Away in a Manger

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head..."

The manger. Such an integral symbol of Christmas. As long as people have been displaying Christmas creches, the scenes have included this small hay-filled box in which the baby gently rests his head. Often, they seem perfectly proportioned to the infant's dimensions; the straw rests in a grassy halo around his shining crown as he outstretches his arms to bless the world. The manger is almost like a baby sized throne. How angelic, what serenity, the picture of the child reposing so gently as he takes his first breaths.Yet also, how romanticized.

The word manger means feeding trough. A place where animals eat. The Bible doesn't tell us what the Christmas manger looked like. The Gospel writer and the angels only say it was a "manger".

All the mangers I have seen were messy. The hay was unevenly lumped. It had a distinct earthy scent. They were rectangular, not square, to allow multiple animals to eat out of them at once. They were not necessarily in the middle of the barn. Some were built against walls. In context of the story of Jesus, this idea causes the manger to take on a new meaning. Was Jesus a large baby or was he small? If small, the hay probably enveloped him. It probably scratched his face. Clearly, this is not the ideal place for a newborn baby.

The symbol of the manger is an illustration of the Holy Family's humble circumstances. Their poverty. God's love. He did not intervene. He did not stall his son's birth so that he could be born in a more respectable locale.

Why would he do this? For Us. He wanted to show us the depths of his love.

Christmas prayers and carols mention this. They remind us what this act meant. But when we hear it, do we think about what it means?

The manger. Is there any place more lowly and uncomfortable for a newborn King? A place more inconvenient for a mother post-labor, than in a barn with no soft place to lay? A more worrisome spot for a concerned father to look on at the birth of his son?

I cannot think of one.

As I celebrate Christmas this year, I'm going to remember that rough feeding trough. The first bed for our savior was not a tailored throne. It was a vessel from which animals ate.

"And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

A Stream of Conscious from the Local Book Sale

                                

I went to a book sale this weekend. Here's what went on in my head:

Here I am at the library. Boy, am I excited for this book sale!

Walk into the room, WOAH! My eyes need time to adjust. The colors, the lines, the bookish smell, it's way too overwelming.

Tables everywhere packed with books. Hmmmm, which ones do I choose? Let's look at some titles: Novel set in Amish country, "Land of Lincoln", "The Help", novel set in Amish country, "The History of Surnames", novel set in Amish country, juicy romance, "The Boy in the Striped Panamas", novel set in Amish country, Anne of Green Gables, horror book, novel set in Amish country.... what is with all these novels set in Amish country?!?!
Browsing, browsing, squeeze around the fellow bookworms. La dee da, ooooh, look at that one! Whoops, just kidding not my kind of book. Here's an interesting choice. Do they really write books about that? Geez, I've already been here an hour! Better finish up, oh this one or that?

 Here, just take these four. Alright, I'm ready now. Go up to the table, five dollars? Sure. (Never mind that they're only 75 cents each!) Never let a librarian use her beady eyes to weasel $5 out of you. Rats, I'm going to regret that later.
Gather up my finds, walk out the door. What's that, you say, old lady? "Look at these books! Where did they all COME from?"

Hehe, well, it's not magic, ma'am, it's just a book sale.

The Beaver Area Memorial Library held its annual book sale on Saturday, June 1st. All proceeds benefitted the library (even extra proceeds!). This week they are offering any books you can fit in a bag for $5. Please stop by and support the library.

Vegetables Can Be Sentimental

                                     

The green beans were the clincher. As I stood in the church  kitchen pouring cans of the vegetables into aluminum trays, their subtle smell, dull green color and mushy texture transported me back to another time. I thought about the many occasions, while staying at the Ronald McDonald House last summer, that they had been prepared for me. During the 8 weeks I stayed there, every day a group would come in and lend their time and energy to cook a warm meal just for us. After a long hard day at the hospital, all we had to do was grab a plate and enjoy the fruits of their labors. I always felt so grateful to them and wondered how I could ever repay them and their smiling faces. When would I be able to help someone?

Flash forward to today and I'm at the Lutheran House of Prayer, helping my Youth Group to serve a "Manna" dinner to the needy people of West Aliquippa. No longer on the receiving end of the deal, I am finally prepping instead of eating, spooning veggies and plating brownie squares. A woman comes into the room to take our picture to hang on the wall with the photos of other volunteers who have in the past come to help. "Thank you all for coming." she says. I realize at this moment that here I am, doing my part to help. Now I know what it feels like to be the one serving instead of the one being served. Boy, what a good feeling it is. But part of the reason it feels so good is because I have felt both ways. I know how special one simple meal can be, and how it can mean so much to one who needs it. And I also know how doing your part to do something for someone else can be so fulfilling, gratifying, even liberating.

