Karla's Kolumn: Sights and sounds of Christmas

If you didn't go downtown Saturday night for the Christmas Parade of Lights you missed a great show.

Unlike last year's bitter cold, the weather was perfect, for December in Wyoming. The evening started with the helicopter buzzing main street, followed by a wonderful lighted parade. There was a variety of styles and stories being told on the floats and parade entries. The streets were lined with enthusiastic parade watchers, especially children awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus on the fire truck, as well as grabbing some candy.

Last Saturday was full of fun and festivities with Breakfast with Santa, Festival of Trees, Santa in the park and a chili feed.

It was fun listening to people talk about their day, whether it was going to Breakfast with Santa, or what entertainment they caught when they stopped by the Festival of Trees.

We live in a wonderful small community and everywhere I went last Saturday, I saw Christmas joy. With so much negativity coming from the main stream media today, it's nice just to partake in some small town festivities and truly enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

The joy is also being shown through the spirit of giving in the community. Many a business and organization helped raise funds for the non-profit organizations in the community during the Festival of Trees auction. Residents, through drop-off boxes at numerous businesses in town, have helped support Shop With A Cop, happening today, so that elementary and middle school students have the opportunity to shop for their families.

Earlier this month in Ten Sleep, through the Little Shopper program, a similar opportunity was provided.

Many businesses are holding canned food drives or coat drives to help people in the community.

It's a wonderful giving time in our community and wonderful to see people show their spirit of Christmas by participating in the giving opportunities.

There are still opportunities to give, through the Worland Ministerial Association's Angel Tree program. Stop by one of the local banks and see if you can help a child have a merry Christmas.

And if Christmas music is in your heart there are three upcoming school concerts to help share the joy of Christmas with the Worland High school concert Dec. 12, Ten Sleep school Dec. 15 (and don't forget their lighted parade Dec. 16) and Worland Middle School concert Dec. 19.

Whether it is through sight or sound, may you find the joy of Christmas today, this season and all the year long.