Christmas Quandry

Yes, English, where alliteration can begin with a C and a Q. I'm so glad it was my first language. Even better would be if it weren't my only language.

Anyway, on to the post... Today I decorated. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It almost seems as if the world has stolen away our holiday. But if so, when exactly would that have happened? Let's go back to my childhood... Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch. What Biblical reference do I find to nativity there? Ok, further back, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life. Sure, there's celebration, redemption of a kind, good will, gratitude and other great sentiments but I'm still not getting the nativity. Suddenly it feels very empty. Still, I have wonderful warm memories of the Christmas season from my childhood. So I'm not immune to them.

So my decorating is a hodgepodge of a nativity that I'm sure isn't nearly as dirty and cold as the one my Messiah was born into, warm fuzzy memories and "Isn't nature pretty?" Not really sure if I'm hitting any marks here. Plus, since the house is on the market and it's "The Holidays", we kind of felt obliged to show some spirit.

I broke out of my box a little this year. I put a small tree in the kitchen, where I'll likely spend a good bit of time between now and Christmas since I'll be doing our regular, from-scratch cooking and special baking.


Here's a tree behind the kitchen sink. I do like twinkie lights. The more the merrier and I don't believe they only belong to December.


One special ornament in the tree. This quail matches the one I bought for Samuel. I've been collecting feathered birds and various pinecone ornaments for several years now.


And how about this sweet pair of birds under the tree. They'll be out year round but they look quite cozy under the branches.


Here's the warm fuzzies... I remember this illuminated cathedral from my earliest childhood Christmas memories. It is also a music box. I've had to rewire it for light and perhaps this year I'll actually get the steeple's gold cross out of my jewelry box and replace it on the peak. It came off a number of years ago but I know exactly where it is. That's saying something special about this little piece of history.


And here is my focal point of this years decorating: the nativity extravaganza. More twinkie lights, more greenery, a big star (Though I don't know if the wise men can see it from my kitchen where they are currently wandering around).


Do you see what I see?
I've got a chicken collection including all sorts and sizes of chickens. One year I added the little chickens to the stable to make it look more realistic. My family got involved and now there are the original three sheep with shepherd boy, cow, 5 chickens, 6 chicks, 2 rabbits, 1 squirrel and a raccoon. Sounds like your basic barnyard to me.


And the rest of my decorating consists mainly of greenery and, yes, more twinkie lights.

Now if I could only figure out how I feel about this. Maybe I'd be happier if we called it Advent and left Santa out of the picture. I just can't help but think that we've got things a little out of whack.

I wish for you peace in this season of reflection and hope.

O, Holy night, the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining
Til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
While yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees. Oh, hear the angel voices.
O night divine. O night, when Christ was born.