Christmas Eve /  by Dave Hileman

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13, 14 NIV

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Three Days Before Christmas /  by Dave Hileman

This is based on the Charlie Brown Christmas, a favorite of mine. But I got it because it also reminds me of the dozens of kids dressed in bathrobes and towels, foil crowns and glitter halos that Cindy and others prepared each year for the Christmas pageant at the various churches we served. The memories are wonderful and the kids unpredictable except that the had a super time. And Mary - whomever was Mary, always took it as a serious honor.

“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her mind.” Luke 2:19 NIV

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Four Days Before Christmas (2 photos) /  by Dave Hileman

Window shopping is harder to do online! Still fun to wander around and look at the displays. Macy’s in NYC even had animated windows like we used to go downtown in Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving night to see the departments stores unveil clever windows for the Christmas season.

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Macy’s window, NYC

Macy’s window, NYC

Five Days Before Christmas /  by Dave Hileman

One of the nice things among many about living in Williamsburg was the start of the Christmas season with the Grand Illumination that draws thousands of people to watch the fireworks the first weekend of each December. With fewer booms and light streaks, the homes and businesses in Colonial Williamsburg are also decorated with “natural” materials and the creativity and clever use of gourds, fruits, plants and imagination is aways nice to see and makes the walk along the two main streets especially nice on a December day. Note that modern life is not that far away, computer cords in the window!

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Six Days Before Christmas /  by Dave Hileman

A little family time. We were able to share in the Lessons and Carols service that is put on by the school EB attends. She auditioned for and was given a solo part for the music that the 5th and 6th grade levels performed and she sang beautifully. We were very proud of her poise and her clear voice - and doing it in a room of several hundred people, amazing. All of her family gathered for a photo afterwards (I who carry my camera up every little hill and into every historic house did not have it with me, so the iPhone took center stage). The program itself has quite a history and really seems to begin the season for me. Great joy that evening.

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Eight Days Before Christmas /  by Dave Hileman

The railing at our hotel was festooned with the small Christmas trees. Nice view of the Empire State Building in the background. We were at a Courtyard across from Macy’s. Nice place with decent sized rooms and not too expensive before Thanksgiving.

iPhone photo.

iPhone photo.

Twelve Days to Christmas /  by Dave Hileman

At Rockefeller Center they project a kaleidoscope of colors and ever changing patterns on the building across the street. Framed by a troop of angels and trees everywhere you can see the famous Rockefeller Center building reflected in the globe in the foreground.

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Not So "Rough" a Start /  by Dave Hileman

This NYC brownstone is the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt the 26th President of the US. A cousin to FDR, Theodore’s career and accomplishments are staggering for a man who died at 60 - he packed a lot of “life” in those years. He also doubled the number of National Parks and created 18 national monuments, including the Grand Canyon; set aside 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, and more than 100 million acres' worth of national forests. He was a faithful member of the Dutch Reformed Church and attended as President in DC at a church where Cindy’s college roommate’s father was minister a number of years after Roosevelt’s death.

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View /  by Dave Hileman

From the side portico of the Lincoln Memorial you can see the Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument, Dome of the Capital, the tower of the Smithsonian Castle and a large dome for?

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Cliff /  by Dave Hileman

One of the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde. I wish I could recall which one! One amazing fact the rangers shared was that even the youngest children had to learn to climb out of these places themselves. I was uneasy on a 25 foot ladder!

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Hands of Praise /  by Dave Hileman

Watching this lady play old hymns on her instrument in Floyd, Virginia at the General Store.

“Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!

Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp!

Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!”

Psalm 150:2-4 NLT

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Before Ellis Island /  by Dave Hileman

For generations people arrived in the US in various ports, some of my ancestors arrived via Germantown in Pennsylvania. One of those in NYC in use until Ellis Island was Castle Clinton. Built as a fort during the War of 1812, it was also a warehouse and an opera house but for 30 years immigrants were processed here, including Cindy’s Grandmother is the late 1880’s. While the outer structure has been restored to its 1812 appearance it is currently little more than a place to buy tickets to the Statue of Liberty. The history is an afterthought in one dim room. Sad that it would have National Park Status and be so neglected. This statue next to it was the best part of the visit.

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77 Years Ago /  by Dave Hileman

“Yesterday, December 7th, — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” FDR

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