The combined churches of town have been working together over the last few months to host the local Carols by Candlelight.  The Christian kids of the town were invited to be involved in the choir (with a few adults in for support) and to participate in an item.  This has meant lots of practices over these months.

The girls were in the choir – they had practice every Thursday night.  They have loved going into town with family friend Aunty A. and spending an hour or two singing.  The choir did really well on the night.

You probably can’t pick out Jess and Nomi – but their smiling faces are there!

Jess, Nomi and Daniel were also involved in the opening item – the song they sang "Ring those Bells" called everyone to attention that the evening was starting.  For weeks they have been practicing a Tambourine routine – it went really well for them. 

You can see Daniel in the front row, on the far right, the girls are at the back.  The kids at the front sat down during most of the song so you could see the older girls and their tambourine routine.  They did well and kept in time most of the time.

Before the carols began there was an afternoon of family fun – face painting, balloon animals, games for the kids, and a sausage sizzle for dinner!  The last few years our family has taken on the balloons – twisting inflated balloons into animal shapes – a really unnatural thing to do! But it is fun.

We spent the early afternoon before the event practicing.

A table full of balloon dogs (long ones, short ones, fat and skinny ones!) Butterflies and horses!

And yes, I wore this stylish hat in public!!

The carols this year was a great event – the gospel was shared both from one of the pastors in town as well as a real and down to earth testimony of the changes Jesus brought into one person’s life.  The invitation to consider who Jesus, the baby in the manger is, was loud and clear and yet, not overly religious or spiritual.