Although I had to leave early due to soccer practice, this experience at the Manna dinner was a very positive one for me, and I hope that my Youth Group will do more of these types of service projects in the future. I will leave with a quote from the acclaimed blockbuster film, "Les Miserables", which I think applies perfectly to this situation: "Remember the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God".

I agree: it seems like the best in us is brought out when we are all serving and looking out for one another. We get changed for the better, as I can attest: I'll never see people --nor green beans-- in the same way again.

New Shop on the Block

Tonight we went up and sampled Beaver's newest culinary venue, "Sincerely Yogurt". I was super excited to try it, as were the droves of  customers filling the shop to its capacity. It was hilarious to watch how everyone reacted to the yogurt shop concept, obviously something new in these parts.  They hovered about trying to figure out what to do, mixing up the toppings bar with the yogurt station, and vice versa, until an employee gathered them around and gave the Sincerely Yogurt rundown: you get a cup, fill it with the flavors you choose, add toppings, and then place your dish on the scale at the counter and pay by the ounce (55 cents per ounce).

The flavor line-up tonight included some classic frozen yogurt staples --mango, raspberry and green tea--  which taste tart and fruity, and also a few varieties with sweet ice cream-like consistency: peanut butter, banana, and french vanilla, to name a few. Over at the toppings bar, choices were abundant. Marshmallow bits, fruit, candy, sprinkles, nuts, almost any topping you could think of was available. Most of the kids beelined straight for the gummy worms and chocolate pieces, while many adults created interesting blends of fruits.

Leaving the crowded shop, blooming with activity and lively music, it was plain to see that "Sincerely Yogurt"  had created quite a buzz in town. But only time will tell whether this new kid on the block has the stuff to keep the business coming, and the staying power to become Beaver's next hang-out.

Favorite Songs, Part 1

                                      


Here are a few songs that really kept me going when I was sick:

Mercy Me "The Hurt and the Healer"

Kelly Clarkson "Stronger"

Laura Story "Blessings"

Matt Redman "10,000 Reasons"

Switchfoot "Where I Belong"

Check back later for more of my greatest hits!

Oh Spring!

I opened my eyes this morning to hear the sound of birds --oh, sweet birds!-- wafting through my window. The day's young sun was glowing red, shining off the dew-wetted grass and glistening on the panes of my neighbors' windows. I could feel the freshness in the air, still flushed with the night's cool chill, as it blew softly into my bedroom.

It was a lovely wake-up call; a soothing "Good Morning!" for my senses. My ears could hear it. My eyes, as they took in the lovely scene, could see its beauty. My nose could smell it in the aroma of the warm, damp earth permeating up from the ground. My skin, shivering a little and covered with goosebumps, could sense it. I knew what day this was.

"Today is the day when life begins!" my heart nearly sang for joy, "Spring is finally here! The world is awake and alive. And finally, FINALLY, the long LONG winter is over......"

I jumped out of the covers and began fixing my bed. What a lovely thought. And what a lovely day, a lovely season, a lovely new chapter this spring has already turned out to be.

Note: So yes, spring has begun. I've started my vegetable garden (swiss chard, broccoli, peas, mesclun and arugula have already taken their places in our raised beds) and have been living mostly outside in the afternoons enjoying the amazing warm weather. I've taken up shooting hoops on my back basketball court again, and riding my bike has been fun as well. But the biggest news of all, as you can see from above, is that I've started to write a little bit again. Slowly but surely, the old knack is coming back, and with it, soon The Missy Times will too. So Stay tuned! Meanwhile, check out this video: one of my favorite songs by Coldplay that I think sounds quite springy and lighthearted. 

