Thursday, December 4, 2008

Once a year thrills

What can compare to opening a little box you only see once a year and discovering anew that little forest of tiny Christmas trees you wrapped up early last January? They are the backbone of a tiny snowy village I make with silver tinsel, glittered-up paper houses and fluffy cotton snow. What a rush!!!
To top that feeling, I unearth the awe-inspiring plastic nativity scene unknowingly bought at a July yard sale 5 years ago. It was stuffed at the bottom of a paper sack filled with paper goods I got for a dollar. Unlike any other plastic Nativity scene I've ever seen, it has the vintage glow of ivory and a graceful camel that I kiss on the nose every year when I pull him out.
My favorite Christmas decorations are the old ones, full of memories from Christmases past. A classic example of an inexpensive yet priceless memory maker is a cardboard stable with figures collected over many years by Phil's mother. When their home was sold, I dove for it to take to our home, bringing with it the feeling of peace and joy I had looking at it in their darkened living room, lighted by a little Christmas bulb in the top of the manger. Every figure seems to come from a different set and the lambs (mostly 3 legged) actually seems to know what is happening because I think I see a little smile on their faces.
Years ago I made 2 paper garlands of "nine ladies dancing" and "ten lords a-leaping." When I hang that on our mantle in the living room my blood pressure rises. Honestly, it rivals a mink coat for thrills. When the late afternoon sun hits the merry dancers, and their shadows dance behind them, call 911, or put my head between my knees 'cause it is the stuff faints are made of.

Christmas is a sacred time. It truly holds the reason to rejoice no matter what your circumstances are, the reason to sing "Joy to the World, the Lord has Come" and mean it. I'll close this little blog with a couple of stanzas from a poem by my favorite, Longfellow. He wrote this poem during the Civil war and it was put to music for one of our most stirring Christmas carols. Take note of how timely his words are for us today-- truth is truth no matter when you hear it--ever grateful for that!

...And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!
The wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

little blanket of snow

little blanket of snow