'Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the house; the place smelled like cookies, ---    
       thank goodness there's no mouse.
       Ms. Kate's at the computer, her usual routine, and Julie is helping; they make a good team.
     
       Jim is still sleeping, like a slug in the bed; we all hear him snoring; --- he should cover his head.
       And I'm on the sunporch, writing my blog; being constantly interrupted by this silly of dog.
     
       He wants out, he wants in, can't make up his mind. He's hoping eventually a squirrel he will find.
       He chases, he runs, --- in wide circles he goes, his feet moving quickly, to follow his nose.
       He looks up, he looks down, while running carefree; but a squirrel he never catches, cause  
       they're up the tree.

Enough of that! Yes, it is Christmas Eve and it is Ms. Kate's birthday. Julie and Jim and Auggie Dog made it over through the storms last evening just fine. Our storm was pretty big and we did get a lot of rain. Although while today is quite pleasant, it looks like it is going to rain for the next five days. But --- it isn't snow!!! Thank goodness.

I've had a lot of birds again this morning. They come in waves and they leave the same way. The squirrels are being driven nuts by Auggie as he goes chasing them away from the feeders. They go up the tree and chatter and chatter at him.  Then when he comes back in, they cautiously make their way back down until he notices them again and wants out.

Of course, it being Christmas Eve, we will be spending the evening at church. I do a 7:00 and a 9:00 pm service. I would love it if we could just do a single combined church service but, the churches have their traditions and the fact that I have changed the times so that we don't have to be there at midnight is a big accomplishment on my part. The first couple of years they had a 7:00 at one church and an 11:00 at the other church which meant that Ms, Kate and I had to sit around up there for three hours with nothing to do but wait for the next service. That was no way for her to have to spend her birthday. The really aggravating part though was that attendance was low especially at the late service, and the excuse always was the same --- "that's when we do our Christmas."

We've a lot to do today, including baking pies so I better get cleaned up and ready for a day's work. I'm thinking we will maybe all go out for a nice meal before the church services this evening and celebrate Ms. Kate's birthday that way.

Remember this is th celebration of our Savior's birth. God loved us that much taht God was willing to give a part of our God's self to insure that we will have eternal life. Focus on that fact for the couple of days. May the peace of the Christ child be with you.