Holiday Happenings

Santa Claus Parade

The Smithville Santa Claus parade this weekend kicked Christmas into high gear for us!

Grandmas, Daddy and Elves awaiting the parade.

Yes, Rylyn is asleep in the wagon. Hilarious. No, she did not sleep through the whole parade. The emergency vehicles' sirens took care of that. Thankfully, they didn't scare her and she began waving eagerly at whatever was passing by.

Our parade tips: camp out close to the start of the parade (less wait time, more enthusiastic participants), bring your own hot chocolate (and take any that is offered), cuddling children while sitting will keep you warm as will dancing to the music.

Light Tour

We also went for our first Christmas light voyage in the car. To our surprise the recent warm weather mid-November encouraged glowing houses much earlier than usual.

If you are in the Niagara Region I suggest checking out a light and music display in Beamsville, ON we stumbled upon. Park at Ryn's Furniture on Ontario Street and tune in to 89.3 FM. Some Googling found a YouTube Video and an article about the Powell Family light display from previous years. The experience is grander live.

Nativity

Although we enjoy the commercial side of Christmas, we try not to get lost in it and keep our celebrations focused on the reason for the season, Jesus. We hope to attend a live Nativity in Beamsville, ON at Calvary Gospel Church. Like the Santa Claus Parades and Light Display another annual event. This year (2012) it is running on December 7, 8 and 9 from 7 to 9 pm. Once again Googling found an article from previous years. The Nativity is more like an open house between 7 and 9 pm. The tour takes approximately 20 min.

Please feel free to share any annual events or gems near you!

Snotty Nose Rant

A little girl no more than one year-old crawls over to my children and me. I am with a friend and her daughter at an Early Years Play Centre. The neon green train tracks extending from her nose to her lips are glowing as she attempts to crawl into my lap. Her caregiver is nowhere to be seen.

I remove the girl from my lap, position myself between the germ-laden child and my own, and I say (loudly in hope of a parent or caregiver hearing), "You can play with our toys, but I do not want you on my lap." I am red-faced with embarrassment of not knowing what to do.

Jesus would have wiped her nose. What is a mom to do without facial tissues in her on-hand arsenal? In today's age, I don't know if I am even comfortable wiping the child's nose knowing potential health risks, not to mention the controversy it could cause.

Because Jesus would have wiped her nose, I am left to question my feelings of disgust for the child rather than compassion. I hate it when children's noses aren't wiped to point that Rylyn boasted a red nose last October to March due to my constant wiping. I try to use a warm face cloth when I can.

I hope next time I can respond with more compassion, "Oh you poor thing, does your mommy have a tissue you can use?" I need to see the everyday through His eyes. Perhaps I would have gently advocated for the child who seemed lost from her caregiver. And perhaps, the two nannies who were more interested in talking to one another than watching the children in their care would have heard me.

I may hate snotty noses, but I love children.

Bible Reflections:
~The book of Matthew on several instances (14:14, 15:32, 20:34) speaks of Jesus's compassion toward others. To provide food, healing. Mark 20:34 says the people were like sheep without a shepherd and Jesus had compassion on them. Later in John 21:17 Jesus tells Peter to feed His sheep.

Lord whatever lost lamb you bring my way, help me to care for him or her instead of judge.