While I was savoring a little Thanksgiving turkey, it appears the world went crazy with competitive shopping. I guess it really starts even earlier each year, with Christmas on the shelves before Halloween now.
It is a hectic time for sure – even an organized cowdog like me has a hard time keeping it all together and on schedule. 
We had a snowstorm blow late on Turkey day. Then the temperature dropped like a hundred-pound snowball.
But we had a long and pleasant fall right up until then!
This is the time of lights and beautiful decorations. It is a time to light the advent candles weekly, and little boys find a chocolate treat in that calendar daily.
They will be helping us put up lights and anticipate setting up the Christmas train that will chug around the tree.
They remember going up the mountain, every December of their lives, to cut a fresh wild tree. They call them “bank trees,” because the boss always gets a tree that is leaning over the rocky banks, half the roots exposed, one that will not last too many winds or too many spring thaws. Like grandma, they believe the tree should end it’s life as a Christmas tree, not just fall ignominiously down the bank some stormy night. And so they save them with twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments, then set them out later with all kinds of treats for the birds. 
So a wild, sometimes sparse bank tree will be decked out in lights and beauty here soon; I just hope the cats have sense enough to not mess with it as they’re running laps around the house! A little boy who is learning to read and write, will make lists this week for baking, and write a letter to Santa.
Tomorrow we start making cookies. Sprout is good at mixing and has always let me help a lot.
Mom makes a lot of neat gifts, including an especially nice one that will honor any great dog.
For now, I bring you The Cowdog’s Christmas List.
- The world is so crazy and getting harder for so many to get by. Number one on my list is for all animals to be loved and cared for, to find a family of their own who loves them for life, and for the people whom they rescue – they need each other.
2. Food – I hope everyone has enough, and some special treats, too. I am glad to see the haystack, and the bags of grain, too. This year has been hard on wildlife, too. I see the turkey and deer come around a lot, looking for a bite. I worry about the animals in burned areas, and especially for the lost and alone dogs and cats on the streets. Lets help others eat.
3. Toys – this cowdog has a lot to do and is usually too busy to play much, but it is fun to get a new toy. I like the tough ones at https://www.mydogtoy.com/ but my favorite has always been a good big sheepskin bone!
4. I have a comfy place to sleep – I wish this for all dogs, especially those who have old bones that ache in the cold. 
5. Christmas cookies for all!
I guess my list is not of things I want or need – I have all I need. If we remember that the reason for this season is that God gave us the best gift of all – His Son – then we just need to copy that and give with love. I do that with Heeler smiles, kisses, barks, wiggles, laughs, stares. I sit on the boss’s feet so she isn’t lonely. I follow to the bathroom so she knows I’m on the job. I lay strategically so I can keep on eye on everything.
What is my Christmas List? It is just to give a gift of love and kindness to everyone I can. That may include helping make cookies that we give to some. And of course tolerating cat hair up my nose when I eat treats with their help. What kind of list can you make this season?
Relax – enjoy the season. Now I need to go help get up decorations, cut a tree, and bake cookies!
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” – Luke 2:10
