There's no escaping it this time!
No snow up to now, but a blizzard that is predicted to start tomorrow. At least ten inches with the upper figure continuing to inch up from 16. I suppose that we deserve such a storm as we have dodged every bullet fired our way up to this point in December. All one can do is hunker down and wait it out until the snow stops falling and the roads are made clear again.
Today was a great day! Much of the family was here to celebrate Christmas. As usual, lots of good food, plenty of wine, plenty of gifts, and much conversation. This was in stark contrast to the moving church service of last night and the extremely quiet ride home that always follows. As I have said many times, it is eerily quiet as everything is closed and there are few, if any, cars on the road. You actually get to feel that peace that passes all understanding and that's what makes Christmas Eve so special. Easter just doesn't do it for me.
After everyone left, we just sat down and watched some TV to sort of round out the day on a quiet note. We certainly appreciated all the help that we got from everyone by way of bringing appetizers and desserts and especially those that helped clean up. Many hands make light work, as they say. Today illustrated that to a tee.
It's hard to realize that today is Saturday which means that tomorrow there will be church in the morning. After that, the snow is supposed to start coming in so I'm not sure that we will venture out to visit with friends who have invited us to a brunch.
As always, each Christmas is special in its own way. I am glad that I was here to be a part of it...
Bob
December 24, 2010 7:00 PM
Not this year!
No white Christmas for us. Our dusting of a few days ago is basically gone. But, thatsituation does not diminish the wonder of the night for me though I have to admit that those times when it actually snowed on Chrstmas Eve were truly a surreal, magical experience.
Tonight, as Silent Night goes, "All Is Calm". Being able to participate with the church choir once again is a thrill. Made moreso by the fact that Iwas not allowed to do so the past two years. When something is taken away from you, it means all the more to you if you are fortunate enough to be able to have it returned to you.
Church begins at 10:30 tonight with a half hour of choir and organ music before the actual service commences at 11:00. As I said two years ago, the real impact of the evening is the ride home afterwards with the world in a quiescent moment an experience unlike that of any other time of the year as everyone awaits Christmas Day in his or her own way - adults, children, men, women, those at home, those away, those who will be travelling during the day, etc.
My wife was telling me that her 4th grade tour group at the Currier yesterday, generaly, did not who Jesus was in any of artwork in which he was portrayed. What a shame! What has our society degenerated to when our children do not even recognize Jesus?
I know that it is no surprise to us that Christmas is now just a holiday wherein Santa Claus comes for the children and everyone gives everyone presents. But, by not exposing our children to the meaning of the day, we deprive them of actually feeling and living into what Christmas and the life of Jesus is all about.
This service tonight is the only service that I attended the past two years. Why? Because, for me, it's message transcends that of all the other services as we celebrate the fact that God has chosen to give to each of us the greatest gift of all. As a sign of our gratitude, the least that we can do is to take the time and to make the effort to acknowledge it.
Merry Christmas to you all...
Bob
No white Christmas for us. Our dusting of a few days ago is basically gone. But, thatsituation does not diminish the wonder of the night for me though I have to admit that those times when it actually snowed on Chrstmas Eve were truly a surreal, magical experience.
Tonight, as Silent Night goes, "All Is Calm". Being able to participate with the church choir once again is a thrill. Made moreso by the fact that Iwas not allowed to do so the past two years. When something is taken away from you, it means all the more to you if you are fortunate enough to be able to have it returned to you.
Church begins at 10:30 tonight with a half hour of choir and organ music before the actual service commences at 11:00. As I said two years ago, the real impact of the evening is the ride home afterwards with the world in a quiescent moment an experience unlike that of any other time of the year as everyone awaits Christmas Day in his or her own way - adults, children, men, women, those at home, those away, those who will be travelling during the day, etc.
My wife was telling me that her 4th grade tour group at the Currier yesterday, generaly, did not who Jesus was in any of artwork in which he was portrayed. What a shame! What has our society degenerated to when our children do not even recognize Jesus?
I know that it is no surprise to us that Christmas is now just a holiday wherein Santa Claus comes for the children and everyone gives everyone presents. But, by not exposing our children to the meaning of the day, we deprive them of actually feeling and living into what Christmas and the life of Jesus is all about.
This service tonight is the only service that I attended the past two years. Why? Because, for me, it's message transcends that of all the other services as we celebrate the fact that God has chosen to give to each of us the greatest gift of all. As a sign of our gratitude, the least that we can do is to take the time and to make the effort to acknowledge it.
Merry Christmas to you all...
Bob
December 22, 2010 11:45 PM
It's almost here!
Not Christmas - Christmas Eve! To me that's the holiest night of the year. There is something magical in the air that seems to transcend everything else that we may encounter during the year. My posting on Christmas Eve two years ago explains in detail how I feel about the evening.
This year it will take on extra special meaning for me as it will be my first time back in the choir after missing the past two years. As a prelude to that, the lessons and carols service on Sunday night was probably one of the most moving ones in which I have participated. We sang some beautiful anthems and we ptrobably sang each one as well as we had ever sung them God seemed to be touching each of us as we performed our parts. It was a special night made more special by the fact that, once again, I could be a part of it.
As the day arrives, I have been finishing off the installation of our new kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts. A project that was to initially be done after the turn of the year but beckoned to me much earlier as all the materials were here and I had nothing to do anyway.
Monday I gave my last Zimmerman house tour of the season. January 9th is the final tour until the spring.
Weatherwise, we have finally had a little snow. Just a dusting and that appears to be all the snow that we will have for Christmas assuming that it doesn't melt between now and then. As far as I'm concerned, that's all the snow that we need for the winter! I know that it won't happen, but hope springs eternal. Which brings to mind the saying, "When winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
Healthwise, no change. It's off to the eye doctor in two weeks and we'll see how things go at that time. Tomorrow is the dentist. Just a cleaning but oral healthcare is very important.
With company coming Saturday, we have to get ready over the next two days. It should be enough time.
As an aside, my mother-in-law came home from the hospital on Monday. She still needs to get back on her feet again but (pardon the pun), it is a step in the right direction.
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year...
Bob
Not Christmas - Christmas Eve! To me that's the holiest night of the year. There is something magical in the air that seems to transcend everything else that we may encounter during the year. My posting on Christmas Eve two years ago explains in detail how I feel about the evening.
This year it will take on extra special meaning for me as it will be my first time back in the choir after missing the past two years. As a prelude to that, the lessons and carols service on Sunday night was probably one of the most moving ones in which I have participated. We sang some beautiful anthems and we ptrobably sang each one as well as we had ever sung them God seemed to be touching each of us as we performed our parts. It was a special night made more special by the fact that, once again, I could be a part of it.
As the day arrives, I have been finishing off the installation of our new kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts. A project that was to initially be done after the turn of the year but beckoned to me much earlier as all the materials were here and I had nothing to do anyway.
Monday I gave my last Zimmerman house tour of the season. January 9th is the final tour until the spring.
Weatherwise, we have finally had a little snow. Just a dusting and that appears to be all the snow that we will have for Christmas assuming that it doesn't melt between now and then. As far as I'm concerned, that's all the snow that we need for the winter! I know that it won't happen, but hope springs eternal. Which brings to mind the saying, "When winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
Healthwise, no change. It's off to the eye doctor in two weeks and we'll see how things go at that time. Tomorrow is the dentist. Just a cleaning but oral healthcare is very important.
With company coming Saturday, we have to get ready over the next two days. It should be enough time.
As an aside, my mother-in-law came home from the hospital on Monday. She still needs to get back on her feet again but (pardon the pun), it is a step in the right direction.
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year...
Bob
December 20, 2010 12:55 AM
It was a great weekend!
Yesterday, we visited with my mother. Though she has cancer as well, she is in great spirits(as she has always been) and is awaiting some tests this week to determine how well they have contained it. Her 88th birthday is Thursday, so suffering form any cancer and taking chemo as she does can be pretty debilitating. Though she made dinner for us, my sister and brother-in-law, and my two nieces and their familiies - it was plain to see that the effort was a taxing one.
However, it was great to see everyone. Some of them I had not seen since I bev=came ill over two years ago.
Tonight was a comeback. the choir performed their annual Christmas Lessons And Carols setrvice. We sang some beautiful anthems and everyone who attended thought that it was fantastic! Of course, I could not participate the past two years which made tonight's event all that more special to me.
It's hard to believe that two years ago I was undertaking my second round of chemo and looking forward to coming home for Christmas. A bone marrow transplant was predicted for the future but no one could guarantee that a donor would be found.
I've come a long way since then...
Bob
Yesterday, we visited with my mother. Though she has cancer as well, she is in great spirits(as she has always been) and is awaiting some tests this week to determine how well they have contained it. Her 88th birthday is Thursday, so suffering form any cancer and taking chemo as she does can be pretty debilitating. Though she made dinner for us, my sister and brother-in-law, and my two nieces and their familiies - it was plain to see that the effort was a taxing one.
However, it was great to see everyone. Some of them I had not seen since I bev=came ill over two years ago.
Tonight was a comeback. the choir performed their annual Christmas Lessons And Carols setrvice. We sang some beautiful anthems and everyone who attended thought that it was fantastic! Of course, I could not participate the past two years which made tonight's event all that more special to me.
It's hard to believe that two years ago I was undertaking my second round of chemo and looking forward to coming home for Christmas. A bone marrow transplant was predicted for the future but no one could guarantee that a donor would be found.
I've come a long way since then...
Bob
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