Christmas Greetings

from the We Make History Family

 

Lord Scott,

Your Christmas Ball this year was one of the loveliest I've ever attended.  It was such a joyful pleasure to come home and see all of my friends--and also to make new ones!  I have so many warm memories from the ball.  (I can't recall the last time I enjoyed one particularly gay Virginia Reel more or was found by a more genuine waltzing partner.)  I offer a warm thanks to you and your family for your hard work.  I would also salute all of the lovely, graceful, and beautiful ladies I danced with at the ball.  It is a rare and special occasion when one finds so many fine women in such a splendid array of gorgeous gowns.  It has been mentioned before by many, but remains true, the gentlemen and ladies at your balls are second to none in manners, grace, and character.  It is an honor to participate and partake of your events.

Warmest wishes and best regards,

Lt. J. D. A. Anderson

Purcellville, Virginia

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Dear Sir & Madame,

I would like to extend a warm thank you for the wonderful time my wife and I had at the 2006 Christmas Ball. The one theme that stands out in my mind is unselfish service. Balls and events such as the American Heritage Festival are no small feat to accomplish, beside providing a source of enjoyment to all who come and an opportunity for service for reenactors. In particular, as I watch the beads of sweat roll off your brow I am reminded of the energy and sacrifice that is required in order to truly serve others and make dreams become a reality. I recently read a section in a book called "The Rhythm of Life" written by Matthew Kelly that described how people today are reduced by minimalism (getting by doing the least they can) rather than asking what is the most they can do. I think minimalism is one of the great tragedies of our "modern" society which unfortunately seems to have woven itself into the very fabric of our everyday lives. However, you do not complain about the effort that is required to formalize these events and dreams and maintain a sense of virtue rarely seen in this day and age. I am grateful to have been reminded what this season is all about by you and your wife’s example and hope that by your example many who will cross your path will continue to be inspired to reconsider the true value in serving others.

Your fellow servants in Christ,

Mr. & Mrs. Steven S.

Gilbert, Arizona

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Paul wrote, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power." - 1 Corinthians 2:4 (NIV)

Now when I read this verse I thought of our WMH leadership. Scott and Lesa: you demonstrate the Spirit of extending yourselves and sharing your social lives with us. Thank you for your fine example of a Christian family. The look on Lesa's face while watching daddy and his girls sing was a wonderful gift to any that noticed.

Blessings of the Spirit to you each day.

"Miss Kay" of Mesa, Arizona

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Dear Capt. Scott,

I must say that I had a truly grand time at the ball on Saturday last. It was so wonderful to see everyone's smiling faces and hear their joyful talk as the evening progressed. I think the time I most enjoyed was sharing Carols with everyone. As the first notes came forth as we began singing the first Carol, tears came to my eyes because it sounded so beautiful and clear. It will not be an evening soon forgotten.

Your humble servant,

Miss Rachel A.

Mesa, Arizona

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Lord Scott –

Another magical evening indeed!  The Victorian Christmas Ball is always one of my favorites.  This one exceeded those of past years in many ways, and the evening ended far too early.  I had thought I left at 11:25 p.m., and in reality it was an hour later.  Where did the time go?

What were my favorite memories?  It was not the cheers when the candy cane dance was announced or the Virginia Reel (although those were indeed some pleasant memories).  It was not the pleasure of dancing three different reels.  It was not the opportunity to meet and see old friends and make some new friends.  It was not the most excellent music (though it is always a pleasure to be in the presence of a good fiddler).  I would have to say my favorite moment was the caroling of the1st Virginia, and in particular, the angelic voices of the Monk sisters.  I hope that special treat will be repeated in the future.

Merry Christmas to you and your family

I Remain,

Your Humble Servant,

1^st Sgt. Michael C.,

1^st New Mexico Vol. Inf.

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My Dear Lord and Lady Scott and Family,

The ball last weekend was a beautiful event that I will remember for a long time.  As I danced through the evening I was constantly reminded of the Christmas Ball the year before that marked the beginning of my friendship with the We Make History Family.  I am so thankful for the past year full of fun, fellowship and love.

The chocolates I won as the grand prize of the evening have been greatly enjoyed by my parents, sisters, and younger brothers.  I have to keep an eye on the boxes, lest they disappear to quickly!  I am so glad that my rendition of Adeste Fidelis met with the crowd’s approval (I did not want to dance a solo jig!).

