Last night, the DH and I sang for our church's Christmas Eve service. In years past, we've gone to midnight services together, once with his 90-some year old grandmother who insisted on sitting between us so she could hear both the soprano and bass parts in the hymns. (The DH and I met singing in college choir.) Then later, when our girls were little, I was directing a choir and handbell group for Christmas Eve and it was so late, we brought the kids to church in their jammies. It was fine with everyone if they fell asleep on (or sometimes under!) the pew. Now, we're still thrilled to be involved in Christmas Eve service (even if they are now a far more sensible 7 PM instead of midnight vigil.) The church is still our home, all year round but especially on the night we celebrate the Savior's birth.
Today, we had ten for Christmas Day lunch--my parents, our daughters and daughter-in-law, my niece and her family. Little Gracie, my great-niece, made the day extra special with her excitement over the presents and her innocent sweetness. Our home was blessed with love, abundant food and joy in each other's presence. After many years of traveling for Christmas, thousands of miles driven through snowstorms or waiting in airports for flights to go, it is such a relief to celebrate Christmas at home with none of our loved ones in danger trying to join us!
Now, after enjoying the blessings of our home for Christmas, our thoughts are turning to the great adventure we are still hoping for in January. We will become virtual hermits to avoid catching this new covid strain if we can. We'll eliminate non-essential running around. If we go out, we'll be sure to mask up, and practice good hand hygiene when we return. As far as possible, as much as it depends on us, we will try to reach the Viking Star on January 10th in a "negative state."
But we intend to stay positive about it!
To you and yours, we wish the merriest of Christmases. And in the coming year, may the peace of God make your life a blessed one.
Merry Christmas! While we continue to celebrate with family and friends, all are vaccinated — 3 or 4 times over — and no hugs for us as an added precaution ... we hope to be on a plane back to the US on the 30th, with testing on the 29th.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Erin! I'm so glad you could be with your family for the holidays. So far, I don't think we can get a 4th shot here in the states, but I'd probably roll up my sleeve if I could. We will be testing on Jan. 8th for our flight on the 9th. Thinking negative thoughts for you and your husband and for us!
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and I hope you are able to stay safe and to board the Viking Star without any issues. We are taking the same approach as you and limiting, to the extent possible, contact without the outside world in the hope of decreasing the chance of catching the latest variant.
ReplyDeleteWe're trying to keep to ourselves now, but life does intervene. The DH needed to pick up some prescriptions and we had to show the rental property that is being vacated by the end of the month, so we can't completely curl in ourselves. But we do mask up and have been taking extra zinc and vitamins.
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