Wonderful Happenings

Maria and Georg's conversation about all the experiences they had already made them both wonder what was next for them. They would learn at church that Sunday.

The Mass had concluded but before the Benediction was pronounced Father Martin spoke to them.

"The Church's new year begins in two weeks. Advent, as that time is known, is a time to prepare us to celebrate the birth of Christ. In our gift shop you can buy everything you need to make your family's wreath. The church will furnish each household with a booklet which contains Scripture readings and prayers for each Sunday."

He then gave the Benediction and the organist began the final hymn. Georg quietly asked Maria. "Are you familiar with this wreath?"

"No, but I think it is a wonderful way to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. I'll stop by the church this week and buy everything we need to make ours."

Once again the family was the last to leave the church. Father Martin spoke to them. "You may not know this, but the Advent Wreath was first used in Germany. I've heard that the country's new leader Adolph Hitler may force the Christians there to celebrate Christmas in secret like many did in the first century."

"Father, sadly I believe the worst is yet to come. Christianity and Judaism will both be threatened."

"I do too. I also plan on contacting my Bishop for permission to write a special prayer for Christian and Jews living under Hitler's rule."

"Maria and I need to hurry home so our youngest son can eat. We'll be here next week."

Father Martin watched them walk away. Before returning to the rectory he knelt at the foot of the altar to pray for peace in the world.

When the family arrived home they discovered that once again Katia had a breakfast casserole almost ready to take out of the oven. And Franz placed bowls containing several kinds of fruit at each place.

Maria asked. "Katia, did you make our fruit bowls?"

"No, I bought several cans labeled, Fruit Cocktail, at the grocery store. The can's label had a picture on the front of all the different kinds of fruit contained inside. I thought it was something different to serve instead of juice."

As soon as Louisa finished saying grace, Kurt ate the first spoonful. "It's really good."

Now everyone had eaten a spoonful and even Marta and Gretl commented on its taste. And Katia told them. "I'll buy it again next time I go to the store."

Every bit of the casserole was eaten. The dishes were washed and put away. They congregated in their living room where everyone did quiet activities.

Come Monday morning, the men left for the War building and soon the two groups of children began their walk to school. And Maria and Connie did buy all their supplies to make their Advent Wreath on Saturday. Phillip and Stefan provided small fir tree branches to covers the metal ring.

Instructions in the booklet the church had provided gave them a brief ceremony for lightening the candles. Since everyone left the house at different times in the morning, the family decided to have their Advent devotional at dinner time.

Everyone took turns lightening the candles but Georg always read the Bible readings. The weeks of Advent passed. During the fourth week the family turned its attention to buying their first Christmas Tree.

Everyone came to the lot which sold the trees. Georg and Hugo had a good look at them. "These trees are much different from Austrian Christmas Trees."

The man selling the trees told them. "People like them because they are very easy to decorate; even your children can help."

"Do Americans use candles on their trees?"

"Some do. But electric Christmas lights are used by most people. In the past some trees caught on fire which pushed people to abandon them in favor of the electric lights."

"Where can we purchase these lights?"

"The hardware store sells them and tree decorations including silver tinsel."

"Thank you. We seem to learn something new about America every day." To the group Georg said. "We can buy the lights and decorations today but we will buy our tree in a few days."

And so they did just that. One day on their way home the navy men stopped to buy their tree. Between them and the man at the lot they were able to bring it home on the roof of the car.

The tree was placed in a holder with a water bowl attached and was placed far away from the fireplace directly in front a window in the big sitting room. Stefan poured water into the bowl and told the family.

"I'll be sure the bowl always has water; the tree may be able to stay up until next year."

After dinner the children watched the men place all the lights on their tree. They were plugged into the electric outlet to be sure they all lit up; but then turned off. The tree decorations were placed next; everyone helped. Last they placed the strands of tinsel on the tip of the branches.

Gretl spoke for everyone. "It's even very pretty without the lights turned on."

"Yes it is. Let's place the manger display we bought right in front to always remind us that Jesus' Birth is the reason for our celebration."

The fourth week of Advent went by quickly; the children's schools last day was that Wednesday. And with it came the first snow of the winter. The family had been told winters were much milder than what they had experienced in Austria. This storm only left about four inches light fluffy snow which made soft snow balls but could also be used to make a snowman.

Maria and Connie had recently bought the children heavy coats, caps and gloves. They had a blast playing in it. In two days the temperatures warmed and even the snowman melted away.

But that wasn't the last snow fall they would have; it snowed on Christmas Eve. It reminded everyone about the composing of the most famous Christmas song of all time, Silent Night. It was that song which the family sang before opening their Christmas presents.

A few days later a New Year began.