This Sunday was the Fourth Sunday of Advent. We lit the purple Hope candle on November 27, the purple Peace candle on December 4, the pink Joy candle on December 11, and the purple Love candle on December 18. We will light the white Christ candle on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which falls on Sunday this year. Fallowfield United Methodist’s Christmas Eve service will be at 9 p.m.

Adamsville Presbyterian Church’s Christmas Eve Service is always beautiful, too. It is usually at 8 p.m.

Speaking of Adamsville, if you live in the 16110 ZIP code, you might consider writing a letter to Representative Michele Brooks, Senator Bob Robbins, Senator Pat Toomey, Senator Bob Casey, Jr., and Congressman Mike Kelly. Ask them to advocate for the Adamsville Post Office. Remind them that their constituents (you and I) pay their salaries.

You can also write an editorial for your local newspaper. This would get a lot of people’s attention and maybe incite them to write letters to their congressmen and women, too.

Have you had a chance to attend a local school Christmas concert? There are so many great concerts at this time of year. My children sang in the Jamestown Elementary School’s choir last Thursday. What a treat!

If you like to sing Christmas carols and cheer shut-ins, join Fallowfield United Methodist Church carolers will on December 19. Come to the church around 6:15 p.m. The group leaves the church promptly at 6:30 p.m. Dress warmly, and bring your singing voice and Christmas spirit. We’ll sing at ten to twelve houses, and then go back to the church for hot chocolate and cookies.

Crawford County Dairy Princess Gwen Anderson of Atlantic was featured on Forever Broadcasting’s WMGW-AM in the early morning hours on December 11. I didn’t get to hear it, but this interview shows once again that Miss Anderson is a rising star.

What are you getting your family for Christmas this year? Toys? Scented candles and lotions? Home Depot gift cards? I’m about two-thirds done with my Christmas shopping. I’d hoped to be finished by now, but I’m not. My work as a mom, wife, and writer limits my shopping time. The gifts I mentioned above are usually on my Christmas shopping list.

But I’m considering deviating from these ideas this year. I read in Country Register, a nation-wide newspaper filled with columns and local store ads, that buying something from a big box store (think Wal-Mart and K-Mart) contributes 43% of every hundred dollars to your community. Contrast this with the $68 of every $100 that returns to your local economy when you buy something produced locally. Here are a few examples.

I used to buy my Aunt a gift certificate to my favorite hairstylist’s shop at Christmas. She loved it. A free cut and color: what woman wouldn’t love that? And the money spent contributed to the Adamsville community.

My father-in-law loves eating breakfast out. I’m considering sending him gift certificates to his favorite mom and pop restaurant in Jamestown. Instead of buying scented creams and candles from the mall, you could save yourself time and gas money by supporting the local cottage industry soap maker in our community. You can also buy a gift certificate for a free tune-up from your local mechanic. When we support our neighbors we support our community.

State Representative Michele Brooks sent me an email that said House Bill 1864 passed in the House of Representatives. If it passes in the State Senate, the bill would exempt children and siblings from the state inheritance tax. This would cease the 12 percent tax on farmland left to siblings and the four and one half percent tax on land left to children.

And this bill would exempt animals, plants, and forest reserves that are left to children or siblings from the inheritance tax. I hope and pray this bill passes and is signed into law, since so many of our neighbors in the Atlantic community are farmers. Could you possibly write a letter to State Senator Bob Robbins urging him to vote in favor of House Bill 1864? Thanks! You’ll be saving your neighbors’ families lots of money.

Have a wonderful week. Blessings!