Let the Celebration Begin

The lights are in place outside, the house is decorated inside, the shopping is done, and last night the final gifts were wrapped. We're ready for Christmas. Let the celebrations begin. Friday night is our Bible Study group's party. Tuesday night is my wife's office (Church staff) Christmas party. Wednesday night is the church choir (my bride is in the choir) party. Party, party, party! I must admit, it is easier to enjoy the celebrations when the chores are done. I can actually read the ads in the paper and look for bargins for myself or my wife.
This season we are truly blessed. In a down economy, the company I work for is actually very busy. In fact we're hiring some additional staff. Thank you Lord! I have worked in firms that had to "restructure" or "downsize" from time to time. I hated it!!! I was the victim a few times...I really hated that. I had to do the down siziing once...I really hated that too. May your Christmas be blessed and filled with the joy of family and friends. Next week I will get the Christmas ornament photos posted, I promise.
And now, for a little music and light display.



Finally a Christmas song. This is quite possibly the best version of O Holy Night that I have ever heard. Enjoy.

O Holy Night - David Phelps

Make a Joyful Noise

Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent at the church. It was also the Sunday for the Hanging of the Green, which officially begins the celebration of Christmas. As a part of the worship service, the children's choirs sang, and that would include three of the grandcrew.

This choir includes kindergarten through sixth grade. The two grand daughters that you saw in yesterday's post are in the first and third rows of this photo. Click to enlarge.

This cropped shot might help you find them. Lexi (the seven-year-old) is the first girl on the left in the first row. Em (the eight-year-old) is the second girl on the third row. After this group finished, the preschool choir sang. These kids are four and five years old.

The "Big Guy" is right in the middle of this picture. He's in the black blazer. He looks a lot different than the elf from the parade in yesterday's post. Well, he still has that look of mischief on his face.
Children make Christmas special. I believe it is because that Christmas is all about a special child.
"Over two thousand years ago, on a night the world would come to call Christmas, a young Jewish maiden went through the experience countless mothers had before her, and would since: She brought forth a child. But this was no ordinary child. This was the unique Son of God, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21).
Amid the glitter and busyness of the season my you not lose sight of the miracle and meaning of that Christmas night." Billy Graham

Ruby Tuesday

There will be red everywhere in this post. Saturday morning our town had it's annual Christmas parade. The grandson was riding on one of the floats, so we went down to witness the event.


The parade started at 11:00 so the girls got good seats about 10:00. It was a crisp morning. I don't think it was quite as cold as the girls dress implies, but they had their hot chocolate, blankets and Em had her Santa (Ruby red) hat. Nana and Lexi shared a seat.


The mayor and his wife started things off as the grand Marshall. I don't know where the sweet ride came from, I just know that it doesn't belong to the mayor. He's more of a Honda Accord kind of guy.

The Energizer Bunny made an appearance. I know, he's not ruby red, but I included him anyway.

There was a band of shepherds. They were playing contemporary Christmas music. It was really pretty good. I don't think it was historically correct, but it was entertaining.Finally, the fifty-fourth unit in an eighty-eight unit parade is the float we've been waiting for, but where is "The Big Guy"? He's the little head peeking through the back window!

There he is in the "Ruby" red sleigh. The other elves are handing him presents and he is loading the sleigh for Santa's long Christmas Eve trip.And here we have a portrait of a perfect elf, complete with a look of mischief on his face, don't ya think? Come back tomorrow and I'll show you the children's choir at church. All three of the younger grandcrew were there. See ya then. Merry Christmas and Happy Ruby Tuesday.

We Are the Champions!

Bentonville 32 - Ft. Smith Southside 20

It was a good sports week-end for me. The local high school football team played for the state championship at noon on Saturday. There were a few moments of concern but they prevailed by a score of 32-20. This is only the second football state championship in school history. Congratulations to the Bentonville Tigers!

Oklahoma 62 - Missouri 21

Later that night I sat down and watched my alma mater, the Oklahoma Sooners destroy Missouri in the Big 12 Championship match-up by a score of 62-21. The victory earned the Sooners the opportunity to play the Florida Gators on January 8 for the national championship trophy. BOOMER Sooner!

Friday Thoughts

The Christmas season is in full swing at our house. It is fully decorated, most of the shopping is done and we can now just enjoy the season and some of the events that we've been invited to attend.
Tomorrow night is my office annual dinner.
Tomorrow morning is the city Christmas parade and the grand son will be riding on one of the floats. I don't think anyone has taught him the "parade wave" yet.
At high noon our local high school football team plays for the state championship, and at 7:00 p.m. my Oklahoma Sooners play for the Big 12 championship and the opportunity to play for the National title. BOOMER, Sooner!!!
Sunday is a special event sponsored by the youth group. My wife did some of the decorations for it. I will photograph those and post some of them next week.
Monday I will begin posting photos of decorations around our house and around our city. There will be something new almost everyday until Christmas, so come back often.
And now for a little inspirational music. The first song may not be a traditional Christmas carol, but it does convey the message of the season. Ernie Haase and Signature Sound perform "Glory to God in The Highest."


I did install lights in front of my house this year, but it is nothing like this.

Wordless Wednesday

Season's Greetings

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Friday I put the lights on the house. Saturday the the in-home decorations went up and Sunday the tree got its holiday dressing. Now we're ready to celebrate Christmas. If you want to see what the inside looks like stop by often the next few weeks, because this blog will be mostly all about Christmas. I am married to one of Santa's biggest helpers. We have four trees decorated, you read that correctly, four!!! Almost every room in the house has something going on. See you tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday.