The People in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light! Tour a Lit Up Camp Kreitzer!

I don't like the winter. I don't like the cold; I don't like the dark. Thank God for the holy days of winter! 
How I love the holidays. I love to fill the house with light when it's dark outside. 

I love coming home and seeing our Nativity scene out front with the wayward donkey straying off on his own and the star of Bethlehem over our front porch. I love setting up the crib, the tree, and my Christmas village that all shimmer with light. And I will leave them all up until the winter is on the wane -- until at least Candlemas Day on February 2nd. 

One year I didn't take the decorations down until Ash Wednesday. It was early that year, but I just couldn't bring myself to turn off all the lights and go back to Ordinary Time. So I skipped it that year and continued celebrating Christmas until Lent. 

Every room gets its little bit of Christmas. 

Here's the tour.

As you come in the front door, the living room/home chapel is on the right. I put my village there with all the trappings of an old fashioned Christmas. It begins with the little stable I fashioned out of an old shoebox and the Precious Moments nativity.

Ebenezer Scrooge no doubt complains about all the children playing on the frozen stream with their squeals of delight, but after his visit from the spirits he will happily change his tune and no doubt offer them cookies and hot chocolate and maybe even join in their snowball fights.

The chimney sweep listens to Christmas carols and the message of the town crier while he cleans the chimney of the inn keeping all the guest safe as they enjoy the warm glow of the fireplaces in their rooms. But in case of a fire, the team at the firehouse will be Johnny-on-the-spot to help anyone in danger.

And Santa flies above the cathedral wishing all a happy Christmas!