Christmas Eve- Then & Now

"Would you like a ride to the church?"
"No," Sam said.
"We can have a ride to the church in this?" This was incredulous! Simmy was as excited as a little puppy. "Yes! I'm going to have a ride. If you don't want to, Sam," she shrugged her shoulders. May I take a picture of you?"
"Sure!" The rancher was happily accommodating.

"You'll be on a blog." Simmy warned. 

"I've had lots of pictures taken of me." He mugged for the photo.

The horses were very behaved. The female was pregnant and would give birth in Spring.

Simmy asked every dumb question... 'Should she really be pulling all this weight while she's pregnant?'

"Oh, she'll work till just a few days before she gives birth," said truck driver wife.

"Just like women in the early 1900's then, huh?" Simmy asked.

"Yes, that's right," said truck driver wife.

They got off the wagon. (that sounds like it has another meaning- It does not.)

"That was just wonderful! Wow!"
There were two young neighborhood boys who were hanging around the warming barrel.
They called out, "Be careful if you try to touch the sheep with the spots. He's ornery."
"Oh, he doesn't like it, huh?" Simmy asked.
"No!" They chimed.

"I'll bet they found out the hard way," Sam whispered.

"Mmm Hmm."
"They probably got nipped," Sam said.
"Only once, I'll bet," Simmy smiled with all the knowledge of having raised three boys.
"Hey, may I take a picture of you?"
Simmy got her camera primed. The batteries were a little slow out in the cold.
The choir was singing. The Christmas trees were lit with coloured lights. The scene was perfection. It was idyllic and the weather was also cooperating.
Sam was trying to hurry her along so Simmy snapped a few blurry photos.
One of the pastor with the top hat...
One of the sheep...
One of... the kids with 'insider knowledge' of the sheep. Ahem!
One of the choir.
One of, two of, three of,...
the horses...

When Mary and Joseph headed into the church, Sam and Simmy hurried in too.
The music had some great modern arrangements to some old traditional songs.
The last song even had Christmas lights flashing and synchronized to the music.
Move over TSO, we've got RSO... Riverwood -Siberian Orchestra? or would that be TRO... Trans-Riverwood Orchestra?...
It was a great Christmas Eve!
Thank you to all the volunteers and Servants.

Unbeetable Socks

Chapter Christmas

Sam and Simmy got through some mad crowds and with a huge sigh of relief they pulled into the driveway. As Sam got out to unlock the front door of the house he turned and said, "Someone left a jar of beets!"

Simmy walked up the stairs and looked at the jar, wondering... 

"I love a mystery!" 

Who could have left these? As she went into the house, she noticed the light was blinking on the answering machine.

She pressed the button.

"Hi, this is Deborah. I'm the one who left that jar of beets on your step. I'll talk to you later."

"Hey Sam, it was Deborah. Mystery solved! And, I was just thinking that I'd love to serve beets for Christmas dinner. Now I can!"

"Hey Sam, are you okay with just giving these socks to construction son? You know, as a little Christmas fun?"

"Yeah, I'm okay with that," Sam said.

"Okay, come help me set this up. I need a piece of string, clothespins and a stringer of lights."

"I think there's some string with some little clothespins in the storage room," Sam said.

"I'll need 12 large clothespins as well. The little ones have to hold the letters," Simmy said."

When oldest construction son came home he peeked into youngest sons' bedroom, curious about the glow of lights.

"Ha, ha, did you do that?" He asked Simmy as he nodded to the 'fun little Christmas' scene.

Simmy grinned and nodded, eyes twinkling.

It's the little things!

Reach Forth Blessing

 Chapter Christmas,
Christmas gifts come in a myriad of different forms. Simmy was thinking about the family gathering at the old folks' home and the different opportunities of every person to give someone else the gift of good wishes.

With a little help from ones' friends, we can all have a very Merry Christmas and a very happy new year...
Wish someone well!

Simply Love

Chapter Christmas,
The family gathering was in the 'Harmony Room.' It was somewhat harmonious, yes it was. The t-shirt of a nephew said it all... Simply Love. Period.
That's it! It's not always easy but it works.
Just 'how,' is different for everyone... that's the sticky part.
Sticky Love...Merry Sticky Love Christmas!

Jeweler- Handing out Jewels

 As the Grandmother/ Mother was wheeled around the room, handing out jewels to all her family... there was joy and happiness and laughter on her face. She was in her glory.
After the long day, a daughter took her up to her room at the old folks' home and when she came to her bed, she tossed off the old pillows and put her head down on the brand new pillow, that Sam had purchased from the shoppe, with a deep and profound sigh.
Today, she was given the freedom to be the star of Love and then receive the gifts of Love back again.
Her head snuggled deep on the green velvet cushion and she slept with joy in her heart.

Take a Walk thru Bethlehem

   Every child has             a thousand wishes


Some wish for toys...

Some wish for candy... 

Some wish for enough money to have a wedding...

Praying...                                                         that there is a star that outshines the night

and that maybe you can find it if you close your eyes and see the light...
Cause every heart longs for more than tinsel...Something more than just a holiday... 

Come and Celebrate the Baby King...    

 Just take a walk...
You don't have to travel anywhere
Faith and Hope and Love 
will bring you there
Bring you there, 
So take a walk through Bethlehem, 

  Come and kneel before the Lamb,
   Good News for every man,
   Walking thru Bethlehem...
Every soul has a need for Peace...

Come and kneel before the Lamb...

Good news for every woman... man...

Serving Kind

Thursday Chapter
Some people just like their deeds to remain anonymous... A huge thank you to all anonymous givers out in the world today... some of us see and experience your special brand of love.

To those who are the selfless kind
Who work unlauded in daily grind
We blush at how unthanked you be
Forgive us for what we cannot see
Day after day with loyal verve
You rise again to someone serve
How graciously you do impart
And build upon an artless heart

Thank You
Romance Designer

Square Day

Chapter Wednesday
It took most of the day but the yummy square that was a favorite of oldest construction son and maybe even middle one too,... was done and ready to be cut and eaten and squarely shared...

It was one of those days when one hopes that what needs to be squared away will not require a square off and and maybe Simmy and Sam could get treated fair and square with the warranty promises of the car company who Simmy hoped was not squaring their shoulders in a defensive position by saying they'd squared away the handle problem by squarely refusing to give Sam and Simmy the solution they were seeking the day the vehicle was driven off the lot. Simmy lifted a square off the parchment and was truly hoping that they wouldn't have to go back to square one with this issue again and that the company would just square accounts because, in the end, fancy words don't cut no squares when they aren't squared up with some square action.