One of the nicest things about being an innkeeper is sharing the holiday season with others. This year was no different. We dragged out all the boxes labeled ‘Christmas’ from the basement and began putting out our Christmas decorations. I’ve collected Santas all my life. I’ve bought some for myself, but mostly they have been gifts. My daughter started giving me a Santa several years ago for my birthday, which is the week before Christmas. Many have come from my mother, who started the tradition; many are hand-made, all are unique! They are all different sizes from teeny tiny to quite large. Unfortunately, the large ones have spent most of their time packed away in boxes because our old house was just too small to display them. Now that we have the Inn I have plenty of space to display them and the size of the house makes even the largest Santa seem dwarfed!

            So we started unpacking the boxes. First was the crèche my grandfather made many years ago. As far as I know he only made two, the one that I have, which was my grandmother’s and the one my mom has. My grandmother bought the figures and antiqued them herself. Before she gave the crèche to me, my grandmother used to pack it away in their basement. One year she took it out and one of the animals had his nose chewed off by a mouse over the summer. It never fails to make me smile when I unpack that figure and put it in the back, left corner of the crèche. I hide the baby Jesus behind it until Christmas day when he is born. Actually, we put him in the manger the night before so he is there when we get up in the morning, like magic. The chore of putting the baby Jesus in the crib is handed down to the youngest child year after year. Now it’s the duty of Moira’s nine-year-old niece. I also enjoy moving the Kings and Sheppards closer to the crèche as it gets closer to Christmas Eve.  After all, they are traveling! Being an ordained Minister of the Universal Life Church, I respect and honor all religions, however, being raised in the Christian faith I tend to follow my own traditions. Many of them are not so much based in any set religion as much as just the way we did things.

            Next we unpacked several boxes of random Christmas figurines such as angels, Christmas tree candles, snowmen, sleighs, etc. We also unpacked the small, lighted Christmas tree we put in the front foyer to greet guests. Of course there are also window lights and many outside lights that were put out as well. As always we put the lights on the gazebo, front bushes and backyard pine tree on the coldest day of the year! It always seems to happen that way. Somehow it seems more festive if your toes and fingers are freezing off! We also unpacked holiday table clothes, place mats, napkins and dishes, etc.

            Finally came several boxes of Santas. Some of these Santas I have had for many, many years. I can remember who gave me each and everyone of them – well, for the most part! It always takes the longest to put out the Santas because each one has a very special story and we enjoy reminiscing as we put them all out. Moira and I don’t always agree on who gave me a certain Santa, when it was given or the story behind it, but this is all part of the fun!

            Now that the Holiday’s are over, the task becomes packing everything carefully and trucking it all back down in the basement. It’s sad in a way, but also exciting. It is the beginning of a new year. A clean slate you might say. Many changes will occur in the coming year. We will have a new president for one thing. Lots of opportunities to make change, make a difference, both at home and afar. This year will be whatever we make it. We will pray for good health, abundance and above all peace on earth!