  You can see the story coming alive for people.

So back to preparations tomorrow morning!  For the first time in a long time there won't be snow Christmas Eve.  It's too warm -- they have snow in Arizona and New Mexico but we're unseasonably warm.  The weather guys are calling it a Brown Christmas!

Time for one last run at the stores if you're so inclined.  I might have time to bake one last pie or batch of cookies...

Blessed Christmas to you all!

Sue