Thoughts from Inside My Head

Everyone is waiting. They're so anxious for a Missy Times. It's been such a long time that they're all worried The Missy Times is over. But it's coming. I will finish an issue someday. Someday soon.
My mind is so blocked, so clogged with ideas and phrases that won't materialize out of my head and onto the page. I can imagine my finished articles, I can imagine the relief of holding the freshly printed copies in my hands and seeing proof that all the agony of this past summer was not for nothing. It has been so long.
I think back over the many months I've struggled to write and shudder at the lost time that has passed as week after week goes by with no more progress than the last. I read my collection of past issues and yearn to write again. I see my old pieces that brought so much pleasure to my readers' faces and wish that I had a new Missy Times to send them, a Missy Times I could be proud of.
I must get it done. I WILL get it done. My dream of writing cannot die, I cannot give up my goal of becoming a journalist. If I ever want to grow up to be a famed writer, esteemed throughout the country for my talented work, I must first overcome this looming road block.
No one said it would be easy. If it were easy, then everyone would be amazing writers. It takes perserverance, it takes commitment, it takes work. That's why I'm going to stick with this. I'm going to write right through this until finally I've trounced this challenge and finished it, down til I've sealed the very last envolope.

The Missy Times is making a comeback. It is coming! And I promise you (and hold me to this) that by this time next week you will be holding an issue in your very own hands.

Summer Update

I haven't updated in over a month (oops!) and I think that may be a record. Ever since we returned home from our Nebraska trip -which you will hear all about in the upcoming Missy Times-  life around the Koshute household has been both busy and lazy at the same time. Last week Dad, Mom, Nick and I drove down to Deleware and spent some vacation time relaxing at Bethany Beach. I helped out at our church's Vacation Bible School the week before, and one Sunday before that, Mom, Gina and I went up to Moraine State Park where we biked and walked the trails around Lake Arthur. In between I've been swimming at the pool, hanging at the library, playing with friends, and watching Food Network Star and "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel.

Anyway, I just wanted to give you a brief update and apologize for not posting in a while. I'll try harder to get some real, solid posts up this month so you won't be left in the dark. A new Missy Times is headed your way, so stay tuned to your mailbox!

Behind the Scenes, Part 1: 70 Things You Can Buy In Beaver For A Dollar or Less

One night on Easter break, our family was sitting out on the porch and I was pondering what I should write for next main story in The Missy Times. I asked my siblings if they had any ideas and Phil, my oldest brother came up with a good one:
"Why don't you go around Beaver and see what you can buy for less than a quarter?"

That sounded interesting, but I doubted that there were many things for sale these days for under 25 cents. After concluding that the 3 cent nails at Fischer's Hardware Store would probably be the only item I would find for that low of a price, we raised the limit to a dollar or less.  I finally had a topic!

It was a pleasant warm April day when my friend and I walked up to main street to carry out the survey. I brought along with me a pad of paper and a pencil to record the information, and some money in case I wanted to purchase anything we found.

Starting at Cafe Kolache, Beaver's well-known coffee shop and eatery, we made our way down Third Street stopping at as many businesses as possible. "Can I help you with anything?" many of the cashiers would inquire. I knew must of certainly looked odd that we were walking around their store copying prices down from tags, but I wasn't really in the mood to explain our mission to every single shopkeeper. We preferred to work "undercover", per say. "No thank you, we're just looking, ma'am. (or sir)" I'd answer politely. A few times when prices weren't printed clearly though, we did have to ask the cost of an item. One store, "Kathleen's", was particularly talented at not labeling their merchandise. "How much are these cards? How much is this painted lady bug? What about this candle?" my friend kept calling to the lady at the counter. She answered our inquiries one by one, but  seemed puzzled. "Exactly how much money do you girls have to spend?" she finally said. I explained our task. "Oh, well this isn't that kind of store" she declared almost proudly with a chuckle "We don't have anything here for under a dollar." We did find one item, though. It was a fancy kind of instant hot chocolate called "Cocoa Amore".


Some places really impressed me with their selection: Who knew Pizza Joe's sold espressos? Since when has Pollock's sold so many pens? Why hadn't I ever noticed that the cookies at Kretchmar's were so inexpensive?

And others really disappointed me: When did the previously 99 cent silly bands at the toy store go up to $1.21?  Are sugar-free cookies all Cafe Kolache can offer for under $1? Why can't Philly Originals lower the prices on their drinks?

At the end of the day, this had to be one of the most enjoyable Missy Times surveys I've ever done. My friend I both agreed that it was a lot of fun.

Here are a few last notes:

• In only a little over an hour, we collected info from nearly 20 stores.

• I ended up buying an egg roll from China house for Grace to try, a postcard from the Hostess Shoppe to send and a star cookie from the bakery to munch on. All were very successful purchases.

• One of the few stores we had to leave out was Beaver Super, on account of their overwelming array of products.

