It's Christmas in September - Sort of

Today my darling daughter promised to help me create a website, so I dashed up to my bedroom and plopped myself in front of my laptop. I spent a few hours writing materials to add to the site. While I worked, every now and then I heard thumpings and other sounds of furniture movement, but was too engrossed in my work to pay much attention.

Then my stomach grumbled that I needed a break, so I rose from my creative efforts and slogged downstairs to scrounge something up. Surprise, surprise. The furniture in front of the kitchen bay window had mysteriously moved into the family room. In its place Christmas showed up. In the shape of a seven-foot high champagne-colored prelit tree with the lights glowing.

"It's too early," I wailed. But the perpetrator had gone off somewhere with her sister, so neither of them heard me. I did the only thing I could think of--except for feeding my face. I hurriedly dug out my digital camera and took a couple of shots, making sure the photos included the greenery growing all over the back deck so people could see I wasn't lying. I mean, after all, who'd believe we'd really put up a tree in Sept? I wanted to back up my story with proof.

Unfortunately, that plan fizzled. Ever since my desktop computer hard drive had been updated, I haven't been able to access certain software. And my Kodak shareware is one. So until I can figure out how to download my photos, you'll have to take my word for this.

I guess I should tell you that we put up a huge Christmas light display every year. Before you think we're too weird, the photo on the left should give you a glimpse of what we do--outline the shapes of the trees--a slow process that can easily take more than an hour for one tree. We decorate at least 8 trees inside the house, several of which rotate. Is that cool or what??? There's 50 or 60-18 gallon storage bins sitting in a storage unit waiting to be transported home. Wah. I hate the thought of filling up my sunporch with them while they get unloaded and spread all over.

Last year we started in October but weren't able to complete everything by our annual first Friday of December Christmas party. So I guess we'll start earlier this year. The inside gets our attention first (we can hide it better) until the trees and shrubs lose some of their leaves, or at least stop growing. But my daughters have strict instructions to KEEP THE LIGHTS OFF UNTIL NOVEMBER. Of course after I said that, I wanted to turn them on.

It's never a dull moment with my enthusiastic, creative offspring. God bless 'em, every one.

BTW, not everyone agrees with this method of celebrating Christmas, of course, but we use it as bait, for people are definitely drawn to the displays each year. I've wanted to stand at the end of the driveway and hand out cookies or hot cider or something along with tracts about who Jesus is. Haven't done it yet, but maybe this is the year we'll be able to. Lord, you work it out, please.