Holiday ABC's ....

Q = Quilt What’s better than on a cold winter’s night wrapping up in a big, warm, quilt?? That speaks of comfort, security, and home --- all the qualities of this holiday season.

R = Rudolph Of the many holiday specials, one of my favorites is RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. I adore his tiny, nasal-y voice. The underlying meaning that the one left out, labeled, and living on the “island of misfit toys” is the very same one who comes through in the storm and brings Christmas is a story that is as old as the Gospel…in fact, it’s at the heart of the Gospel.

S = Star My father was very talented in the art of carpentry. One Christmas season, he made a four-foot star out of wood and white lights and silver tinsel and hung it on the second level of the front of our house. It looked fantastic --- simple, subtle and stunning. Several years ago, my brother found the star and took it to his house which is an old farmhouse that sits back off the road behind a few large fields. He now puts up the star and one can see it from the highway; from that distance it looks as if it is hanging in the air.

T = Tradition Part of what makes this season are the traditions that are followed; like the Christmas Eve candlelight service and hanging the ornaments that go back generations. To keep things lively it is necessary to introduce new traditions. When her grandchildren were little, my mother introduced the “Pickle Prize” to our family. She bought a green, glass pickle ornament and would hide it on the Christmas tree. Whoever found the pickle received the “pickle prize present.” As was the case with all she did, my mother took anything done for her family with a committed effort. She hid that pickle ornament very well --- I’m talking deep within the boughs and branches of the evergreen. The pickle ornament always was found by one of the grandchildren. However, the coolest part was the “pickle prize” was always a new and fun board game that would gather the entire family to play and laugh and be together --- my Mom was a very wise woman.

U = Unwrap It’s important to wrap one’s gifts because it is such a “Wow moment” when you come downstairs Christmas morning and gaze upon all the beautifully wrapped presents stacked neatly beneath the tree. It is a total rush moment when one is given the “OK, you can unwrap your presents now” invitation and you literally rip into it!

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