Tales from Christmas, in July 

Christmas Productions.

One of my favorites: The Good News Christmas Cruise 

My daughter, Haylee, is the small girl in white (above).

The boy in red is my son Jacob (below).
I love Christmas! I love musicals! So, what could be better than a Christmas musical??? How can an activity be equal parts exhilarating and exhausting!?! 

Every year I would look at my sister-in-law and say, “Please remind me to never do this again.” But, a year would pass, and I would do it again. I did finally pass the baton a few years ago, and honestly, I kinda miss it. (Don’t tell anyone. Shhhhh.) 

The practices were grueling. Only a handful of participants would show up at a time leaving me to fill in the extra lines. No one would memorize his/her lines until the final day before production! I literally forced people to sing whether they possessed a natural talent or not. And, I pretty much forced them to have a good time. 😊 Can’t you command people to have fun? 🤔 I sure tried. Lol. 

I suppose my last year to be involved was the year the poop 💩 hit the floor (isn’t that how the saying goes??). No, but seriously, I found poop on the floor of the Sunday school room.  Real people poop!! Across the hall from the bathroom, on the floor of the classroom, there it lay: 💩. I was livid. It was dress rehearsal, so kids and parents were all there to help. I took a grocery bag, picked up the poop, tied the bag in a knot, and marched (poop in hand) to the platform. I took the microphone, had everyone sit down, and my rant began:

“Do you know what I have in this bag?!? Poop! Real people poop! Someone thought it would be ok to poop on the floor. Well, it’s not ok. If you did this, you have a problem. Go see a counselor. Never poop anywhere but the toilet again. This is God’s house! We do not poop on God’s house!…..”

Umm, you get the gist of it. I made a point that day. Hopefully whoever the culprit was would think twice before pooping next time. Needless to say, I suppose I was a little stressed. I’m certain I should have handled the poop situation more tactfully. 

However, regardless of the stress of months of rehearsals, the actual performance never disappointed. The parents and grandparents so enjoy the joyful noise of their grand babies. The forgotten lines are swept away by the perfectly delivered, and the scenery and costumes delight the audience. The story lines reflect Jesus and lives are literally changed making it all worthwhile. 

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.