Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, December 23, 2023

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 Saturday, December 23, 2023 


WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side

by Deanne Davis


“One of the most 
glorious messes in the 
world is the mess created 
in the living room on

Christmas Day. Don’t 
clean it up too quickly, it 
is memories and hopes 
fulfilled.” 

Andy Rooney

“What is Christmas? It 
is the tenderness of the 
past, courage for the 
present,

and hope for the future.” 
Agnes M. Pahro

“Love came down at Christmas; love all lovely, love divine.

Love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign.” Christina Rosetti

The picture this week is my last Christmas Tree of the year. The happy, laughing 
little boy being held up to the top of the tree is our eleventh great-grandchild, Mr. 
Brannan Ryan Johnson, who entered the world, much to the delight of our entire 
enormous family, on May 21st. His expression and happiness reflect to me the 
expression of the baby in my Nativity scene. I expect baby Jesus smiled and showed 
delight at all that was happening around him, too. His parents, granddaughter, 
Ashley, and her husband, Trevor, send us pictures of him on almost a daily basis 
and I don’t think that baby has ever cried. Smiles are all we see. 

“Angels sang, shepherds came,

And joy was born on Christmas, 

Hope was born on Christmas!”

I’m having trouble believing Christmas is Monday. It seems to have snuck quietly 
up on us. Yes, we’ve shopped, decorated, baked, wrapped, spent (Oy! Have we 
spent!). We have ham and all sorts of stuff to nibble on after the presents have been 
joyfully (we hope) demolished and we’re all ready for a nap. Now we can sit down, 
take a breath and give ourselves a minute to recuperate before we start planning 
for the New Year. 2023 passed with what felt like the speed of light and now 2024 
is lurking just around the corner. I’m planning to leave Christmas up just a little 
longer; let my head nodding lighted reindeer stay out in front just a little longer, 
and not be too quick to de-Christmas-ify.

This beautiful piece, “Directions For Planting,” lives at the bottom of the Christmas 
card basket. I’ve passed it on to you before but this might be the perfect way to end 
a year which has had its ups and downs for all of us, and help us look forward to a 
New Year bright with promise and hope.

“Directions For Planting,” was taken from the writings of Margaret Hooper Ineson, 
a precious saint of God and beloved member of our family. Born November 22, 
1904, she entered the gates of heaven November 11, 2000, just a few days short of 
her 96th birthday. She lived according to her “Directions For Planting. We hope 
these seeds take root in your mind and heart.

Directions For Planting

Plant 5 Rows of Peas: Preparedness, Promptness, Perseverance, Politeness, 
Prayer

Plant 3 Rows of Squash: Squash Gossip, Squash Criticism, Squash Indifference

Plant 4 Rows of Lettuce: Let Us Be Faithful, Let Us Be Unselfish, Let Us be 
Truthful,

Let Us Love One Another

Plant 4 Rows of Turnips: Turn Up for Where We’re Needed, Turn Up with a 
Smile,

Turn Up with New Ideas, Turn Up with Determination

“What a wonderful story it is, The Christmas Story.

Only God could have thought of it!” Norman Vincent Peale

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their 
flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord 
shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be 
afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in 
the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord...Suddenly 
a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and 
saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his

favor rests.” Luke 2:8-13

Are we ready for Christmas? I think we are! Merry Christmas my dear friends. 
May God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and give 
you peace…and joy…and hope!

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Christmas is here, and my book:

“Sunrises and Sunflowers Speak Hope”

Would be a really nice gift for all the people you forgot to give something to.

 It’s on Amazon.com

“Star of Wonder” a delightful Christmas Kindle story, where four lonely people 
find love following a strange new star on Christmas Eve, is there, too. 

If you’d like a little preview, take a look at: https://youtu.be/Ka1KYrONrd0


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com