Preparing for Christmas in a “winter-wonderland.”

A few more dahlia pics before getting to the blog. These dahlias are from my 2008 garden. The dahlias in the order they appear are: Parkland Rave, Penhill Watermellon, Pinelands Pixie, and Powder Gull. Check out my dahlia web site (The Dahlia Guy) for the complete set of photos and more dahlia information.

Western Washington is under an unprecedented layer of snow and ice. The airport is filled with people that have had their flight canceled-Christmas hopes and dreams are on hold. Gas stations are running out of the “stuff” that our cars run on. Power has been out.

Our family is experiencing the travel crunch. Our daughter will finally make it home tomorrow (Christmas Eve day) from the mission field in the Sahara Desert after getting caught in the airline “mess” with her connecting flight here in the US. My dad will arrive on Christmas afternoon-another weather casualty. Oh well, everyone is safe and we will have a great celebration of the Savior’s birth.

Flexibility is the name of the game.

Our church is located just off of state highway 161—just before the top of a LARGE hill. The small “street” that leads to our parking lot is steep, steep, steep. This past week, cars with studded tires couldn’t make it up the hill. Those that did make it up (four wheel drive vehicles) had to worry about the descent of the hill and being able to stop before sliding out onto the highway. Events have had to be rescheduled or canceled due to safety concerns.

It is suppose to snow tonight and tomorrow morning—Christmas Eve day. It will turn to rain by mid day and freeze before Christmas Eve worship.

The barn where we hold our late-night service is just a half mile from the church. A four wheel drive vehicle is currently needed to negotiate the road into the barn and the parking area. It is going to be a mess on Christmas Eve.

Mary and Joseph experienced a “mess” on that first Christmas. I cannot even imagine what the trip to Bethlehem would have been like for a pregnant Mary. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to give birth in a barn—away from immediate family and friends. Flexibility was the name of the game.

We will have a great Christmas—even if we have to “alter” our original worship and family plans. We are celebrating the birth of our Savior! Praise be to God! Emmanuel—God with us!!