Saturday used to bring up thoughts of cartoons, unlimited: Tom & Jerry, Roadrunner, Bugs and the gang. Then it brought up my children watching those shows and me having time to myself. And now? Well, this close to Christmas it usually means too many activities to be done in too little time!

How are you filling your Saturday? We are actually taking the day off. We had 2 airline tickets we needed to use before December 31 so months ago we booked a flight to go see Betty & Dan, our dear friends in Albuquerque. This past week Bob began questioning if this was a good idea with so MANY holiday things to get checked off the list. He also wants to get as many items accomplished as possible before his eye surgery December 15!

Sometimes during Advent we make a one day retreat at the Convent of the Transfiguration. Well this year we will visit the Cookseys. It is often like attending a retreat just being with them! All four of us love the Lord dearly and share our faith walk details when we are together.

We are looking forward to seeing the luminaries which Ohio sort of dabbles in.

The tradition of Christmas luminaries has a long and varied history as part of religious tradition. Luminarias (Spanish for “small bonfires”) were first recorded in the 16th century, when Spanish people lit bonfires along the roads to guide people to Midnight Mass on the final night of Las Posadas. This was done to reenact the story of Mary and Joseph’s quest for lodging in Bethlehem. This tradition was brought to the Santa Fe Trail in the early 19th century, when settlers lit their entrance-ways with beautiful Chinese paper lanterns. This tradition was introduced to Mexican Indians by Spanish missionaries, who lit paper lanterns for nine consecutive nights beginning December 16th. It was representational of lighting the way for Christ’s birth and illumination of the spirit.

https://www.lumabase.com/blog/2020/09/history-of-luminarias/

And even more information about Las Posadas from https://www.culturalworld.org/what-is-las-posadas.htm

Las Posadas is a traditional Mexican festival which takes place from 16 December to 24 December. It commemorates the search for shelter by Mary and Joseph with a series of parties around the neighborhood. In some parts of Mexico, it is a major holiday, with the whole community taking part. Mexican immigrants in other parts of the world may also celebrate Las Posadas, if the immigrant community is large enough, and participation isn’t restricted to Mexicans; other people in the community are certainly welcome to participate.

In Spanish, Las Posadas means “The Inns,” and during this festival, people form a procession which symbolically visits homes asking for shelter. People in the procession dress up, sing songs, and sometimes bring a burro or donkey along to represent the donkey which brought Mary into Jerusalem. One home in particular is designated as the “inn” each night, and when the procession reaches that home, the hosts welcome them in for a Posadas party which includes music, dancing, food, and prayer.

Not certain we will actually be in a procession or seeking shelter, but remembering the Lord’s first coming and His subsequent return will be a blessing to share with Betty and Dan.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5 NIV