Merry Christmas

I truly understand what a lot of people are saying when they comment that Christmas is 'a lot of work' and many say they are 'happy when it's over'.  I, on the other hand, LOVE Christmas. This year I must admit was a bit different. I often 'bordered' on the same emotion as others. I say that only  because our daughter and her family were NOT with us for the first time in her life. Melancholy? you bet I was!  I had to give myself a 'schlap' once in awhile and tell myself to 'get with the program'. Fortunately, we were busy 'getting ready' for other company on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve also was busy as my husband was in the Christmas Eve pagent as a 'grouchy old man' and so he was involved in rehearsals and just thinking of his lines. We also were invited out after the production to a few different places and ended up in our friend's home having a casual, relaxed evening.

Christmas morning I was up early (at 6 am) to my shagrin! I wanted to sleep in since I had no 'little people' around this year. That was not to be.  I got up, made coffee and read the Christmas story to myself as my hubby had got up very early and had fallen asleep in the basement. So, I left him to dream his dreams and waited patiently for him to awaken. About 7:15 he came upstairs and we both had another cup of coffee and began to open our gifts for each other. Christmas tree lights are on, and I had put on the DVD we got from our Christmas Santa party and enjoyed a fake fire on our 42" HD screen which was accompanied by Christmas carols on it as well. So...with our atmosphere now fully established, I played Santa and handed out the gifts. He outnumbered me in the amount of gifts he received. That is simply because I like to give a lot of gifts for the same amount of money that he gives me one!!! So, we started with him, then him again, then, me and then him! It was all very organized.  I was thoroughly surprised and delighted to receive a Sony E-Reader (which I still have to download and connect). He received a book (hard copy) and some crossword puzzles (which he loves to do), a new sweatshirt (FINALLY!!) and a pair of lounging pj's and an indoor/outdoor digital  thermometer with remote sensor. Nothing big but he liked them all. The book is the latest of Joel Rosenberg's The Twelfth Imam. It is very thick and I am sure he will be in it for a few days (at least).

After breakfast we organized some of our fixin's for our supper that evening and at 10:30 we joined our neighbors next door for brunch. They had their family home for Christmas and wanted us to join them - which we did. Thank you for the lovely meal! About 12:30 we headed back to our place and spent the rest of the afternoon putting together the meal we served at 4 pm. Lots of work but it was a good time together. Our friends arrived and for the next number of hours we totally enjoyed ourselves, laughing and joking and eating. It was great.  Before they left for home, we had the dishes in the dishwasher, pots and pans cleaned and the turkey deboned and into the pot for soup. Just before I headed to bed, I finished that process and am now looking forward to making soup next week.

As I reminisce now about Christmas Day, I realize how blessed we are.  We have family and friends we share our lives with and though we are not always able to be with them on special occasions, we know we are loved. Thanks be to God. Happy Birthday, Jesus.

You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5