• When I posted the results in The Missy Times, I forgot to mention that we didn't include tax. If you want to come to Beaver to buy these items yourself, make sure you bring a few extra pennies. 

Stay tuned for "Behind the Scenes, Part 2" for more info on my trip to Baltimore.

Put Away the Shorts and Bring Out the Shovels!

Just one week ago, as the red mercury in the thermometers shot up past the 50 and 60 degree marks, spring fever was spreading throughout the town. The brown, dry grass looked as if it were taking a long, deep breath, rejoicing in it's freedom from the suffocating layer of heavy snow, which, except for a few piles of slushy mush, was completely gone. The birds sounded as if they were bursting with joy as they sang up in the trees. People all around Beaver were outside enjoying the weather but most were seen on River Road riding bikes, walking their dogs, jogging, or just taking a brisk stroll. Everyone had been infected, and there was no cure for this disease.

For those couple of days, I was wearing shorts. Less than a week later, I was wearing hat, gloves, and snow pants.

 Just when we had all truly believed that spring was coming like the groundhog had said, winter came flying back like a slap in the face. It was Monday, and the weather forcasters were only predicting some freezing rain and sleet for that evening. That was a mistake. By mid-afternoon fluffy white snow was falling...... and sticking. The shovels were brought back out from the garage and my dad sent my brother and I out to clear the front walk at about 6:30pm, when at least 3 inches already covered the ground . The faster I shoveled, the faster the snow fell and by the time I was done, a fresh dusting of snow had already accumulated on the sidewalk.

The next morning, the world was completely white. Overnight, a total of seven inches had been dumped on the same town which had been basking in the warmth of spring only days earlier.

At first, I was disappointed. Winter will never end! I thought. But soon I was enjoying the snow as I always do. I went outside with the other neighborhood kids and we worked for hours building an igloo and later, a snow man.

The temperature is creeping back up into the 40's and it looks like we're headed for another loooong, slow, thaw. For now, we're stuck with winter again. But while its here I'll try to enjoy it, for the real spring will be back before long.



Have you always wanted to build an igloo? You should! It sounds like it would be hard, but actually, if you have enough people to help, it isn't. Here's how:


1. Take some shovels and mound up a huge pile of snow


2. As you're piling, use a squirt bottle to spray water onto the loose bits of snow make it frozen so that it stays packed into place


3. After your pile is big (it has to be BIG if you want people to fit inside) trace out a doorway and start chipping and digging out a hole that will be the room. Remember to spray the roof and walls as you're digging so that the whole thing does not cave in on top of you!


4. Contiue to thicken the outside igloo walls as needed so that when carving your room, your shovel does not break through and puncture the whole thing


5. Carve the room to your desired size while scraping out all excess snow


6. Put on finishing touches and have fun!

Don't Forget.....February 17th Is Random Acts Of Kindness Day!

Boy, February sure has a lot of great holidays! There's Groundhog day, Valentines Day, Toothache Prevention Day, Candlemas, Presidents Day, etc. You may not be aware that February is home to another great holiday: Random Acts of Kindness Day, which is (of all days) today! I know it is not a big, well known celebration, but the idea of doing spontaneous nice things for people is a practice we should all adopt. Here is some information on the holiday from http://www.holidayinsights.com/





When : Always February 17th


Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. And, you know what to do...perform a few random acts of kindness. Almost any kind deed will do. And, we highly recommend you perform kind acts on as many people as you can.
This is a favorite day of many people and groups. People like the idea of showing a little kindness to others. Its a fun and good thing to do. And, they like being on the receiving end of this day as well. It makes both the giver and the receiver feel good.
Schools have used this day as an educational event, and to promote the value of kindness. Organizations have used this day to promote their cause, and for fundraisers.


Caution: What comes around, goes around. Random Acts of Kindness is highly contagious.


Origin of Random Acts of Kindness Day:
Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. We wish we could thank the originators of this great day. The originators have truely helped to make the world a better place.
Many organizations and groups have declared other days to be "Random Acts of Kindness Day". These declarations are usually local, one-time events, often for fundraisers.




Aren't you glad I did you a random act of kindness by reminding you that today is Random Acts of Kindness Day?

Good luck with your random acts of kindness!

---

Happy Valentines Day!

How was your Valentines Day? I hope it was just LOVEly!
Here is what I did to celebrate the holiday:

It did not take long after I woke up for my Valentines Day to begin. As I walked down the stairs, I found a red envelope waiting for me on top of the piano. It was a card from my dad. Every year its his project to buy us all Valentines. Its fun to look through the Valentine bag from the attic and read all my old cards from past February 14ths.