I'm looking foward to seeing you this weekend and also at the next ball,

Your Friend,

Miss Alia F.

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Dear Lord Scott,

We would like to thank you for honoring us with the opportunity to sing at the ball.  It was a privilege and a delight.  The Christmas Ball is always one of our favorites, and we really enjoyed Saturday night.  The "Stripping the Willow" reel was one of our particular favorites.

Sincerely,

Jessica, Natalie, & Stephanie

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It was a delightful evening!  We're so glad we were able to attend.  Thank you for all you do!  We're happy that we could finally attend a ball ... it was a lot of fun!  It really helped to have friends to help us understand what was to take place next and to help us navigate the new world of historic dancing.  We were feeling a little overwhelmed in the beginning but with their assistance we were able to participate and get the hang of things quickly.

Praying God's richest blessings to your family this holiday season! 

The M. Family    Gilbert, Arizona

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Dear Lord Scott,

        This is just a note to tell you that we all had such a wonderful time at the Ball last Saturday. It was such fun and all the gowns were so lovely.  Thank you for all that you do to make these events such fun and so interesting.  Bless you and your family this Christmas season. 

Barbara

Chandler, Arizona

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Dear Lord, Lady, and Girls,

  Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening. I was so happy to see all of you. I had missed you and needed seeing you so much.

  Once I saw all of you it made my spirits lift. Then as the evening progressed it got even better. Talking with the ladies and dancing with the sir made me so happy and glad to be there. The dancing was superb and the company even better. I can't describe it to the fullest, but it was just so wonderful to be with friends who care about and watch out for me. You have no idea as to what that means to me and I know I can't explain what it means, but I love you guys and am so blessed to have met you. I'm so thankful God put you all in my life.

 Thank you as well for your prayers and support. God has blessed our family so much already, but then He has given us such wonderful, caring, and loving Christian friends. I thank Him for that constantly. God bless you and your family this Holiday season.

  The ball was wonderful because of all these friends. Thank you for orchestrating such people in such an environment. It's safe and healthy for all who attend. Thank you for that. May God continue to bless you and yours the way you and yours have blessed so many others. Merry Christmas and safe travels.

Sincerely,

  Tiyrah a.k.a. Tiyree ;o) 

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Dear Lord and Lady Scott,
Bless you and your delightful family for hosting the annual Christmas Ball.
What a splendid way to begin the season!  I dare say it is now a much anticipated and glorious tradition.  The dancing was graceful, the music
beautiful, the company most civilized , and now we can say,  "Merry Christmas!"

Thank You.

The Henry Family

Paradise Valley, Arizona

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My dearest Lord and Lady Scott and Family,

Thank you again for a fabulous and amazing night of fun, dancing, and food. I know I've said this before but it's so true, they just get better and better. Thank you again for all of your work and time you all put into the evening. It had paid off. Love to all of the We Make History fans!!!!!!

Merry Merry Christmas!!!!! And an AWESOME New Year!!!!

In Christ,

Miss Valerie B. of Prescott

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At last a Christmas Celebration that fully captures both the happiness and meaning of the season!

The dancing, of course, is what I love. But what I will remember the most is the carols we sung together.  In that moment of collective music, all of us felt the warmth and love of Christ -- the gift that matters above all others at Christmas.  I found myself counting my blessings in what has been one of the best years of my life.

And who could forget the amazing harmonies of the Monks?  They may be Monks, but they sing as Angels!

I have said it before, but the truth deserves repeating:  I am so blessed to be a part of We Make History.  Thank you for all your hard work in making these evenings of merriment the most enjoyable of experiences.  Thank you for the opportunity to dance without fear of rejection.

And thank you to the family of We Make History for the friendships I continue to treasure and give thanks for.

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
I remain,
Your Friend and Humble Servant,
Mr. Francis
Tucson, Arizona

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Had a glorious time last night.  Thank you.

Josh M. of Phoenix, Arizona

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Dear Lord Scott,

Thank you once again for a most splendid evening.  I really appreciate all of the hard work you put into this ball.  The music, the dancing, the skit, and the raffle were all spectacular.  I especially enjoyed singing Christmas Carols with everybody. I also was amused by the little ones dancing.

I am overjoyed to be bringing in the holidays with the "We Make History" family.  

Sincerely,

Josh S.

