Don’t you just love watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas?” My dad emailed to tell me it’s coming on tonight at 8pm (Eastern) — we’ll have to tape it because we’re going to see “The Living Christmas Tree” performance at a nearby church. I also found out this December 9th marks the 40-year anniversary of the first time it was ever shown on TV in 1965. You can read more about it at the Charles M. Shulz museum site.

Well, I also really enjoy going to watch “The Living Christmas Tree.” That’s one of my favorite traditions — I love the music. I always wonder how the person at the top of the tree keeps singing the whole time without feeling dizzy. There are lots of fake snowflakes puffing around.

Oh! And I almost forgot — when the Wise Men come out — these men really grow their beards out, and their costumes are glittery and fabulous. They usually sing a song called, “Wise Men Still Seek Him.” Just thinking about it gives me chills. I LOVE this song. It always reminds me how awe-inspiring it is that God came into the world as a baby. In a barn. With all the dust and mess.

A few years ago, I was 8 months pregnant on Christmas Eve, and I was a complete nervous wreck — having night after night of false labor. It made me realize what Mary had to go through — she didn’t have a hospital with sweet, smiling nurses and pain medication. Or those of you brave souls who’ve done homebirth — you’ve at least had a place where you could concentrate — I definitely would not want to be breathing through contractions on a donkey’s back. How come you don’t see Mary telling Joseph, “Stop the donkey! I’m having another one — a bad one!” in all these Christmas plays?

I’ve been perusing several women’s blogs this month, getting ideas for Christmas. Lorna in Finland at See Through Faith enjoyed a cup of tea and a slice of English mince pie with a friend after reading her Advent devotions (which she shared with us). And my sister-in-law’s blog is always a refreshing stop for me.

In fact, I had a little visit from the “Christmas Fairy” over the weekend! My sister-in-law went out in my backyard and climbed up a pile of old bricks to clip pine boughs and berry-laden branches. Then she also found a stick covered in some kind of lime-green lichen and immediately said, “Oh, look at this! Won’t this look pretty!” And within five minutes of her artful arranging, my mantle looks like something out of a magazine. And it didn’t cost me a penny! (Of course I told her, “I have to blog about this!”)

So back to the Charlie Brown idea — the less commercial, the better. I’m going to try to pare down our Christmas clutter and use more real pine greenery and berries…whatever we can find that’s simple and can be tossed back outside in a few weeks.

OK, here’s my daily reminder of these Weblog Awards — if you like this site design, please vote for Mom 2 Mom Connection in the poll. You can click here or directly on the logo, and it should take you straight there. I don’t like having to ask people to do things like this — but it’s making me all nervous because they post how many votes people have! And these other sites — wow — some have made their own logos with links. I don’t even know how to put a link in my sidebar template. If anyone knows, I’d love to find out.

Thanks for your support! What makes me feel jittery is — this thing lasts until December 15! And you can vote as often as once a day — so I can’t ask you to vote once, then leave ya alone. I gotta remind you every day. Which makes me feel annoying. (So if you’re annoyed, just ignore me here — sorry.)

Countdown: 3 more days until Narnia, 9 more days of this weblog contest, 19 more days until Christmas.