Priceless gifts under the tree!

Paulson- Wentzell gifts to be displayed on Nanny's Little blessings. (see my link. To view that site, just ask me and get me your e-mail. If we know you, we'll sign you up!)

Christmas Trees

Reason # 6
I love the trees. My tree is not just a fancy decoration, it's a display of heartwarming memories.

Many of the angels came from my mom, the pictures of the girls, the crochet Mr. and Mrs. Santa that our dear Aunt Connie made us. The "joy" pillow, a gift from a very special director, who saw how much I loved it at the church boutique when I was too broke to be able to buy such things. The unique and beautiful ornaments Rosie brought me back from her travels, The special treasures from Sarah, and the list goes on.

The Gift of Giving

I sort of messed up on my list of "Reasons I love Christmas", because I keep going back to the the Carols.

We'll call this reason # 5

Finding just the right gift for just the right person!

For those you love, AND for those who are so needy that the love of Christ compels you.

I have a little girl in my class who is currently suffering with a brain tumor. A poor family, Spanish speaking, hard working, full of faith and struggling with the constant visits to Children's Hospital. (without a car)

Sweet, respectful, and eager to smile, Jasmine has touched many hearts.

Please send up a prayer for her. I told the mother I'd be praying and she cried and thanked me.

I told another teacher about her, and her son, (I think about 12 years old,) went out and bought some Christmas gifts for her!

That's another reason I love Christmas!

Joy to the World

While feeling sort of stressed out with all I had to do, I suddenly heard this Carol:

"Joy to the world, the Lord Has Come,

Let Earth receive her King;

Let every heart, prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing."

And it just gets better- the song's stanza's, that is.

Go there, not to all the stress factors- Look up and see if you can imagine that first Christmas when the whole of a midnight sky was torn apart by a MULTITUDE of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST,

AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN.

Think of it: multitude. hosts.

That's all I have to say about that. Except for this. That's why I love angels on my tree.

Joy

Reason # 3 of why I love Christmas:

The joy you can bring to others by bringing cookies, giving food and a prayer to the needy at the Church food bank, giving a call, singing, even just saying, "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah!"

I did the best thing I could, and it got me out of a bad holiday funk. I went with my group to the convalescent home and sang carols. Sweet old women were crying and laughing over hearing those tunes. Many joined in. We gave them each a pair of rolled up socks tied in a bow with a little card attached.

When I went I was stressed, when I was done, I was humbled. And blessed. And I got back in touch with the true meaning of Christmas.

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME- LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!

Christmas

Reason 2: ( really more of reason 1)

'The Little Drummer Boy" and the poverty of Spirit it represents- which leads to a richness of Love.

And the sweetness of children entering in and giving their best gifts- the gifts of their talents, love and efforts!

Maybe that's why I love homemade gifts.

The Thrill of Hope...

Why I love Christmas:

Reason # 1 - the power of the Carols to re-connect me with the Wonderful Gift of God in Jesus's coming.

"The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices,

for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel's voices-

O night divine, O night, when Christ was born."

"How silently, how silently- the wondrous gift was given,

So, God imparts to human hearts, the wonders of His heaven.

We hear the Christmas angels, their great glad tidings tell,

O come to us, abide in us, Our Lord, Emmanuel."