First day of Advent

Day 51, "Every picture has a story"

The day is December 2, 1956.  It is a nice winter day but cold.  Dad decides to take some pictures (what is new?) before we head to church.  We do have church today as it is our Sunday to have services.  Last Sunday we were able to sleep in before Mom made pancakes which we covered with chokecherry syrup which was delicious.  I am getting big, I think, as at the age of 9 Dad said I could sit with my friend at church instead of sitting by him and keeping my hands folded!  We arrive at church about the same time as Chuckie J, the friend I will sit by.  Of course we will again have the contest of seeing who can open their song book to the nearest page of the next song.  I think I win most of the time but then I really am not sure.  As Chuckie and I settle into our seats, ahead of Mom and Dad as Dad wants to keep an eye on my behavior, my mind wanders back to yesterday.  We had our first Christmas program practice, the first of 4!  Those practices are "Mom's thing".  She is the head of the program but really what she likes the most is playing the Christmas songs that we sing.  I think we sing way toooo many but then Mom just loves each one and usually has us sing each song twice, maybe 3 times, each practice.  Gee, are we really that bad?  Let me think.  Four practices with 5 songs sang twice means we are singing songs 40 times before the BIG program.  Well it is Mom's thing and I certainly would NEVER question her.  The other thing I wonder about is WHY do I never get an important part in the program.  Is it because Mom is the head and she does not want anyone to think she favors her family?  I mean I have been a shepherd now for at least 3 years!  I think I would make a great Joseph or even an angel but wait, those are reserved for the girls as people think girls make better angels than guys.  What the heck, I think God has boy angels too.  At Wood Lake School, when I was in the 3rd grade, I got to sit and recite the entire Christmas story as part of our program and I think I did a FINE job but then when we arrived home Mom said she thought I would never end.  I never did figure out if that was a compliment or something else!  Remember that was in public school!  I am suddenly reminded by Chuckie that it is time for our second song so we need to see who wins the game.  Wait, I lost that one!  I settle back in the pew and try to listen to the morning message as I wait for the next competition with Chuckie to see who wins this time.  Bergen Church, the memories linger in the mind forever, "for sure".

I finished our Christmas card yesterday.  Now it is a matter of deciding who to send them to and when to send them.  We decided to do a different card this year and it was fairly easy to make.  Not sure what I am going to be doing in the days ahead as between the planning book and Christmas card I dealt with about 50+ pictures and many "setting up" kind of pages.  Now what to do as I am finished with all that?

I am becoming a bit frustrated with the tennis team.  The biggest thing is I had to reschedule our November 21st match and then had to reschedule it again.  To get guys to respond is almost like herding cats which I have never done but I hear it is not easy!  Anyway, that and then I went over to the courts yesterday to see what was happening and there were 3 of my team playing with the round robin of good players and I was not one of them.  It is so so difficult to get in the "in group".  Maybe, just maybe, I need to go around each morning and brag about how good I am but then IF they watch me play????  Well if I were to grade each of the 12 players yesterday I would grade at least 6 of them below me, really!  Maybe I just need to suck it up but still feel sorry for myself!

The FP is gone (Terry made it for me this morning) and the bacon, eggs and potatoes are also gone only leaving dirty dishes which need to be washed.  Happy Advent to all.