I’ve noticed something bizarre in the past two weeks. Have you noticed spring flowers blooming? My forsythia bloomed partially, my tulip tree flowers bloomed, my pussy willow tree budded, and I’ve picked two dandelions. What’s going on here? I can’t ever remember my spring plants blooming twice in one year.

This Sunday was the Third Sunday of Advent. “Advent” is Latin for “the coming.” We lit the purple Hope candle on November 27, the purple Peace candle on December 4, and the pink Joy candle on December 11.

I’ve enjoyed singing Christmas carols at church the past three Sundays. It’s so fun to sing these joyful songs. They lift my spirits. We’ve sang “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “He Is Born,” “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and “Away in A Manger.” My favorite carol is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” I hope we sing it in the coming weeks.

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.

The Fallowfield United Methodist senior citizen luncheon will be at noon on December 17. Come for a home-cooked meal and fellowship with your friends. You might make a new friend there, too.

Did you commemorate Pearl Harbor Day on December 7? There were ceremonies all over the country to honor the date of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This launched the United States into World War II. Praise God for our veterans who protect our freedoms every day. Won’t you say a prayer with me for our troops and their families? Thanks.

I hope all our hunters got deer this season. If not, there’s always flintlock season. It runs from Dec. 26, 2011 through Jan. 16, 2012.

Just a reminder: Fallowfield United Methodist’s Christmas Eve service will be at 9 p.m.

I also highly recommend the Adamsville Presbyterian Church’s Christmas Eve Service. It is usually at 8 p.m.

Now I’d like to brag about on of our neighbors. Atlantic’s own Gwen Anderson is Crawford County Dairy Princess. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm. The Anderson’s herd has 20 Brown Swiss cows. Gwen shows cows at the Crawford County Fair and at the State Fair in Harrisburg. She started showing cows when she started 4-H at age 9. She hopes that, as Dairy Princess, she can give farmers a voice and advocate for them.

Gwen visits schools as part of her role as Dairy Princess. She stopped by First District School in Meadville on December 6. She and the class made cheese people there out of pretzels, cheese, chocolate chips, and Ritz crackers. On December 7, she made ice cream with three second grade classes at Cochranton. These demonstrations teach students about the importance of milk and dairy farmers.

Gwen wrote an editorial for The Meadville Tribune last month that highlighted the seven jobs that a farmer does. Farmers are scientists, veterinarians, environmentalists, economists, mechanics, administrators, and caregivers. Keep your eyes peeled for this young lady. She’s going places.

Have a wonderful week. Blessings!