Wiggly/giggly

12/19/05 5:45 A.M.
-04 F, Cloudy, W wind 14 mph, wind chill -14 F.

Good morning,

The church was filled with wiggles and giggles yesterday! All of the kids were excited and it showed. They really did a good job. It was not the traditional manger scene, with the associated shepherds, etc. in view. No sheets or bathrobes in sight. All of the kids dressed in their best and they really looked it. We sure do have a lot of very cute/handsome kids in our church. The program allowed all of the kids to have a speaking or singing part. Some of course were scared stiff! One played the trumpet with his sister on the keyboard during the offering. His first attempt at anything like that and he really had a hard time after making a mistake. Really felt sorry for him. The mistake caused him to fall apart for the rest of it, but up until that time he really had much better tone quality than the average for his age and experience. He certainly will do better in the future. He still got a round of applause.

With the kids performing, communion was canceled. Margriet and I didn't have a chance to wash dishes either! Like that part, as there are a lot of little glasses to do. Since all of the kids were sitting up front, there was no one left to light the candles. So I did have a job to do in the service. The problem was trying to get through all of the kids to get close to the candles! Did the deed though. Howard also had an easy time with the sermon as he just talked to the kids in the program and got them to interact with him. The kids were great! They had control of the sermon - like it or not. Of course I had to tease Howard about no need to prepare.

After church we went to Slovan for lunch. Of course we ate too much, but the food is good. Not many there, other than a couple of pretty good sized families getting together. Then we stopped at the storage unit and picked up our Christmas decorating "stuff". If the wind dies down, we might even get out an cut down a tree today! The overhead door was frozen tight - both the bolt and the bottom door seal. Once finally open, there was the pile of snow at the door to deal with. Closing up, I had a problem closing the bolt to lock it again. I really do love winter!

A few days ago we did get a Christmas present, of sorts, in the mail - our property tax bill. Much to our surprise, it was down this year. Not down too much, less than 2%, but we like the trend and hope it continues. It should be about another century at that rate until we can really afford to pay it easily. Might not see that day.

We have some running around to do today. The wind chill is really cold at the moment, but is supposed to warm up after lunch. Not too sure if we will go this morning or not. Do hope the wind dies down some before too long. Don't expect that to happen anytime today though. Temperature is supposed to rise to over freezing, with possibility of rain, before Christmas Day. What a weather roller-coaster we have been on this year.

Margriet is talking of doing some Christmas baking. Think that is a really good idea. Time to get to other things and the day a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris <><