...the spirit has begun to beckon.

So today.
The last day of November.
Am I making the best of the last day of this fall month?
Who cares?!
I wore gloves and a scarf because it was so cold today! Autumn is on its way out!

December is here, along with the wonderful holiday season, and that means-

three more full weeks of school-advent calendars-desperation for money-shopping-teachers cramming-students cramming-warmer clothes-Christmas songs and caroling-The Tree-adorning The Tree-hugging The Tree-candle lit Sunday mornings-decorating the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall-sugar cookies-cookie exchanges-wrapping paper-light bulbs-Santa hats-hot chocolate-great Christmas movies and shows-

It never ends!
And so begins the rush that can sometimes leave us burnt out, pummeled not only with snow but with the constant bombardment of things we need to buy or receive or anything, that draws us away from what Christmas is about.

That sounds really cliché.
BUT still ever so true.

It is so important to remember the love and reality behind this holiday. The birth of Jesus, the reasons for his life and the appreciation, joy and praise that should come out of it. That is why I'm going to share one of my favorite Christmas hymns.

O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the king of angels:
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultations,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above;
Glory to God
Glory in the highest:
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv'n;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord!