Last Christmas, if you recall, we managed to celebrate the day by smashing up our car after hitting an invisible patch of black ice.
This Christmas, thankfully, things were a lot more peaceful and less exciting.
We started by wrapping our gifts to each other. A few years ago, I abandoned wrapping paper altogether and embraced the Japanese practice of furoshiki, or wrapping gifts in colorful fabric. Honestly, this was one of those "Where have you been all my life?" moments. Fabric wrap is infinitely reusable and creates no waste.
I keep a bag of festive fabric bits (some large, some small) in our Christmas tote, and we use them for wrapping gifts.
On Christmas Eve, we attended our church's evening "Lessons and Carols" service and sang our hearts out.
The next morning was the Christmas Day service. I took this photo from the choir loft before anyone had arrived.
We opened presents, spent the day lounging around, and watched George C. Scott's "A Christmas Carol" in the evening.
(Also, I made my first batch of Parmesan cheese, which now has to age for ten months, so I have no idea how it turned out.)
How was your Christmas?
Peacefully spent with family. Absolutely wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHow was our Christmas? Wonderful. We went to our son and daughter-in-law's place just 12 miles away, where they and our two grandchildren awaited our arrival so we could share breakfast and open presents. Christmas dinner came later. The blessing of being with children and grandchildren at Christmas is a gift from a loving Heavenly Father. As my late grandmother used to say, "God is so good!"
ReplyDeleteBlesed
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Christmas Eve Service, blessed by a clearing of the heavy winds and rains for a few hours to travel to church. Power stayed on Christmas Day so the meal was on with no need for our generator. We even watched our favorite Christmas movie, The Nativity Story where Joseph and Mary have real conversations during their travels to Bethlehem, about their future. How will they know when He is more than a child? Joseph asks if He will be able to teach Him anything. So human and so honest with subtle humor, too!
ReplyDeleteIt was eh. I am fighting against the tendency to report only the great holidays. Sometimes they're just eh, as in this year. My mother's death and my BFF's death (on Christmas Eve) hung heavy for me this year. None of my family was that enthused. The dinner I made was delicious, but whatever, onward and upward. I hope I don't get bummed by Mom and BFF in future years, but who knows?
ReplyDeleteSometimes it changes, but finding new ways to include departed loved ones has really helped me.
DeleteMy mother is almost 99 and vascular dementia has robbed her of most abilities to communicate. But she's almost always happy and smiling, and it's a joy to still see her and smile back, talk to her, and share a hug.
She loves Alabama football. Me, not so much. Just not into televised sports at all. However, during her decline, I've wondered why she has always loved it. And came up with several answers. One, she went to school there. Another is, her father loved Alabama football, which probably figured into why his daughter went to school there. So my distaste for football has slowly mellowed.
As she has decreased I've felt increasingly interested in Alabama football. We went through a period of time a while back where I could call her up or call staff to have her tuned in to the game and we could watch it together. Along with periodic calls during which she would animatedly discuss plays. Now, she's not there enough for any conversation, but I'm still watching. As a family tradition. It brings me feelings of closeness with her And her father.
I hope you can also find ways to do the same sort of thing with memories and things unique to your relationships.
Keep the love alive. It never dies. And like King David said about his son who died, he can go to him.
We'll be reunited.
Thanks so much.
DeleteWe visited our 3 grandchildren (2 households). Also visited my aunt & uncle who had my cousins there. Along came my sister, then my oldest daughter with my oldest granddaughter (child). It was a good day since to me Christmas is about the children. Oh & on the way out in the morning stopped to visit a shut-in with some lasagna we had made the night before.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad since we used to visit my grandparents, a man (that I worked many years w/) & his wife, and my uncle. All have passed. But we visit who is still here.
Debbie in MA
PS, Patrice, did you give your animals extra food on Christmas Eve like you have in the past?
ReplyDeleteDebbie in MA
Lonely as all holidays. No family. Church then to short visit to friend open house. But holidays are for families and always feel like odd man out. Always happy for the 27th to be here and can move on. Took decorations mostly down since only me but kept a few more winter type up because I like the pop of color and kept the candles since on timer and make the early darkness a bit friendlier when I come in the house at night.
ReplyDeleteYou would be welcome here as long as you can stand a lot of annoying pets licking you. Love to you.
DeleteThis was my first Christmas without my husband. It was as hard as I thought it would be.
ReplyDelete(wince) I'm so sorry. May he rest in peace.
DeletePatrice
Here in Cedar City, this is my first Christmas without my husband. Not quite three months widowed. Christmas Eve flooded me with memories, and the tears flowed mightily. My friends and neighbors stepped up to distract me and surround me with kindness. A dinner with friends on Christmas Eve, and two get-togethers on Christmas day. Curled up in a ball and took an afternoon nap. The neighbors gathering with their families were kindly wishing me well. Although my husband spoiled me like a princess, I watched and learned. Am keeping my Half Acre Eden going, getting the wood in and keeping the hearth fire going. Can financially keep the roof over my head as I talked him into working with me to pay off the house, and all debt is gone. Having a Trust was well worthwhile. Finally gave myself permission to not worry about getting out into the world. No radio club, no gal groups, no joining. Almost all my patterns were part of him, and now I redefine me and start over. This is the way. The way it is to be human. I’m flailing less and more still. I’m getting used to this. So grateful for my good neighbors and a lovely neighborhood. Gratitude! Grateful to be alive.
DeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. When my uncle passed away, some friends told my newly widowed aunt, "Accept every invitation you're offered, even if you don't feel like it." The logic was, if invitations aren't accepted, eventually they'll stop being offered. Hang in there.
Delete- Patrice
My Christmas was pretty good. No travel for me this year and given the weather and plane delays, I am glad I didn't try to go anywhere!
ReplyDeleteHad dinner with good friends, and that was fun. I experimented and made celery remoulade for the first time. It's very much like coleslaw, as it turns out, but with grated celeriac (celery root) instead of cabbage.
Our family of seventeen enjoyed homemade punch, light snacks, sweet treats, and lots of fun. The adult kids get beef for their birthdays and Christmas. It will be ready to be picked up in early February. The grandkids enjoyed playing with their cousins. I took them shopping on Saturday to spend some Christmas money. The fact that girls ages six, nine, and ten have clothes available that are off the shoulder and show their belly is beyond belief.
ReplyDeleteCan you please post your Parmesan cheese recipe, or provide a link? Thanks.
ReplyDelete