A Note from our Co-Presidents:
CHRISTY WILSON and JANET EVANS
Grow Where You Are Planted
The beginning of the twelfth month of the year brings many things to mind for each of us. Thanksgiving has passed and the celebrations of the holidays begin. Janet and I have our own joyous memories which we wish to share with you.
Janet recalls the adventure of finding the perfect fragrant Christmas tree, of being allowed to hang crinkly lead tinsel and special ornaments, watching her dad place the star on top, and then hanging stockings from the mantel. There are memories of shopping for special gifts, frantic last-minute wrapping, hearing songs and carols wherever they went, inhaling the aromas of turkey and savory stuffing, cookies and pies, chocolate and peppermint, and seeing poinsettias, paperwhites and holly amid the sparkle of silver and crystal on the dining table.
My memories are similar and personified in the lyrics of holiday music and the glow of candles everywhere. My mother collected candles all year round, always white, and in all sizes and textures. During the Christmas season, we would light the candles before dinner and enjoy the soft light in our home. And the music – who does not immediately chime in with Deck the Halls – “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. ‘Tis the season to be jolly... Troll the ancient Yuletide carol... See the blazing Yule before us." The light from fires on the hearth warms our homes and our hearts.
Likewise, our Jewish friends and neighbors celebrate Chanukah with a beautiful song that celebrates light, “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come light the Menorah … The candles are burning bright. One for each night, they shed a sweet light."
We wish you joy in this season and hope that your holidays are filled with light, flowers, music, warmth and lots of love.
Christy and Janet