Happy Christmas Eve EVE!

When I was a kid, my little brother and I used to count the days until Christmas. Today, for instance, is Christmas Eve EVE. Yes, the day before Christmas Eve. We took that to more annoying levels, however, in the weeks before Christmas, with exclamations of "Happy Christmas Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve" etc. I'm sure you get the picture. Driving our parents crazy until they shouted, "Knock it off!" Ahhh, so with that tender memory, I wish you all a very happy Christmas Eve EVE!


Last night was the Christmas party at church. It was pretty well attended. Tom and I were in charge of the ham, making sure the platters stayed full. Tom had a sharp knife, so he happily cut the ham to put on the platters. Give that man a sharp knife...and stand back! Our little friend, HaiLee, asked if she could sit with us. Of course I said she could. I had a wee gifty for her, an ornament for their Christmas tree. It's a little girl with RED hair. HA! A HaiLee ornament! She seemed delighted with it.

Here are photos of everyone sitting around, eating. Afterwards there was a short, rather unsatisfying program. Usually we have a program that is centered on Christ, the reason we celebrate Christmas...but this year....nope. It was more like a talent show, with only four people performing. Very short! One lady sang a lovely song while she played her harp. Her husband played Christmas songs on glass goblets. Both were amazing! Hidden talents emerging. The attempt, shortly thereafter, though, to have us all sing Christmas songs didn't go very well---as no one had hymn books. The fellow who was in charge of the program said, "If you have a hymn book, you can sing along." Did he think to pass them out? Most of us do pretty well with the first verse of the traditional Christmas songs, but when the chorister keeps going to the 2nd and 3rd verses, she tends to lose singers. Such was the case last night. In the past, the words to the songs have been printed up and on each of the tables. That would have been nice.




But...today is another day. Christmas Eve EVE! The Sunday before Christmas. I'll be with the other Sunbeam teacher, with our class of 3 year olds. The lesson in on the birth of Jesus. We have pictures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus to color so they'll have something to take home with them and for a few minutes, we'll get the focus off Santa and presents--and talk about the Savior.

My Sunbeams: "Robin Hood" (a.k.a. Michael), Jack, Owen, Taylor and Julie.
In two weeks we'll get a new class, fresh from the nursery and these children will move on to another class, with a new teacher. Sunbeams really mature a lot in a year--these children are much better at sitting in their chairs, MOST of the time, than the new group will be. Wish me luck!