St. Lucia Day

"How special to be the beautiful Saint Lucia! In Sweden, the Christmas season begins on December 13, the feast of Saint Lucia, when the eldest daughter in each family poses as the fourth-century Sicilian martyr. Clothed in a red-sashed white dress, an evergreen wreath with seven lighted candles perched upon her head, the young Swedish girl begins the day by carefully carrying coffee and buns to family members in their rooms. That day, schools, offices, and communities sponsor Lucia processions in which everyone thanks the Queen of Light for bringing hope during the darkest time of the year."
~from Believe: A Christmas Treasury illustrated by Mary Engelbreit (98).

After receiving a lovely email from aslaug who lives in Norway, I decided to honor my Scandinavian roots (I'm half Norwegian) and celebrate St. Lucia Day in my own Pom Pom-ish way. So, I stopped at the store last night to pick up my favorite crazy candles, and today I made real buns (with YEAST and kneading involved!) and since it is my sister's birthday, too, I felt all happy inside (and Norwegian!) as I lit the candles and took the picture! What do you think? We had warm chili, too. The wind is blowing so hard that I'm looking for Mary Poppins!

Here are our little Nativity people that I bought twenty years ago. I found them at a little Hallmark store and even though they are tiny, they were a little more than I should have spent for a nonpresent during an expensive time of year. I'm so glad I did. Yesterday, CB came over for a while and she was enjoying them. She'd say, "You say, Mary. I'll say, WHAT?"

These funny crazy hairs come out every Christmas!

Little creches like this one were always the "gift" after singing in the church Christmas program at the Lutheran church I attended with my family. I was thrilled. I still am.

Here's my little drummer boy, Finnegan.

It's time to write the cards for my students. I have grading to do, too. Hmmmmm. That's a little more on the "to do" list than I'm happy with. Oh well. Five more days and my Christmas break begins! Yahooo!

And Sam is growing! I enjoyed cuddles with her yesterday. She smells delicious, peers at us with her lovely blue eyes, and adores her mama.
Have a wonderful week! I'm thinking about all of you! I am ultra-thankful for your kind words and connections! If I could call you right now, I'd sing you the "Carol of the Bells" and you'd be nice enough to listen. (BIG HUGE CHRISTMAS HUG!)