Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning! Good Christmas Eve!

The Gallery Pic is of my most favorite book, The Twelve Teas of Christmas by Emilie Barnes. I'll be sharing a few tidbits out of the book today.

I was unable to say the magic word when my head hit the pillow last night... "DONE!" But thankfully, I was able to say, "EVERYTHING CAN DEFINITELY BE COMPLETED WITHIN A 16-HOUR PERIOD TOMORROW!" Can you tell I'm trying to be a "glass-half full" person the day before Santa visits? Can you?

RANDOMNESS #1 - The Christmas card count stands at 69. I will receive mail today, and I have no doubt I will receive late cards next week. However, I doubt if I will reach my goal of 100 cards this Christmas. And that's okay. It gives me something to look forward to next year!

I'm fine. Really, I am!

RANDOMNESS #2 - This little poem is found in the back of Ms. Barnes' book.

There's more, much more, to Christmas
Than candlelight and cheer;
It's the spirit of sweet friendship
That brightens all the year.
It's thoughtfulness and kindness,
It's hope reborn again,
For peace, for understanding,
And for goodwill to men!
Author Unknown.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Another excerpt...

"Ain't it nice," old Ann was saying, "dat it should go on and on -- Christmas lights and Christmas trees and Christmas spirit? All over town, no matter who lives in 'em, de nice Christmas candles burn on. In yours; in mine." Bess Streeter Aldrich.

I agree with Old Ann. It should go on and on and on.

RANDOMNESS #4 - Last, but not least... The story of "Silent Night."

There's a charming story behind the favorite carol "Silent Night." It was December 23, 1818, and the setting was the village of Oberndorf, Austria. Franz Gruber, a church organist, and Father Mohr, the priest, discovered a hole gnawed by a mouse in the leather bellows of the church organ. The thought of a Christmas service with no music saddened them both, but there was no way to fix the organ. Franz, thinking quickly, handed the priest a simple poem he had written and asked Father Mohr to set the words to music. On Christmas Eve, Father Mohr strummed his guitar while a choir of twelve boys and girls sang in clear, innocent voices the words to "Silent Night," filing the air with quiet reverence.

Weekend Happenings

I imagine our family will be celebrating in much the same way as you and yours.

This afternoon we will go the Christmas Eve service at our church. Most definitely one of our favorite activities during the Christmas season. After the service, we will have our traditional Chinese take-out dinner on Christmas china... and we'll sing "Deck the Halls" EXACTLY like the Chinese waiters sing it in the movie Christmas Story.

Tomorrow we'll celebrate with family... perhaps we'll have a snowball fight!

Sunday, we'll attend church as a family (I love the few times during the year we sit together and worship as a family... LOVE IT), and later in the day we'll go to a local theater and watch the new Chronicles of Narnia movie.

Have a sweet Christmas Eve! Remember the people who are just trying to get through the holidays this year. Reach out to them. Love on them. I'll be back Monday with New Year's Eve ideas, of course.

Until then, Selamati Hari Natal! (Merry Christmas in Indonesian.)

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting and Indonesian-Speaking Belinda