Ho! Ho! Ho!

 I didn't get the masses of blooms off of my rose bush this year that I did last year, so divided up the few that I did get into tiny vases and tucked them here and there around the house.  Not as dramatic as a big bouquet, but still quite cheery...

I was talking with my sister on the phone a few days ago, and she mentioned that she had already started her Christmas shopping.  I dimly remembered that last year we had decided to start our shopping 6 months before December (making us already a month late!) but it is hard to get into the mood when the birds are singing outside and the garden is finally just starting to cough up produce.

BUT...I have had two kinds of Christmases.  One is the Christmas where I wait until the last minute, scramble to get the presents bought  (some mailed out of state), the groceries brought in, house decorated, presents wrapped, cards sent and ended up cross, tired and weepy.  I have also had Christmases (not many) where I prepared early, had all the presents bought and wrapped by Halloween, the pantry stocked before Thanksgiving, and I was able to focus on the miracle of the nativity and enjoy the fellowship of family and friends. I definately preferred the latter type of Christmas...much less exhausting, so I am going to follow my sister's lead and get cracking on Christmas!

I have been doing a lot of reading this summer, and I found that the pioneer woman prepared early for Christmas too.  Most of their gifts were handmade, so waiting until the last minute was not an option.  They also began to prepare during harvest for the Christmas season...canning things, making preserves and tucking away spices for gifts.  I think of them now, and when I am cutting lemon slices for my ice tea, I cut a few and dry them for my homemade potpourri.  I am also gathering every flower petal I can find, to dry and add to the mixture.  I won't be making fruit cakes or hard pudding like the pioneer women, but this is a good time to enlarge photos at the machine in Walmart, and look around for some picture frames that don't cost the earth.  Once you get into it, Christmas preparation in the latter days of summer can be fun and creative because you still have time to think. 

And come Christmas, when the stores are packed and everyone else is singing the song that all they want for Christmas is not to have to make ANOTHER trip to Walmart, you will be tucked in at home...drinking hot lemon tea, listening to a Bing Crosby CD and watching the snowflakes drift past your window.  You will have time to go to every church service and concert...read your Bible...and marvel anew at the mercy and love of God...who sent his Son for our Saviour.  DLB