Christmas Eve 2013

Well, I am still not really ready for Christmas.  The presents for the kinder and grand-kinder are bought and wrapped. The obligatory gifts for colleagues, acquaintances, siblings, relatives and dear friends have been purchased, decorated and, for the most part, delivered. But I have not gotten around to setting out the manger or decorating the, albeit, little table top Christmas tree. 

My friend, Susan, has a great collection of nativity sets or crèches that she has collected over the years.  She often displays them and once was a news item on the NJ Public TV station as she showed them at her parish hall.  Susan is an Episcopal priest and her parishioners were treated to crèches and cookies getting to admire her very eclectic collection.

The little tree is ready to be embellished with decorations. At least I have not succumbed to the ceramic tree that once adorned my mother-in-law's home in Florida, actually I really like that one, but don't recall if I have it or if my sister-in-law in Georgia has it. A friend of mine recently referred to one of that ilk as the "senior citizens' tree", because she claimed she only saw them in the homes of those 65 and older...well, guess what, we are both fast approaching that milestone ourselves and we just may be in the market for one of those trees really soon.

I did invest in several battery operated candles and tea lights which I have used to decorate the open étagère that overlooks the harbor.  They are sitting in or behind or next to various glass figures (most notably swans) that twinkle and glow in the dark of evening. I have not put up the silver star I purchased last year at IKEA, but I still have time...right?

But whatever happens here this afternoon, I will be happily on the altar at Christ Church for the four o'clock pm Children's service at which our fabulous Children's Choir will be singing, and then later at the solemn high mass at ten o'clock PM with some great Christmas music and carols.

Christmas isn't really about presents and decorations.  It is really about love come down; and that is the most important thing.