Hark, the herald angel

Walking along the canals in Naples, you find images of Christmas everywhere. Somehow this angel made me think of Gladys Herdman in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." It's one of my favorite Christmas stories. It is a heartwarming tale about six problem kids who get involved with the annual church Christmas pageant.

The Herdmans had never attended church and didn't know the Christmas story. Their involvement in the play changes them and many around them. And one of my favorite parts is at the end when Gladys (the angel of the Lord), who is never quiet, loudly announces:  Hey! Unto YOU a child is born!

”Good news from heaven the angels bring; 
glad tidings to the earth they sing: 
To us this day a child is given, 
To crown us with the joy of heaven.” 
~ Martin Luther

First glimpses of Christmas

As you travel around Downey, you will see the beginnings of homes being decorated for Christmas. The lights are plugged in, the inflatables are blown up, the statues are standing guard, and the Holy Family is nestled in their stables.

It is 21 days until Christmas, so people will be intensifying their efforts this weekend to get the decorations out of storage, set up, plugged in, and ready for others to drive by and say, "oh, that's cute" or, "wow, that must have taken a lot of effort" or, "where do they store all that stuff?"

Oh, I forgot, and the angles are declaring.

The park's the place

There are lots of places to enjoy breakfast in Downey, but these Public Works workers chose to take their break and eat their El Taco breakfast (see El Taco, nobody can eat just once!) al fresco, at Furman Park.

An angel visit

I pass by this house almost every day. Recently a new family moved in. They of course brought the usual belongings of a family, but this family brought one unusual guest with them.

This angel graces their front yard and guards the front entrance.