Mary's Christmas

As we go about our busy preparations for Christmas, I trust we will all stop at one point to reflect on why we celebrate Christmas. Yes, it's about a baby being born, but not just any baby, it was God incarnate. Come to live among us and within us.  In honor of this season, I wrote a song a few years ago, called Mary's Christmas. My son-in-law Curtis Willey added some touches, put it to music, and sang the song. I'm honored to play our song at this time of year. I tried to link the music to this post, but that process is beyond me. Here are the lyrics:

            Mary’s Christmas

 

Mary put the kids to bed

With dreams of Christmas in their head

She kissed their cheeks and smoothed their hair

Turned off the light and crept downstairs

 

The bike was assembled and the parts were all there

The dolls and teacups set out with care

The kids would be happy tomorrow for sure

With Santa’s gifts strewn all over the floor.

 

Mary’s Christmas would not be bright

Since her Jim had gone away to fight

Mary’s Christmas would have to be

The tree, the kids and her memory

 

She looked at the tree she had carefully trimmed

With decorations sent home by Jim

There were handmade angels and cherubs and more

From the different places he had served in the war

 

Now all that was missing besides Jim, she thought

Was the star that should sit away up on top

But she couldn’t reach it so it would just go bare

Without him home to put it there.

 

Mary’s Christmas would not be bright

Since her Jim had gone away to fight

Mary’s Christmas would have to be

The tree, the kids and her memory.

 

Well as always she knelt down to pray

She had a few soft words to say

About a newborn babe and men from afar

Who sent joy to the world neath his guiding star

 

Then she prayed for Jim that he’d be kept safe

So far away in the faraway place

And she prayed for her kids that they would be

As pure and strong as God meant them to be

 

Then she got up and tried the locks

And pulled the blinds and wound the clock

But she said to herself I won’t darken that tree

Until my Jim comes home to me.

 

So a sound at the door made her jump with fright

“What could that be in the middle of this night?”

Then the door opened wide and tears streaked her face

As Jim swept her up in one long embrace

 

He laid out the toys for the kids that he brought

And for Mary a bundle of gifts he had bought

Then he noticed the star and went to the tree

And carefully placed it where it needed to be

 

Mary’s Christmas sure turned bright

Snuggling with Jim neath the twinkling colored lights

Mary’s Christmas was the best she ever had

She had her Jim-- and the kids had their dad.

******

Merry Christmas y'all!

Quote of the Day: God bless us everyone! Charles Dickens

A Hand Made Girl

 Welcome to Fall! If you're into crafts at all, you know this is the season for craft fairs.  I have already been to one, as a buyer, and I have two more lined up where I'll be showcasing and signing my books. 

    The first is November 18 from 11-2 at a local, cozy craft store in Dunn, NC called Carolina Handcrafts.  

    The second is December 2,  from 9-3 in Clayton, NC at the Cleveland High School Band Holiday Bazaar. 

Stop by and say hi and peruse my books while you're at it. 

In the spirit of craft season, I thought I'd show you a song I wrote years ago  that, like most of my songs, never got put to music; therefore, never went anywhere. It just sits in a folder like a good little song, not bothering anybody. 

Here it is.

A Hand Made Girl

 

I’m a hand-made girl in a store bought world

I learned to be thrifty from my toes to my curls

Mama made my clothes, daddy made the rest

I never felt poor, I just felt blessed.

My clothes were hand made and so were my toys, yeah

I’m a hand-made girl in a store bought world.

 

We didn’t have much when I was a kid

My folks sacrificed just to provide a roof and a bed

I thought we were rich for all that we had

Clothes, toys, and goodies

Made with love by Mama and Dad.

 

Mama’s homemade apple pies were an art

The smell of her baking went straight to my heart.   

Then night after night at the treadle machine

She busied herself sewing dresses for me.

 

Daddy could build any item from wood

His workshop was the pride of the neighborhood

He made all our tables, no two were the same

And for me he made toys and puzzles and games.

 

The things I owned didn’t come from Sears

But from the two people that I hold dear.

 

I’m a hand-made girl in a store bought world

I learned to be thrifty from my toes to my curls

Mama made my clothes, daddy made the rest

I never felt poor, I just felt blessed.

My clothes were hand made and so were my toys, yeah

I’m a hand-made girl in a store bought world.

And there you have it.  If I don't talk to you before the 23rd, I wish you a Most Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!  🦃

Quote of the Day: Art is not what you see but what you make others see. Edgar Degas