12/25/2023
https://youtu.be/wN6FnSMaMD4?si=td_Y9IAYih1AAMfb
Merry Christmas to you, my dearest friends and family. I’m just remembering how over the top Mom would go with Christmas: Decorating every inch of the house, gift giving, the largest stockings (large Christmas garbage bags), special Christmas dinner with fine china and crystal and Christmas music on as soon as you woke up. All this while performing her duties as a priest. That means 3 Christmas Eve services and Christmas morning (a Christmas on a Monday means 4 services on Christmas Eve Day. I was raised to “go big or go home.”
This year is the opposite for me. As life would have it I was unable to put up a Christmas tree or decorate the way we’re accustomed too. No stockings, no gifts from me, I can’t find the the Wi-Fi music thing to play Christmas carols. I watched Christmas Eve services on my computer.
Some how this feels a little okay because I’m with all my girls and they are helping, each in their own way to make this a special day. All just thankful to be a family.
Dad is in Joseph Brant hospital and will move to a memory care bed back at Chartwell in the next few days.
At the end of all this I know I am loved by amazing people and I love them. We show this love in our own special ways. I so appreciate your individual love language, as the kids like to call it.
Merry Christmas and may the light of the world shine within your heart and bless you.
Love, Laura
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.John 1:5 (NIVUK)