Dear Reader:

Yesterday I left you hanging about a remarkable incident that took place at the end of the Christmas Eve Service….the service in which I told an old German fairy tale…a story about a clock-maker and his love for a beautiful peasant girl in a small German town…titled “The Christmas Time Stood Still.”

I was busy gathering up my belongings at the end of the service and talking with several friends and family members when a woman approached that I didn’t recognize and introduced herself. She said she just had to find me before I left because of the delight she felt when she realized what story I was telling. She had not heard it since hearing it first in the German town famous for the legend when she was a little girl… one Christmas Eve long ago. (She was here spending Christmas with family and so delighted they had chosen this service to attend.)

Many times German town names arose from the name of the nearest castle in the area…in this incidence BernKastle-Kues. They are famous for their market squares throughout the town.

Apparently one Christmas Eve Father Christmas walked around the square and told stories…one of the which was The Clockmaker’s Legend or sometimes called The Bernkastel Legend.. She had never forgotten the excitement of the story. To hear it again brought back many almost-forgotten memories.

Now what are the chances that I see a scene from a Hallmark Christmas movie that catches my attention as a young antique dealer tells the story of a magical clock that could stop time? And what are the chances that this woman would end up in Summerville, South Carolina for a Christmas Eve service and hear this story again… first heard by her as a child in Germany? A Christmas God Wink!

I reckon I should be used to God’s wonderful God Winks by now…but they never cease to leave me in wonder and awe at the mystery of the universe God created so lovingly.

Yesterday Ben rode with me in my “new” car to Mt. Pleasant for John and Mandy’s Christmas brunch…always merry and bright. Except…this year little Jakie came down with a bug Christmas Eve and couldn’t come to Boo Boo’s house with his cousins or attend the church service…he was still pretty pitiful yesterday…even surrounded by his favorite toys. Mollie missed out on the brunch too because Eloise, also, didn’t feel well Christmas Day.

Walsh, Lachlan, and Rutledge (kiddingly) all came in with their medical masks on…to supposedly keep the germs from sister Eloise and cousin Jake away….the masks came off fast enough (and stayed off) when it was time to eat! 🙂

I had to stop after I had gone completely through Summerville…from my house to the town square without meeting one car yesterday morning on our way to Mt. Pleasant.

The dogs were dressed in their finest holiday attire.

Then it was on to Doodle’s house for lunch…it is the best food you have ever put in your mouth…simply…it is not Christmas without that mind-boggling delicious spread Doodle puts on. She also has the most beautiful nativity scenes from all around the world….here are just a few samples…

Christmas 2018 had perfect weather…cool and crisp…but not too cold, delicious food, exceptional company, lots of laughter and much thankfulness….Best Christmas Ever!

So until tomorrow….An Irish Christmas Blessing…. “May the Good Lord bless you as your dear ones gather round. May your laughter be hearty, and love and joy abound.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

When we got home yesterday afternoon Honey called and said Ashley was coming to drop off some casseroles and extra food she had left over with some outfits for the girls….she and Mike were heading back to the mountains this morning….but before Ashley arrived…another elf appeared…Stephanie…bringing a Gingerbread Mickey Mouse from Disney World with a Gingerbread candle. Too sweet and cute…and delicious!

And Honey…your time clock pendant was perfect to wear yesterday…the theme this Christmas was definitely about time…and what a great time this Christmas was!