Another Room Opens Up At Marleewood

Thank goodness Marlee and her friends had left some rooms available for special occasions. Christmas definitely qualified as special. As we have talked, Marlee and her friends love Santa Claus. They also know that Santa has helpers all over the place that help him before Christmas Eve ever comes. They get dressed up in suits that are similar to his. They are happy and jolly and are ever so nice. But they have a job too. Their job is to once again get a reminder of what little folks want for Christmas in case that their letters gets lost in the mail. Sometimes letters don't get written so visiting Santa is a good thing. However, some folks don't get a chance to do either one of these things. But you know what? It just seems like Santa knows about good little girls and boys. Isn't that something?
Well at their meeting, Marlee and her grandmas and Charlie and some of her friends decided that they needed a Santa Room. This Santa room would have a place for him to sit down. He needed to sit down quite a bit you know because he travels a long distance to visit with little ones. Besides that, little ones like to sit on Santa's lap and get to know him a little. Then sometimes they tell him what they would like, not only what they want for Christmas but other things too.
They decided that the Santa room should have really pretty things in it. Charlie had ordered some things for it. Grandma B and Addison's grandma had donated some things too. There were things arriving by truck and in the mail every day. It seems that once again people were talking at the local grocery store and cafe' that Marleewood was going to have a very special room for Santa. Everyone wanted to help. It was decorated so that there were several places with chairs, and fireplaces, and Christmas trees. There was a very special Christmas tree that had homemade crocheted ornaments on it. There was a complete fireplace that had been shipped from Tennessee. These folks were friends of Grandma Lu's and wanted to help too. Isn't that beautiful? Whose picture is above the fireplace? Is that Santa?
There were little tables here and there with little Santas and Elves that had been donated by Addison's grandma. Oh I see two (2) of them. My, when the Santa Room gets all finished it will really be something to see, won't it?
On one of the tables there is a tray of beautifully decorated cupcakes. They look like Santa hats, how fun! Here's one (1) for you to see, aren't they cute?
There are also bowls of fruit for those folks that shouldn't eat sweets.
And of course, beautiful Christmas trees.
There is also a Christmas cactus. They generally only bloom in November and December. Sometimes, special plants bloom twice. They are very very pretty. They have a red/rose color flowers.

At Christmas time sometimes people have things that are very special to them and put them out for everyone to see.
Grandma Lu also brought something for the Santa Room. It was very special to her. Her youngest son made that for her when he was very young. Even though it is very fragile she has protected it with extra care. She loves it very much.

It is a little ceramic Santa Claus that he made in 1991. She also brought a very old Christmas bell that belonged to her mother. Right now it is sitting on a doily that is red for Christmas.
The little green ceramic Christmas tree was donated by Grandma Pat. It sits on her porch all year long with it's little lights on just waiting for Christmas. What very special memories it has for her.

But you know what? Material things (things that you can touch and see) can be lost in a fire, or a bad storm or other difficult times. But the spirit of Christmas lasts forever. The Spirit of Christmas is what makes Marleewood very very special. You know it is in Marleewood because it makes you feel warm and loved when you walk in. You can't see it, but you surely can feel it. You can smell cookies baking, and people laughing and teasing each other. They are friends and family. They welcome you with open arms and big smiles.
 Marlee is putting the finishing touches on the tree that she is decorating.
The Santa Room is all decorated now and that is a very good thing because tomorrow there will be two (2) very special guests at Marleewood.
See you then.