After my piano lesson my mom and I drove over to Rosalinds Candy Castle to buy some Valentine sweets. Inside the small store, a line of people waiting to purchase last minute suprises wrapped around the candy displays stocked with Valentine confections complete with colorful red and pink wrappers. There were little boxs of chocolate, heart shaped lollipops, candy berries, and little bags of candy hearts. Most of the people were choosing from the wide variety of gourmet chocolates at the counter or ordering a box of delicious chocolate covered strawberries. We left the store with the latter, two bags of candy berries, and some little raspberry milk chocolates for one of my friends.

Later on after school, I had fun going around the neighborhood delivering my tiny Martha Stewart Valentines which my mom (who has very good taste) found for me at Michael's craft store. I think they're my favorite ones yet! They're so cute! I had a good time trying to think up rhymes such as
"Roses are Red
Violets are blue
Candy is sweet
and I hope your Valentines Day is too!"
to put inside.

At about 5:00 I went over to my friend's house to bake some Valentine sugar cookies. We had a good time experimenting different ways to cut and decorate them (see pictures). One of the cookies turned out to be a giant pink heart with colored sprinkles rolled inside the dough and we even tried baking conversation hearts into some of the others. The funny thing was that even though they melted a little bit into the cookie, their texture didn't change. They still felt hard and crunchy!

After I had finished my dinner back at home, another one of my friends brought me over a big heart shaped Valentine.

The day concluded with me presenting my parents

 their special cards and then watching the new episode of "Pawn Stars" before bed.

I hope you've enjoyed hearing about my Valentines Day and I hope that yours was just as happy.

Here We Go Steelers!

A sigh of relief. Then a shriek of joy as I run laps around the house jumping up and down and over the side of the couch until I wear myself out. Then, I flop down on a pillow, exhausted. That sure was a stressful game. 

That's what usually happens after the Steelers win a playoff game, especially an important one like last week's. (But hey, what Steeler game isn't important?)

And here we go again. I have to gear up and prepare myself for another nerve-racking, pillow biting (that's what I do when I get really nervous), Terrible Towel wringing playoff game. The only difference is that this is the ultimate playoff game........this is the Super Bowl!

By right of birth, born into a family of Pittsburghers who love the "Stillers" I've always been sort of a fan. I'd watch my dad and brothers watch the games and hear them talk about them, but that was about it. You have to start somewhere, right?  It was not until I was probably seven that I started getting really interested in joining my male family members in their football fandom. Ever since then, I've been a big fan. I've cheered the Steelers on every year, but then again, who doesn't! Our whole city loves the Steelers; there is not one Sunday in football season where you can not spot dozens of people sporting  Steelers jerseys. They say -and I don't doubt this one bit- that we have the best fans in all of sports. Of course we do! We're Pittsburgh!

This will be my third Steelers Super Bowl. I saw them win #5 and #6, and boy, am I sure hoping to see them add a 7th Lombardi to the case!
And what will happen if they lose?! I don't know what I'll do, but one things for sure, we will not have a happy household for at least a month. I've seen my brother grieve over sports loses before and Its not pretty.

Whatever the outcome, it'll prove to be an exciting game.

So let's hope the next time I do my post-playoff game routine of sighing, cheering, running, and jumping is on Super Bowl Sunday, when the Steelers win!

Here we go Steelers!!!!!!!





Question: Are you a football fan? Of what team? If not, are you a fan of a team of another sport? What kind? Did you grow up as a fan of this sports team or just recently become one?

Let me know!

Happiness Is.........

A couple years ago, my mom got out the sound track to the musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" from the library. At first, it was like, "eh, just another CD mom thought was interesting and thinks we should listen to" (I wasn't too keen on the pictures in the booklet showing real humans taking the place of the Peanuts cartoon characters, which was all I was used to. They kinda freaked me out). But once I had heard it a  few times, I was hooked. It became sort of a family staple. My brother and I memorized all the words. Even the older siblings joined in. "Shroeder" and "My New Philosophy" were belted throughout the house while "Suppertime" was used as our dinner bell. But perhaps the most favorite song was the one that came very last on the CD, titled "Happiness".

