Christmas therapy

     

     My busy December began as I hosted an early Christmas party for 17 of my sisterhood of friends. 

     Some of them are experiencing physical challenges and loneliness in their twilight years. We try to look out for one other with frequent phone calls and in other practical ways. 
     

     We have learned that friends are important, no matter what age.

     Usually, we are surprised at the varied offerings of food that appear at our potlucks. Whether we were telling tales of Christmases past, learning the origins of the holiday symbols — such as, the candy cane — or Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, exchanging our five-bucks fun gift, or trying to answer Christmas riddles, no one seemed in a hurry to leave. 

          Why not try these fun ideas with your family — perhaps, around your Christmas dinner table.

1. What did the gingerbread man use to make his bed?
    A cookie sheet.  

2. What do elves learn in school?
    ELF-ABET. 

3. What does Jack Frost like best about school?
    Snow and Tell. 

4. Who is never hungry at Christmas?
    The turkey, for he is always stuffed. 

5. What do snowmen like to do on the weekend?
    Chill Out. 

6. What do you get when you cross Santa with a duck?
    A Christmas Cracker. 

7. What kind of bug doesn't like Christmas? 
    A BAH HUM Bug. 

8. What is white and floats up?
    A confused snowflake.   

     

     A recent visit from my Calgary comrade Norma, found us traipsing off to Washington State to go Christmas shopping at the Bellis Fair Mall. We also visited the Lights of Christmas, at Warm Beach, during our three-day coach tour. 

     

     The sights of Christmas were alive with over a million twinkling lights and animated characters, including the talking tree. Situated at a Christian camp, this holiday event is open to the public. 

     Each year it takes five months for workers to hang the festive lights. It's absolutely too beautiful to adequately describe. 
     

     Upon returning from our jaunt, (at just the right time) we took in the Nutcracker Ballet at our local theatre. It featured many of our local actors; what an awesome performance! 
     Visiting the Caravan Theatre has been on my wish list for some time. The opportunity came this month with the help of the Friendly Bus, taking us on a scenic drive along the back roads to Armstrong for our visit to the Caravan Theatre. 

     We enjoyed a winter sleigh ride taking in the heart-warming holiday show, Little Brother, Little Sister. 

     

     The outdoor stages were uniquely set against a backdrop of evergreen trees, as magnificent, prancing horses enticed our winter sleigh onward.

     

     As each Christmas season arrives, I find myself revisiting memories of earlier times, especially of childhood experiences. 

• The Christmas Concert production in my one-room school was a big deal to us country kids. 

• Having a new outfit to wear was a must. You can read the story of my childhood agony, while waiting for a new dress to arrive, (page 35 of my book, Seeds of Love). 

• We proudly memorized recitations and acted out the Christmas story. 

• We presented acrostics as a group, proudly holding up our large letters— seeking to impress our doting parents. 

Someone creatively found the right words for this acrostic:  

C - is for Christ, the Son of God and Lord of love. 

H - is for heavenly blessings to each and all from above. 

R - is for remembering the words to your favourite carol. 

I  - is for the icicles hanging inside every barrel. 

S - is for the stockings stuffed to the knee. 

T - is for the tinsel that Mom wraps around the tree. 

M - is for the mistletoe, hung from the wall. 

A - is for all the photos that decorate the hall. 

S - is for Santa and his love for us all.   

     

     As Santa would say,"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

— beulah