It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

December 16, 2020

BY MARY LOU BUSH

APPALACHIA NEWS • 565-1386

Outdoor Music

Random Acts of Caroling will perform Christmas music on the outdoor stage at the ampitheater adjacent to the Appalachia Cultural Arts Theater building, Saturday, Dec. 19. at 12:30 p.m., featuring different groups. Wear your masks and come out and enjoy these various groups of talented musicians and carolers.

Cultural Arts Building Windows

With the warm weather last week Gary and I were able to decorate the front windows at the Appalachia Cultural Arts Building. They are really a big job to do, but worth the joy they bring to people going through Appalachia.

These windows are half the size they were when the building was built by M. D. Collier in the early 1900s! I remember looking at the windows and the display was a complete room of bedroom furniture or living room furniture. Another window was a kitchen display of appliances. Now the windows are half the size they were but plenty “big” enough for displays for plays or holiday and seasonal events. Down through the years the displays have been done by different members of the ACAC and they were all very beautiful.

It is worth the trip to see them with the lights on from 5 to 8 pm each evening. The Center has been closed due to the Covid virus .

We are anxious for a new year and a new beginning of programs for everyone to enjoy. Right now, stay home and wear a mask makes it impossible to have any type of program.

National Poinsettia Day

December 12 was National Poinsettia Day! When poinsettias appear in stores it is an indication that Christmas is not far away.

The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity. The dark green leaves represent hope and eternal life. They are a plant that needs extra attention and the right amount of moisture and light.

Even though the leaves fall off and the plant appears to be failing, the plant would begin to rebound in the summer. Place them in a dark place and the colors will again appear.

I received a beautiful red and white poinsettia as a Christmas gift and I plan on nurturing these plants and enjoy green leaf plants and maybe red and white blooms by early December next year.

New Year Approaching

Only two weeks remain in this year of 2020. We can all testify it has been a terrible year for lots of people all over the world! We can only hope this new year will bring relief to the many problems we all face.

Birthday Wishes

We all want to wish John Davis in Andover a very happy 82nd birthday on Friday, December 18. Mavis, his lovely wife, will make sure he has a party! We miss all our friends at the ACAC due to the Covid shut down.

The Davis family was very supportive to all the functions held at the ACAC.

Miss Church Christmas Play

The thing I miss most on Christmas Eve is the Church Christmas play at our church on the hill in Inman.

The story was taken from the book of Matthew and Luke and was recited the way it was written. Angels, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Kings, Baby Jesus were all in the play.

Family members filled the little church and parents and grandparents were so proud of their children. The angels sang the songs in the Candle March.

I have talked with several people we grew up with and participated in the programs and they agree it was the best Christmas memory to have and they think of it each year. Most of us cannot remember what we got for Christmas but the verses, songs and recitations are a good memory of our past.

I do not remember a service cancelled due to snow. But a few times we did have big snows on Christmas Day! It was after Santa made his trip to each home.

Visited Gravesites

We visited our families gravesites at Riverview, East Stone Gap and Powell Valley on Sunday afternoon.

Riverview has gravesites dated on the markers back in the late 1800’s. Yes, this is a fact. We put flowers for the season on Mr. and Mrs. Bush’s grave. Not as many flowers adorn the graves in Riverview and it could be because of the years and no family members remain to do the honor of placing flowers on the graves.

We went to Powell Valley Memorial Gardens and it was adorned in beautiful Christmas flowers. My parents have been there 47 years now. They were laid to rest in the early years of the history of Powell Valley Gardens. Lots of friends and neighbors and family members were laid to rest there through the years. I feel like our decorations are complete when we are able to put flowers on our family’s graves.

Quarantined

I talked on the telephone to Nancy Buchanan Monday morning. She was in quarantine staying in her room because she tested positive for the Covid virus. Keep her in your prayers. She is 85 years old and has COPD.

All the residents are quarantined to their rooms for 10 days. Christmas Eve will be their 10 days.

Reason for the Season

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year, both in individual families and in the church.

It is so easy for us to get caught up in the preparation that we forget the purpose.

Every family has Christmas traditions that are meaningful to them, but none of these traditions are as important as the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Jesus is the reason for the season!

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