Post-Christmas

Christmas Day has come and gone.  The two weeks leading up to the big day came with challenges that I will spare you the details.  The best of the celebrations began on Sunday at Cynthia and family's annual "Christmas Eve Squared" party.  Friends that are more like family now all gather and bring food to share and celebrate the coming birthday.  Cynthia and Bob did a fabulous job decorating their lovely home for the holidays (she needs to post pictures).  We talked and laughed and told stories.  I so very much enjoyed myself and felt genuinely happy - which is the best gift. 

Christmas Eve I attended the later worship service at my church with my daughters and various family members.  We were treated to a brass quartet pre-service concert of classic Christmas tunes.  I love singing all the hymns of Christmas.  My congregation is filled with really good singers and since we are Lutheran, we sing a lot.  The choir sang beautifully.  For our final two hymns we "go dark" and all hold a lit candle to light our way and our music while we sing.  I loved all of it.

Christmas Day we went to my sister Janet and her husband Jim's house.  Sixteen of us gathered there.  We each brought a part of the meal and our gifts to give each other.  What a wonderful time we all enjoyed!

I hope you all had a wonderful celebration of family and friends this year too!

Peace On Earth,  Good Will to All!