The Countdown Begins

The countdown has begun.  I spent this entire weekend working outside putting up lights and Christmas decorations.  Saturday was a little on the cool side and quite windy but I managed to get some of it done but today was sunny, warm and windy.
I told my daughter I thought Kansas had moved to Oklahoma the way the wind was blowing and I wish it would go home.  I literally had to stake and tie all my decorations out in the yard to keep them from blowing over or away.
But the wreaths have been hung on the gates, the lights are all along the fence, took 12 strings of 100 lights each but it almost covers the entire length.  The lighted garland is draped around the screened in porch with its big gaily red bows.
The Nativity set is up flanked by the Peace On Earth Angels in the north yard, while the south yard displays a winter wonderland with the 7 ft. tall spiral trees, two reindeer, a snowman and a grouping of three small white trees, all with white lights.
The candy cane lights are along side the patio and extension area on the north side of the porch and are off set by the snowmen lights that daughter put in front of her trailer on the south side of the porch.
The pot on the shepherd's hook has red poinsettias with green holly and a holly vine twines up and around the top with two red bows at the feet of the roosters which are attached to the top heart shape.
The cords have been laid and only have to attach the automatic timers so on Thursday night when darkness arrives, the magic begins for a four hour show.
Of course, this doesn't mean that I'm done.  I still have the snowflake lights, the small train and Santa's sled to put up and light up as well.
On Wednesday night, the fun begins inside as the tree goes up and will be decorated so again on Thursday night the lights will shine and it can be seen from its place in front of the window.  The house will begin to take on the look of the Christmas holiday as the Santa collection comes out, the Nutcracker collection will be displayed, the pots with poinsettia's scattered about, green garlands decorating the stairway bannister and every room in the house will have some decoration denoting the season.
The library table will be covered with the lacy scarf that has the Nativity story and on top will be displayed the antique Nativity that belonged to my grandparents, the first one that my husband and I bought along with a couple of others we've bought throughout the years and the Bible will be open to the story of the birth of Jesus.  It is almost a ritual as the table is set up with the Nativities and the story is read and made available to all who wish to read it again and again.
The packages will start piling up under the tree with the anticipation setting in as to what their contents might be and the guessing game starts.
It is an exciting time of the year with so much to see and hear and feel.  The excitement of driving around to see the lights and displays, shopping for that perfect gift, the smell of freshly baked cookies and pies, the sounds of Christmas songs and carols being played and a general feeling of love and contentment.
Although I have no little ones to go see Santa, I still enjoy watching the little ones as their eyes light up and the smiles on their faces when they see a Santa in the store or in a parade.   And even at my age, I still believe.  Santa is the fun part of Christmas just as Jesus is the reason we celebrate his birthday and we rejoice in hearing the story of his birth.
It is a glorious time of the year, even more exciting and filled with anticipation than Easter or the Fourth of July.
I wish I could keep Christmas year round with all the bright sparkling lights and decorations.  The colors of red and green are an inspiration for me and the houses look so pretty all decked out in their holiday finery.  It is that time of year when we gather with family or friends for parties or dinners and the sound of laughter makes the merriment of the season even more so.
So the countdown has begun and will go for me until after the New Year arrives.  I try not to think about the day that the lights go dark and will be gathered and put away until next year.  I'm just going to enjoy every minute of every day and take in all the sights, sounds, smells and the joy of the season.
This will be my first Christmas without my husband but I know he is with me in spirit and he will be in my thoughts as I look around and see the favorite things we both enjoyed through the years as well as his favorite things.  He enjoyed the season as much as I do and always let me decorate to my heart's content and I'm not going to change a thing this year.  I know he would want it that way too.