2010 Week 52: Christmas Week

Sunday we were so privileged to attend the Spanish speaking church in Warsaw and hear my two younger brothers speak about the third gift of the magi--myrrh, symbolizing suffering.



We spent a wonderful day with mis hermanos, last time before Ivan and Kim returned to Argentina. They flew overnight and should have arrived back home today, Christmas day.

Monday the small group of new women friends met again, this time at The Loft Inn. In one of the rooms is this beautiful prayer.

There are times when we feel helpless and hopeless. Our hostess said that many of her guests have been moved by this prayer. Sadly, Christmastime is difficult for many. Each year I pray for Christmas miracles, to be able to see God at work in our lives and around us.

It was certainly no divine miracle, but I did get all the year-end letters sent out, most via e-mail on Tuesday,  both the English and Spanish versions. And it was quite an accomplishment to shop and wrap all the gifts...

...and fill the stockings with each person's favorite candy.

They were very pleased and surprised to find their favorite sweets. Most had forgotten that last year I had them fill out a card and list their choice candy. Truth is, I almost forgot about it myself, but was fortunate to find the cards just in time to look for all the favorites. I know so little about the many varieties of candy.

Thursday, SIL Diane came to spend the holiday weekend with us as always. We made one last trip to the mall--fought the crowds; saw a fight in progress; forgot what door we'd come in and took a while finding our car.



A project I failed to complete was one sock of the two pairs I knit for the sons. Again this year I gave a sock and a promise.

Christmas eve morning we joined the Monday meal crowd for the annual holiday brunch at Chef's. Great food and great fun! Here our gracious hosts, Karen still on crutches after her second bunionectomy. 

One day, I woke up and lay in bed trying to remember Christmases past by the decades. Later I looked in the albums and archives for 2000, 1990 and further back, and uncovered some very interesting memories. I hope to write more about that this week.

A photo from twenty years ago was especially pertinent. On Christmas day, mind you, my parents and brother and family came to help us work on our new house to get it ready to move in a few days later. We are wearing work clothes; the electric saw to the left, ballisters lined up on the right, and cute little Tina.


Mother, Kim, me, niece Tina (who just got married!) 

This is what that corner looks like now.

That is, before all the family gathers, then the gifts pile high, most home made or hand crafted with love...

...such as these knit wool hats and neckies, 

...and even cute little boxes with tiny greeting-cards.

Holiday Blessings to all!