Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Catholics and Protestants celebrate the Christmas season from Jesus’ birth, December 25, until the day before the Epiphany. The Epiphany is the celebration of when the three wise men visited Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Bethlehem. Since the church is still celebrating, it’s a great opportunity to leave one’s Christmas decorations up a little longer!
The meaning behind the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” comes from a legend, where Catholic families courageously developed unique ways to secretly pass the faith onto their children. Everyone now has the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” to enjoy.
The first day of Christmas: A Partridge in a pear tree……a bird representing Jesus who sacrificed his life, just as the bird that is known to do this.
The Second Day of Christmas: Two Turtle Doves….symbols of love, fidelity, and connection. The two doves represent the Old and New Testament.
The Third Day of Christmas: Three French Hens…signify faith, hope, and love.
The Fourth Day of Christmas: Four Calling Birds…signify the four Gospels.
The Fifth Day of Christmas: Five Golden Rings…represent the first five books of the Old Testament.
The Sixth Day of Christmas: Six Geese A-Laying…symbolizes the six days of creation, emphasizing God’s power as the creator of the world.
The Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven Swans A-Swimming…representing the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Eighth Day of Christmas: Eight Maids A-Milking…
symbolizing the eight Beatitudes, based on the Sermon on the Mount preached by Jesus.
The Ninth Day of Christmas: Nine Ladies Dancing…represents the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The Tenth Day of Christmas: Ten Lords A-Leaping…signifies the Ten Commandments.
The Eleventh Day of Christmas: Eleven Pipers Piping…
represent the 11 faithful disciples.
The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Twelve Drummers Drumming… represents the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed, which summarizes the Christian core beliefs.
The Twelfth day of Christmas ends on Epiphany which is when the wise men visited Jesus, which is fifth/sixth of January. That is when the Christmas season ends, and why some folk leave up their decorations long after Christmas.
Life’s little daily instructions include the following:
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Never give up on anybody.
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Be kinder than necessary.
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Become the most positive and enthusiastic person one knows.
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Write a letter of thanks for a given gift.
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Send a card to a friend in the nursing home
The community was blanketed with snow…pure, white and with a peaceful scene. Motorists were warned that the roads would be slippery, so caution would be the best order of the day. Digital temperatures would end the week with dips into the teens.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“May December bring you countless blessings and endless joy.” — Unknown
“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” — Larry Wilde
“December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come.” — Fennel Hudson
“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” — Aristotle
“Kindness is like snow…it beautifies everything it covers.” — Kahlil Gibran
Sitting by the fireplace is cozy to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Last Monday, Joyce Smith Cockrell, daughter of Noah Smith and granddaughter of Martin Smith, and Kathy and Dave Arnold of Midlothian, Virginia, made a surprise visit to Phil Downs. They enjoyed visiting the Smith homeplace, and St. Michael Cemetery where many family members were fondly remembered.
Evan Arrington, and family of Morgantown came and spent the week with Bill and Donna Arrington. It was a time of fun and enjoyment.
Nathan and Emma Puffenbarger spent Saturday night with their grandparents, Robert and Nancy Hodges of Harrisonburg, Virginia. They enjoyed the Harrisonburg Christmas parade.
Joel and Betsy Farrar of Lynchburg, Virginia, were Saturday evening visitors of Willard and Judy Rader.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
•Clark Griswold used 25,000 lights on his house in the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
•Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean.
•There are a total of 354 gifts in the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song.
•The first artificial Christmas tree was made of goose feathers.
•About 1.3 billion Christmas cards are sent every year.
The remaining December birthdays are as follows: Debbie Horst, 18th; Katelyn Frank, 20th; Roger Kiser and Glenna Koontz, 21st; Carly Mitchell, Terri Grogg, Tasha Bowers and Sharon Gillispie, 22nd; Betty Lamb and Suzanne Brucbeck, 23rd; Brenda Allen, 24th; Dottie Lambert and Jesus, 25th; Mark Rexrode, 27th; Macie Mitchell and Melissa Dahmer, 29th; Maria Miller and Doug Pitsenbarger, 30th; and Bobbie Armstrong and Clinton Bowers. 31st.
Concerns are for Mike Adams, Charles Anderson, Alfred Armstrong, Joan Ashley, Roger Ashley, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, Bobbie Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Larry Byers, Doreen Calhoun, Joyce Calhoun, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Kim Davis, Tommy Davis, Phil Downs, Steve Durham, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillispie, Nan Goland, Nancy Gonshor, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Chuck and Tracy Hiett, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Karen Holsten, Julia Homan, Charlie Marie Hoover, Keith Hoover, Debbie Horst, Bob and Cynthia Hurry, Mike and Lisa Jamison, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Ruth Kile, the Tom Kline family, Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Dave McConnell, Gene and Joan McConnell, the Mary Lea Hahn McCoy family, Gary McDonald, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Carroll and Dottie Mitchell, Dennis and Jamie Mitchell, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Sherri Moyers, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Dominique Nelson, Dwight Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryle Paine, Terri Parker, Andy Pond, Wayne Price, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Vesta Ruckman, Bernie Sasscer, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Bruce Smith, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Junior Waggy, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Patty Willis and Ann and Ed Wimer.
