If you find yourself in the position of needing an altar built, look no further than Annabelle. She erected an altar to the Lord on top of the hot tub and while it’s not your traditional design, it’s the thought that counts. The blue under the globes was supposed to be hands, a la He’s got the whole world in His hands. “Can you make the hands, Mom? Not to be rude or anything, but those hands don’t look good. You should try again.” The winter wonderland candle slightly masked the chlorine smell wafting up from the hot tub.

My real camera is not focusing and my phone camera is on the fritz so quality photos are few and far between right now. I haven’t gotten many good pictures lately but I love this one of AB’s face when the angel was falling off the tree. Fallen angel is a very 2020 theme but it’s not the look I was going for.

Of all the Christmas decor we own, AB’s favorites are elves and snowmen. She’s loved snowmen since she met them at her first Christmas. Gee, Sarah. I wish you’d take us on a trip down memory lane to AB’s first Christmas so we can admire her cuteness and cry into our Christmas pillows over how fast she’s grown. No need to ask me twice!
We have no less than 13 snowman statues of various designs lined up in a snowman parade in the living room. They take up a lot of room but someday she won’t care about them so let’s snowman it up.

My aunt sent her a cloth elf a few years ago that she loves and sleeps with nightly during the holidays. That same aunt sent her an actual Elf on the Shelf yesterday and sweet girl is thrilled. “I’m going to keep it forever and save it for my children.” His name is Kris Kringle but his close friends call him Candy Cane. He has elf training during the day and sleeps in a box by her bed at night.

Our church had an outdoor Christmas service on Sunday night. During precedented times it would have been held in the sanctuary, but they had to adjust and held it outside.

Part of me wanted to tear up because on top of everything else we can’t even have a normal candlelight service, but the other part of me thought it was special to see everyone gathering in the rain to celebrate Jesus. I was so caught up in Thoughts and Feelings that I missed Annabelle’s hair going in her candle during Silent Night. “Wow, Mom. God really protected me.” “Protected you from what? What are you talking about?” “My hair went into my candle but I put it out.” What a precious Christmas memory singed hair would have been.