Speaking of "Happiness", here are the lyrics:

HAPPINESS IS FINDING A PENCIL.
PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE
TELLING THE TIME.
HAPPINESS IS LEARNING TO WHISTLE.
TYING YOUR SHOE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

HAPPINESS IS PLAYING THE DRUM IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL BAND.
AND HAPPINESS IS WALKING HAND IN HAND.
HAPPINESS IS TWO KINDS OF ICE CREAM.
KNOWING A SECRET.
CLIMBING A TREE.
HAPPINESS IS FIVE DIFFERENT CRAYONS.
CATCHING A FIREFLY.
SETTING HIM FREE.

HAPPINESS IS BEING ALONE EVERY NOW AND THEN.
AND HAPPINESS IS COMING HOME AGAIN.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

HAPPINESS IS HAVING A SISTER.
SHARING A SANDWICH.
GETTING ALONG.
HAPPINESS IS SINGING TOGETHER WHEN DAY IS THROUGH,
AND HAPPINESS IS THOSE WHO SING WITH YOU.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.



Inspired by this song, I present to you four things that made me happy this week:

Happiness is..........

1. Not Breaking My Thumb
Thumb. Door. Slam. Not very good words to be used together. You can probably guess what happened. These words added together equal blood, swelling and pain, which is also not a very good combination of words. I thought for sure my thumb was broken. But I iced it, soaked it, and bandaged it under the watchful eye of  Dr. Mom and by the next morning the swelling had gone down. I sit here with nothing but an ugly blood blister and a fully bendable thumb that's not that sore. (No stitches needed) Thanks be to God!






2. Having a Snow Day
I LOVE snow! No matter what people say about hating winter, as long as there is a significant amount of snow, I have to disagree. Snow is such a miracle! And what I like even more than snow is having a snow day. A day devoted solely to snow. And we had just that kind of a day on Wednesday, when six inches of snow fell, and school was cancelled.
I love playing all day in the white stuff, sledding, snowball fighting, frolicking with the neighbors, and just laying in the snow. I enjoy genuinely getting tired out and then, red cheeked and cold, going inside to thaw out with a warm cup of any kind of non-chocolate liquid. My mom likes to make me vanilla milk. Yummy!





3. Watching the Steelers Win
What a great way to end the week! On to the AFC championship! Victory alone makes me feel good, but beating the Ravens is even better.






4. Visiting My Grandma
On Friday, my mom and I went to Cleveland to visit my Grandma. Its nice to live close enough to go see her for a few hours and still be able to drive back to Beaver all in one day. I had a good time. No wonder why they're called Grandmas. My grandma sure is grand!




(5.) Sending out the Missy Times
I just had to mention that.


"Happiness is anyone and anything at all thats loved by you.........."

What made you happy this week?

Happy Advent!!!!!

                                                                                                                                                      
Yesterday, November 28th, marked the beginning of Advent, the holy season in which we prepare for Christmas and the second coming of Jesus.

Speaking of Christmas, it feels like the holiday comes earlier and earlier each year. Just four days after Thanksgiving, it seems as if almost every house in town already has Christmas lights and wreaths hanging outside, and in some houses you can already see Christmas trees through the curtains. At the mall, Christmas sales, decorations, and presents abound, while carols stream out the speakers.

Please reread the date at the top of this post and take a deep breath. Its November 29th. Christmas is still 25 days away.Though its past October I still feel we're overdoing it.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely LOVE Christmas. It is the one holiday that outshines my love for Thanksgiving, mostly because it is the 2nd most important holiday we celebrate (Easter being the first). The reason why its so important is because it is the day God sent His only Son Jesus to save us. I also love Christmas for all the other obvious reasons, the songs, the decorations, the gifts, the cheer etc.

But, it is November and it is Advent, our time to prepare for the day. Maybe putting up all the Christmas stuff and singing carols already is some people's way of preparing, but for other people, I'm just worried that by the time Christmas does come, they'll already be taking them down (which usually does happen) and forget why they put them up in the first place. And the stores? The ones that started their sales on Thanksgiving Day? I know they aren't preparing for the Christmas season, they want it to start now, they don't care about what it truly means, they just want customers.

I admit, its hard for me not to join in, and we should start to get in the mood because the 25th is going to be here soon, so I think listening to a carol here and there and watching a Christmas special or two won't hurt, just as long as we don't overdo it. I think to truly enjoy Christmas, we should prepare, (our hearts then our house) and when we are prepared, let the joy begin!

So grab an Advent Calendar, prepare, be patient with those Christmas ads, light those purple and pink Advent candles, and have a happy four weeks of  Advent!

Don't forget to sing "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel"!