~:: The Making of a Season ::~

To begin, we have an actual photographic depiction of Rachel, buying The Gardener, right here on my front porch.  This is the equivalent of breaking a bottle of bubbly on the bow of a ship.  Except dryer.  (And here, may I admit that when I haven’t heard from you guys who bought it and read it, I’m assuming the worst.  Not that I should.  I just do.  Arggg.)

Ta-DAAA!!!  Happiness!

This man climbed up on the roof and hung the lights along the roof lines –

Way up in the air, checking it twice.

I did the ground level stuff.  Then we threw the switch for the first time.

We brought in the tree, and plugged it in.  And fixed the lights that had decided to die over the summer.  Everything lit up now.

But by the first week of December, this was all there was on the tree.  Just these two buddies, hanging out very peacefully.

Much present wrapping – paper all over the house.

I made a couple of tiny guys.  Betz White

And then another couple.  Actually, three, counting the guy on the tree.

Here are just some shots of house corners.   I have to warn you; I haven’t had any time to correct any color or sharpen any shots, so these are all just right out of the camera.

My dad made those words, the Merry Christmas.  And the little snowman.

Then the troops showed up.  One Sunday after church, early December – four of my kids came to help me put the ornaments on the tree.

And the lion and the lamb?  No longer alone.

Finished.

Then we had a little early Christmas, exchanging gifts with Chelsea before she flew off home to her fam.

 Sunday dinner.  We used the Christmas dishes, all of us in-state fam, here together.  It was a wonderful dinner (G cooked it).  And after that dinner, I felt so great.  As though this day had been truly Christmas.  There is nothing more important, integral, wonderful, energizing, trying, fulfilling and joyful than the family that you have pulled together, friends with each other, loving and laughing.

So here is my glorious Christmas gift – given to me by all these people, every day.

It’s not quite Christmas yet, but still I leave you with this: my hopes and prayers that you are as happy and peaceful as I felt at the moment this shot was taken.  That you give love and keep giving it – in forgiveness, and service and patience and wonder – and that you get it right back again.  I am so grateful.  And so amazed.

Merry, merry Christmas!!