December 3 – “When Mama’s happy …”

Yesterday afternoon Chris and I finished up our date that we began Sunday evening.  Isn’t it great to have a wife who considers decorating the church a date?  Wait.  Don’t tell her I called it a date.  I haven’t exactly cleared that designation with her yet.  But we did get to spend another couple of hours together, and I for one will take all of those I can get.  After our stop at WalMart to get the inevitable few strands of lights to replace the ones that didn’t work from last year, we finished decorating the tree first.  Definitely has a Chrismon theme to it.  There are some of those round glass balls on it, but all of them are gold and are strategically placed to reflect the lights.  I did say Chris was there, right?  You didn’t think I would come up with something like that, did you?  Gotta say though, it looks really good.  Very simple, and the symbols in the Chrismons can really stand out.  Maybe after seeing it other people will bring up some more.  And Chris was happy with it.  When Mama’s happy, everybody’s happy. 

The second half of our date involved finishing hanging icicle lights and garland around the other half of the room.  Now several years ago we installed little hooks all over the ceiling, so the process isn’t quite as difficult anymore.  But it did involve a lot of looking up and stepping up and down off of the stool. Someone is rather sore again today.  Not saying who.  Oh, and in the spirit of the stuffing yourself season, we ended up with a double portion of garland hanging.  After we completely finished and stepped back to admire our work (and for one of us, to catch our breath), Chris noticed that something was awry.  Somewhere along the line the style of the garland changed ever so slightly.  I didn’t even notice at first, but she carefully explained that the second layer was thicker than the rest.  So it looked too good?  Honestly, she was right (as she usually is).  She had resigned herself to living with it, though, even though she wasn’t completely happy (uh oh).  That is until I happened to flip open one of the other bins to see what other decorations might be forthcoming.  And there was the “correct” garland.  What a find.  Before I could get the top snapped back on, though, Chris saw it.  I knew right then the die was cast.  I weakly protested before giving in and removing all the offending greenery.  We got it replaced with the proper array, and Chris was pleased.  And when Mama’s happy, everybody’s happy.  Quite tired and sore … but happy nonetheless.  We made our first of countless sweeping sweeps of the tiny little fake sprigs of green plastic that covered the floor.  We even rearranged some pews and straightened up some clutter and spot mopped some particularly spill-bedecked areas of the floor.

The third half of our date continued at home.  OK, I know.  There can only be two halves to make a whole.  But this is my universe.  In my universe, working at decorating and cleaning up the church can be called a date, so why not have three halves?  After a quick meal I climbed up in the attic and retrieved a few more of our own Christmas decoration boxes.  Josh had already pulled down a lot while they were here, but we still needed minor things like stockings and our manger scene for the front yard.  It didn’t take all that much twisting and turning, but Chris was happy with that portion of our accomplishment.  And when Mama’s happy …

The fourth half of our date for the ages was recovery.  I’m still in that one.  I’ll let you know if it ever ends.  I mean when it ends.  In the meantime, Chris is happy.  And when Mama’s happ ……  zzzzz.

Genesis 1:31-2:1 says, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.  Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.”

Father, thank you for Chris’ incredible eye for detail and design.  It reflects your own.  Amen.