Prescott, Arizona

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Dear Lord Scott & Family,

    Forgive me for not sending my regards sooner (or for that matter, for making my usual rounds at the American Heritage Festival).  At the past two events alone I have experienced companionship unlike anything I had previously known, and it has been quite wonderful.  Despite the warm coat, I managed to more or less maintain my composure and enjoy every dance to its fullest.  As always, the event was lovely, and my sister and I both thank you, we look forward to the next one that we can attend.

Sincerely,

Pvt. Reddy

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Lord Scott

Wonderful photos, wonderful people, and wonderful memories.

It does not seem fair that we have to wait so long until the next ball.

Your Friend and Loyal Servant,

Mike

5^th New York Infantry

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Christmas Past 

A We Make History Victorian Christmas celebration guaranteed to make even Ebenezer smile -- no ghosts required.

As experienced by Christopher.
 
Funny how one cufflink can turn you from Cratchett into Scrooge. That salvation of sleeves refuses to cooperate with my ruffled shirt, constantly undoing itself as I prepare to slip away in time with time slipping away. Why is it always buttons, or their cousins, that test my patience?

Enough, I decide. I’m wearing my other shirt, plain and unruffled but fully buttoned and reliable. Now where in blazes is my bowtie?

Emerging into the ballroom in my top hat, tail coat, and red waistcoat, I find myself in a scene more reminiscent of 1861 Virginia than 1840 London, with the gentlemen of the 1st Virginia Volunteer Infantry in full dress uniform. They welcome the arriving guests and put out the call for more recruits. Those Yankee aggressors must be stopped.

A charming schoolteacher arrives with some extra holiday cheer, greeting me with a joyous hug as she passes out decorated jingle bells which we happily place on our jackets, or in my case, in my hat.

Our gracious host and hostess calls us together after an hour of meeting and greeting and sets the scene for the Victorian era, the time of Charles Dickens, a time of dignity, charm, and manners in which a gentleman was the servant of a lady… and men did not dance with their hats on.

So much for worrying about that top hat sitting too low upon my head.

As I doff my headpiece and the traditional promenade begins, my schoolteacher friend has already sought out my first dancing partner of the evening.

“The blue, the blue, the blue!” she whispers to me.

My eyes dart amongst the crowd. Several ladies wear blue. Which one is it?

“The blue, the blue!” my advisor continues as she hastily orients my gaze in the right direction.

I find her standing next to another lady in the corner, not sure at all if she has already accepted another invitation. But I bow to her and ask, and she accepts without hesitation. The satisfied schoolteacher signals success with a raised thumb.

The lines of couples snake about the ballroom as we parade around, more than a simple single circle can handle. We need two for the first dance, a merry mixer where ladies and gentlemen switch partners at least a dozen times, an opportunity to exchange greetings as well as hands.

When the set dances begin, so begins my time-tested ritual of seeking out a new partner. I wander onto the floor, pacing slowly, looking for the nearest lady who I can surmise is desiring a dance, my hands clasped in front of me in anticipation she is near.

“You look lost,” observes a lady behind me.

I turn around to find her alone, smiling.

“I am seeking an available partner,” I say, quickly following it up with a bow before she can surmise the wrong impression, “and I gather you are available?”

Even as a guest of six previous balls, I still consider myself somewhere between a beginner and an expert when it comes to set dancing. So when we end up as head couple to begin the dance, I know I have to prove my worth. But more than that, I have to convince my partner as well as the others along the line that any mistakes are no cause for alarm. Do not fret. Do not panic. Continue on with the joy of the dance in your heart and all deviations will fade like snowflakes into the white drifts of winter. “You’re doing fine!” I coach. And at the end, I bow deeply and offer my thanks and compliments on my partner’s dancing, which require no embellishment.

Sometimes a problem will arise, however, where words will not suffice. During a lively set of “Speed The Plow,” my partner suddenly dashes from the line with a hurried, unintelligible explanation, leaving me facing open space. I have no problems improvising, but at some point, I might have to sashay by myself, a challenge I at least feel up to. Fortunately, my partner rejoins the set only a few moves later. A hoop problem with her skirt, she explains. I understand immediately and welcome her back with no shred of offense taken. After all, I know all too well about wardrobe malfunctions.

We require many waltzes to help cool ourselves down, if nothing else, as the sweet sweat of celebration runs down many foreheads and guests fan themselves a welcome breeze.

I know the gloom of being left out, cast aside, and sidelined from a happy diversion. So when I approach two charming ladies who stand together in seeking a partner for a waltz, I cannot bring myself to simply choose one. One offers to step aside, but I will not have it.

