Many of us remember the popular song, "I?m Dreaming of a White Christmas." Last week we received about six inches of snow, which remains on the ground, and this weekend we received even more. I think we are going to be too tired to dream after we have finished scooping out driveways and making paths where we need to go. Personally, I have other things that I would prefer to do. We are all happy when we can put those lawnmowers away for the season. However, when I was scooping snow I decided I would rather mow the lawn. At least you didn?t have to do it again the very next day! When the wind blows after you have finished making your pathways and getting the garage door open, the wind blows it all back again, making it a little deeper each time it blows. As I was coming to the conclusion this is a hopeless cause, I got to thinking about all of the other things that have been so marvelously improved through the years and began to wonder with all of the technology and other know-how we have in our world today, why don?t they learn to control the tiny little snowflakes and the strong winds? Couldn?t they make a spray for the snow like we put on our hair so it wouldn?t blow? I don?t appreciate a lot of our technology. For one thing, I don?t want to go to the moon but I would really like to get out of my driveway after a snowstorm. Now, let?s start thinking about how we could make that happen. Just think of the time we could save and could be doing something we really enjoyed. Helping Orrin Aukes celebrate his birthday Sunday afternoon at his home were his children and their families, Orlie and Linda Aukes and sons, Brian and Dan, Hills, Terry and Christy Aukes and sons, Logan and Dylan, Larchwood, Iowa, Clair and Mary Crawford, Beaver Creek, and Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls. His birthday was Friday, Dec. 12. A belated Happy Birthday to him. Steen Reformed Church Sunday School?s Christmas Program is at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, in the church.Nelson Bonnema?s cataract surgery was postponed due to the weather. He was rescheduled to have it done this Tuesday at Luverne Community Hospital. There will be a Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, at Steen Reformed Church. Bring your white gifts with you. They can be gifts of canned food or boxes of food wrapped in white paper with gold ribbon. The ribbons are available on the table in the entryway of the church. Mildred Keunen, Mary Jo Suzie and her mother, Millie Richraz, Larchwood, and Joyce and Joy Aykens attended the Singing Christmas Tree Concert at First Assembly of God Church in Sioux Falls on Sunday. Those of us living in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District remember voting for renovation of the locker rooms at the school. They are now completed. There will be an open house for the new locker rooms from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Barbecues, chips and coffee will be served. There will be no school in the Hills-Beaver Creek schools beginning Dec. 22 until Jan. 5, 2004, when school resumes.Pastor Dan and Karen Ramaker had a parsonage open house for their congregation of Steen Reformed Church on Friday afternoon and evening. Dries and Laura May Bosch and Melba Boeve were among those from the Steen area who attended the concert, "Christmas at the Palace," in Luverne Friday evening. The Junior High and High School music department will present their Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Saturday following the locker room open house. The concert was previously postponed due to the weather.Everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas. We are all shopping, baking, decorating and putting Christmas cards in the mail. I could go on and on as it is a busy time of the year. I found this article written by Carl Tom Buck, titled "What Christmas Is," that I would like to share with you. "Christmas is a gift of love wrapped in human flesh and tied securely with the strong promises of God. Christmas is angelic music in the form of carols and oration with a celestial descent. Christmas is "Glory to God" "Good News to Man" and "Joy to the World."Christmas is "Peace of Earth," for those who accept and live in unity with God?s will. Christmas is a man on duty tending sheep or machine who receives the upward call and stops to worship.Christmas is a tall green tree which serves as a festive altar for any household which discovers the true meaning behind it all. Christmas is a ringing bell calling a distraught humanity to gladness and hope. Christmas is a glowing hearth gently placed in the winter of man?s loneliness. Christmas is an altar to which man can bring his heartache for comfort, his lostness for guidance, his sin for forgiveness. Christmas is the sparkle of anticipation and the steady light of faith in the eyes of a little child as he hears the old, old story. Christmas is a shining Star of Hope in the sky of all mankind. Christmas is more than words can tell, for it is a matter for the heart to receive, believe and understand." Let us remember this is the true meaning of Christmas.
