It is a whole new week and it is Christmas week as a bonus. Today is also the first day of Winter and it is currently 52 degrees and raining. What's up with that? And if that isn't enough to celebrate; today is our youngest daughter. Lisa's 45th birthday. 

The back yard is only slightly busy this morning. I've had maybe a half-dozen cardinals here and one red-headed woodpecker has been here several times; but that is about it for my feathered friends. Occasionally some of the junkos, finches, and wrens come through. There is a squirrel on one feeder and two or three are up in the trees surrounding the yards. They have been playing chase for the past hour. The poles that hold the feeders are slick from the rain so they are having a hard time getting up there. They jump part way up and slide down. It's quite amusing to watch actually. The rain (just showers actually) comes in and the birds all leave; then it stops and back they come. 

We had a good weekend although we did nothing extra exciting. Yesterday we had only one church service because I did a combined parish Christmas service. The choir did well with the Cantata and the kids did really well. After last Wednesday's train wreck of a practice I didn't know just what to expect. But it all went off with out a hic-cup. I do love it when a plan comes together. I am so grateful for the choir's dedication to their ministry of music. But, we are an aging choir. I don't know how much longer we will keep them together. The young people of the church are going to have to step up and dedicate themselves to this if the choir is to continue. Of our twelve regular members, I think at least seven of them are over sixty five and our oldest is eighty six. But their dedication just warms my heart.  I wonder if they realize it is only 90 days until the Easter Cantata performance!!!  

The children's performance yesterday went well. It was minimal but they all stood where they were supposed to, said their lines, and had BABY JESUS in the right order. It brought about the expected joy and giggles from the congregation and made parents and grandparents proud. What more can we expect?? I felt blessed to have that many children in church. The lack of a children's Sunday school really bothers me because they are not getting that structured foundation they need. But again, it takes volunteers. The parents need to step up and make it a priority in their children's lives. 

As we approach Christmas, I hope that your heart is filled with the love and joy that comes with the celebration of Jesus. God's gift to the world is so very marvelous. Take time to worship this week and to give thanks for family and friends and the love that comes from a relationship with God. Share your blessings with someone who may not feel as blessed. You and your expression of love might be the only Christmas present someone gets this year. That is an awesome responsibility; and God has passed it on to you. Peace.