Eve of the Season

Nana and Ye-Ye were over at the Botanical Gardens and visited our tree today, snapping this shot to share with us.  

Today was our second annual gingerbread house battle, something we filmed for the first time last year that was a whole lot of fun.  The contestants pick gingerbread kits and go to work on a theme, having about a half-hour to complete their house, but there are challenges along the way that include weapons, switching houses, and odd ingredients like Hillshire sausages.  Last year's battle was epic, and today's contest was just as fun - they'll be working on editing it.  I was filming for it again, but also doing a bunch of other work today with the Christmas production.  There's costuming, but there's also the animal walk-through, which I was with the handler today talking about.  And there's the videos being shot - I've got those narrator bits written.  Here's what the narrator will say at the intro for our production next week:

Since the beginning, through the countless centuries in darkness, all of creation waited eagerly with a growing hope ….for a Savior.

And throughout the ages, this hope could not dim, as men and women of God saw brief glimpses of the divine, their spirits lifted by an unrelenting expectation of something magnificent that was yet to come.

They wrote of a star that would come forth from Jacob, (Numbers 24:7), for unto us a child is born, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  He shall be called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), and his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16).

And now, in a place least expected, hope has arrived.  Imagine the scene as the celestial curtain was pulled aside, with angels singing and radiant beams of God’s love cascading downward.  It is something more than anyone could ever hope, or even dream. The spectacular arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

It should be nice.  Oh, and speaking of nice, look what we got at the grocery store! 

Christmas ice cream!  The one on the right has a lot of coffee in it, and the one on the left has candy canes in it.  Both are quite tasty!  I have to go back and get the other candy cane flavored one for Mom, but tonight we sat watching "The Bishop's Wife" while enjoying a bowl of ice cream together.

It's the last day of November.  Soon, the Yule Lads will be coming.  I only started learning about these guys this year really, after listening to a podcast while walking.  Currently, I've been doing my treadmill exercises each morning while listening to podcasts about this or that, but lately, it's been all kinds of unusual Christmas background stories.  It's amazing all the history surrounding these Christmas traditions like wassailing, Yule logs, egg nog riots, and seven swans a-swimmin'.  How other countries celebrate is fascinating too, especially Iceland.  I knew about the Yule Cat and Jolabokaflod, but today I learned about the Yule Lads, and how each one has a different name and different mischievous personality.  Fun stuff, although from now on we'll have to be on the lookout for Gluggagægir, the Yule Lad who likes to peek into windows for things to steal.  I'd tell him not to do such a thing, but at the moment I have no idea how to actually pronounce his name.

One thing we'll have to do though is get Maddie some new clothing for Christmas, as that Yule Cat is lurking out there.  I'm surprised no one has made a movie about this yet, as it could be terrifying.  Speaking of which, Krampus is on the way soon - I think that's Monday.  He's a bit more mainstream now, given that there have been movies about him.  I'm not sure if there'll be a parade or not, given the state of this world, but we'll have to be on the lookout for that, because nothing says Christmas like a parade of a hundred hairy demon-faced monsters with cages to carry off children with.  Maddie, you'd best be practicing more of your taekwondo, because Krampus is coming to town!

And speaking of offbeat international traditions, the Gävle Goat is standing strong, and looking quite nice with all the snow on top of it.  We check in on the live-cam from time to time, as is our tradition this time of year.  No arsonists have attacked it in quite some time, which I don't think has anything to do with the wall of armaments surrounding it so much as perhaps the community saying, "Enough."  At least I think that's what is being said.  Basically, it's been a rough few years, and perhaps those who planned to do this goat harm were following proper quarantine guidelines at home.  You don't want to disobey World Health Organization guidelines while sneaking out and setting fire to a town's two-story tall Christmas goat.  Creating a blazing inferno and ruining Christmas for some folks is one thing, but not following CDC guidelines is probably taking things too far.

Anyway, it was a good day.  Tonight we read, and we prayed.  Mom worked hard through the night on costuming again.  Tomorrow is December, and that's where the rubber hits the road.  We'll try to hold on to this season as long as we can.  

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I heard something somewhere in the house.  I think the Yule Lad Hurðaskellir might be here a little early!