Dear Reader:

Sunday morning, around 8:00 a.m. I opened up all the window shutters and the front (storm) door to witness the most beautiful frosty morning. It looked like snow had fallen and since I knew from future forecasts this would not be the case for Christmas Eve or Day…I grabbed my camera and took some pictures of the “frosty tundra.”

My Iphone weekly weather forecast is predicting 81 degrees Christmas Eve and 82 Christmas Day! On my way to Sunday School the car temperature gauge read 38 degrees. In four days the numbers will almost be reversed…at 83. El Nino is a mischievious weather shaker-upper. It can’t be too good for us physically with the temps jumping around like a jack rabbit in a cabbage patch.

At first Christmas Eve and Day here, also, looked to be more on the rainy side (hot and wet….come on now!) but thank goodness the rain chances seem to be declining. I am glad I decorated the deck last week with a string of lights….we all might be out there  in shorts and t-shirts.

Weather aside…Christmas is more, so much more than discussions on the temperature for the day. (After all it was probably pretty warm the day Jesus was born too.) This year Christmas Day in Jerusalem is supposed to be at a high of 60 degrees…nice spring weather but still 20 degrees cooler than us here in the Lowcountry. There is a pretty good chance of rain storms for Christmas in Bethlehem too.

As far as I can recollect no where in the scriptures does it mention rain on the day Jesus was born, or unusually hot weather, or a cold snap. Apparently none of the Gospel writers deemed it important enough to include.

I read something interesting in the modern-day advent devotional (All I Want) about Joseph’s historically lack-luster role in the Christmas Story (like the weather) and how there is much more to his story…but first…

We tried every trick to get Rutledge and Lachlan to turn and face us… hopefully with a smile… but Rutledge was upset that he couldn’t take off his socks and shoes and wade in the ocean with his truck (which he did anyway…check out the feet)

And Lachlan didn’t like the wind blowing in his face….so both boys look like (what I told Walsh) two little Columbus’s calling out “Sail on….and on and on.” (Or perhaps Horace Greely…”Go West Young Man…Go West.”) Walsh gave up and just grinned….the most frustrating photos now make the best ones later! Walsh delights in being a dad to these two adorable munchkins!

And I have no doubt Joseph took great delight in Jesus while he was growing up. Quinn Caldwell did some research on Joseph and discovered some interesting information on him:

...”Would you even notice if the figure of Joseph went missing from your nativity scene? I mean, half the time you can’t even remember which one is Joseph and which is the shepherd. He deserves better, you know?

In the Middle Ages, they had a special Latin title for him: Nutritor Domini. It means “Feeder of the Lord.” In one sense, this just meant that he was the family’s provider, the one who brought home the bacon. Well, not bacon; they were Jewish. But you know what I mean.

In another sense, Nutritor Domini is a much more tender and intimate title. Nutritor is an uncommon word; it is the male form of nutrix which was a wet nurse when the biological mother couldn’t feed her child. In calling Joseph Nutritor Domini, they were implying that Joseph’s care was as gentle and as loving as breastfeeding. He was the Parent who steered Jesus in the right direction with strict rules about healthy eating and living.

So until tomorrow…”In honor of Joseph, find a way to feed somebody who needs it….When God was born into the world, tiny, squalling and helpless, Joseph could have walked away. Instead he picked the baby up, shuffled out to the kitchen in the dark, and started heating up the bottle.”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

A Christmas “Miracle” with little Caleb arriving almost four weeks early at 6 lbs 7 ounces and 18 inches in height….What a wonderful Christmas surprise….what a wonderful gift! Congratulations Grandmother Brookie!!!)

Jo Dufford sent this precious little American Greetings video greeting card….take a minute and watch….too cute! Will bring a smile to start the day! I love it!!! Thanks for sharing Jo!

Just click on the puppy