Advent is upon us

ADVENT . . .  the coming,
anticipation of the "Light of Christ" breaking through the darkness.
 It is a time of waiting, an expectant time.
It is a time to look back at what prophets foretold as well as  a time to prepare and renew our hearts to welcome the Christ child.
 It is a season of joy and wonder.
 Most of all, it is a time to ponder . . .  to pause.
So much else gets in the way.
I was able to linger a moment and gaze at the beauty of this tiny church before the expectations of this season became a frenzy.
The beauty is breathtaking and was not grasped well with my little camera.
It was a lovely moment.

I visited a very old church in a small town
 that still has the altar against the wall.
This is very rare for a Protestant church.

AND THEN .  .  .  BEFORE I COULD BLINK . . . 

it was Ladies Night out at the hardware store.

OK, before you fall off your chair laughing, this is THE place in town.

Unless we choose to drive thirty minutes into the city, this is our saving grace!

Everyone in town was there.  It was packed!  

Every time I turned around I was chatting with someone.

I got more socializing done than shopping.

But, that's what it's all about.

The High School chorus sang four-part harmony  acapella!

 

Dressed in our finest, waiting for the doors to open.

Anything you could ever want for the tree ... and so much more.
This was one of dozens of aisles of fun stuff.
And then there was the garden dept. filled with glittering trees.

These hats are the rage.  So cheap here.
We are having the warmest December in years so
they were not flying off the shelf.

Of course, the rental dept. offers the average farmer and
gardner a whole range of tools and machines.
This is a local, family-owned, store that specializes in meeting
the needs of the locals.

 

I did not take pictures of the first graders playing their violins for us . . .
or the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that were
 served by the male employees
as they wandered the store in their fancy suits and ties.
 One wore a tuxedo.
The crowds were too thick to capture these moments.
 What can I say.
This was the kick-off to the frenzied part of Advent.
What fun!