“We can dance as three,” I say, and that we did, in a small circle. In and out, in and out -- beautiful, elegant, simple.

“Not too fast,” I offer. “Enjoy the moment.”

Later, I share a waltz with a fine young lady.

Do not look at the others, I think. Set your eyes upon the countenance of this beautiful dancer you have chosen. Feel the warmth of her smile as you share this moment of elegance and peace in three-quarter time. Worry not about your technique or feel yourself inadequate to the Fred Astaires of the world. Step simply. Step as one. Step as friends.

She smiles, and I know she will remember the moment.

And now, the Virginia Reel. Start the clock.

My partner is a novice, but she quickly picks it up. And for those times of doubt after the caller turns us loose, I provide some unobtrusive hand signals for the next figure to reassure my dancing companions as we work our way through it.

But to nobody’s surprise, the figures are the easy part. The reel’s real challenge is endurance. Five minutes elapse… then ten… then twelve. We swing through it all, offering no hint of fatigue. Some record is on the line. Could this one beat the mark set at the 1861 Remembrance Ball? I cannot recall what the mark was, even though I danced in that marathon reel myself. Legend says thirty minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, the music ends and we honor our partners, winded but satisfied.

“Anything worth doing once is worth doing again!” our host proclaims, and an hour or so later, we repeat the reel, this time for thirteen minutes. Put it in the books.

If we could reel for half an hour, we could surely do the Candy Cane Dance for twice as long. Lines upon lines of ladies and gentlemen sashay down the rows of couples moving towards three chairs to be occupied by three people. One will hold a candy cane in the center, pass it to someone either on their left or right, leaving the person on their opposite side as their desired partner to sweep off their feet. We have performed it with fans, with pineapples, with pumpkins, but the candy canes, albeit large, cannot take the pressure of our merriment and crumble from hand to hand.

Hey, ya wanna piece of this?

The ladies and gentlemen of the 1st Virginia gather together for a story of Christmas from Richmond.

“My husband tells me that the ladies’ chorale will be hosting a benefit to raise funds for medical supplies for the troops.”

No male chorus exists to support them, but the ladies suggest the recruits give it a go.

One private is skeptical. “No doubt your intentions are the best, but I’m afraid after hearing some of us gentlemen sing that it might be the audience who would require the medical supplies.”

Nonetheless, the men belt out a working rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

“Now ladies,” a sergeant says, “let us see if you might be able to top that.”

“Sergeant, you wouldn’t have issued that challenge if you had ever heard my daughters sing. We made a brave effort, but the day shall be theirs.”

At once, his daughters launch into a soaring harmony, enhanced by the echoing acoustics of the hall.

“Once in royal David’s City,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed…”

To call their voices perfect is only faint praise. Their flawless melody brings pause to everyone it touches, aiming for the heart by way of the ear, a rainbow of tone and tempo. They continue for six verses, drawing in harmonizers as the song builds to its conclusion and fades with grace.

“Bravo! Bravo!” several of us cry in praise of this choir of angels who have somehow made their way to Earth for one night.

We sing more carols this evening, culminating in “Silent Night.” Our host invites us to reflect upon the words and their meaning as they purse our lips. In that moment of collective song, all of us are touched -- reminded of who we are, why we are here, where we are headed, and how to get there.

I think of the gifts I have received this year, all the unforgettable moments of seven balls, two picnics, and one historic weekend, spent with people I am proud to call my friends… no, family. I think of all of us going about our other lives and times, taking lessons from the ballroom back into the world and improving it.

In January, after my first ball, I wrote: “I felt like a better person, someone more well-mannered and wiser, and I didn't want to let go of it.”

I didn’t. It consumed me in a manner I had not imagined, this desire to live as an honorable person born out of curiosity, loneliness, and a deep longing to heal emotional scars from my younger years. Society is flooded with motivational devices, but never did I imagine the past could be the key to the future. My only hope is that I have brought as much joy and service to others as I have received. It is a continuing mission, one I know I can always improve upon.

It took many years, but God finally reached me. I have always been faithful, but I never truly felt His Love until now. I can’t think of a better Christmas gift, one given to all of us.

Each ball may end, the year may end, but the journeys into the past do not. History repeats, and I’m grateful that it does.

Merry Christmas to All! And see more of this evening's Christmas cheer HERE!

COMING IN JANUARY: In Her Majesty's Elegant Service

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