WINTER SOLSTICE Winter begins
Celebrate
SHORTER DAYS Sunset arrives early. The western sky glows long after the sun is gone. Birds gather to roost in the lilac bush and apple tree. Darkness settles as the sky fades to gray. A full moon rises low in the eastern sky indicating cold weather is here to stay.
MERRY AND BRIGHT May your days be merry and bright.
TREE TOPS GLISTEN Stone Mountain glistens in the morning sun while shrouded in ice for two consecutive days. The frosty cold temperatures brought snow to damp hollows and shaded areas. Jacks Mountain, behind the house, did not have the same beauty.
THE ADVENT CENTERPIECE
The Advent Centerpiece is a daily reminder to express love, hope, joy, and peace throughout the holiday season. Lighting the oil lamp every evening builds anticipation for the arrival of Christmas Day. Advent literally means "arrival" or "coming" as in the coming of Jesus the Messiah who brings hope and salvation to mankind.
Symbols of Advent Centerpiece
The circular wreath is a symbol of the eternal or never ending.
The evergreens symbolize everlasting life.
The lamp symbolizes the light of God coming to the earth through the birth of His son Jesus the Christ.
Lighting the wick symbolizes receiving this Gift of Light.
The wreath is made from Honeysuckle runners wrapped into a circle with Boxwood and Rosehips tucked into the vines.
A Nativity Prayer
O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in; Be born in us today. Amen.
Phillips Brooks ~ O LIttle Town of Bethlehem
WHAT MONEY CAN AND CANNOT BUY Several years ago I found an inspiring list of what money can and cannot buy. I copied it on an index card so I could read it often. Since then, I have added some of my own thoughts to the list. I find it provides balance to holiday spending. Contentment is being thankful for what we have instead of striving for what we don't have. What Money Cannot Buy a bed but not sleep
food but not appetite
house but not a home
luxuries but not culture
companions but not friends
books but not brains
finery but not beauty
medicine but not health
amusement but not happiness
flattery but not respect
fashion apparel but not style
sex but not love
pleasure but not contentment. We value the things we pay money for. We fail to see value in the things that come free and cannot be replaced.
~Napoleon Hill~
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