Sunday, December 21, 2008

I love everything about winter except . . .
days like today - where I have to be somewhere and the roads are terrible and the snow is blowing and it looks like a blizzard. But the good news is that I found my boots.

Here is the view from our bedroom window. I am doing this with Harold's Christmas present and since he doesn't read my blog - tee hee - he will be none the wiser.




Harold headed out to the country church about 15 minutes ago. He called to give me an update. "You should be okay if you take it easy. Just don't go dinkin' around after church."

Nice. I shall try to refrain from "dinkin' around".

I do not like driving in weather like this, but I am reminding myself that I have driven much further and in worse conditions.

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Well, I survived the trip to and from church. People who live in the city have no idea how bad conditions can be out in the country. The drive to church was not fun, but the drive home was much worse. Before I left this morning I asked God to get me safely there and back. On the way home I was tempted to stop and pick up a few things. This is what I heard.

"There is nothing that you need. Get home."

I did not stop. On the way home it wasn't bad until I got on Old 27. Then the fun began. Every car I met was a mixed blessing - it told me where the road was, but it also kicked up so much snow that I was blinded for a few minutes. Then there were a couple of lovely drifts that I plowed through, but also kicked up a ton of snow which again blinded me. As I turned safely into our driveway, I thanked God for getting me home safely. If I had to get stuck, I was glad that it was in a drift in our driveway and not out on Old 27. I was also thankful that I had found my boots this morning. It was a struggle to get from the car to the house. I think I am going to make some tea, read "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and count my blessings.
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Umm, okay, today of all days, Harold decided to read my blog. But he still does not know how very cool this thing is.

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Yesterday a bunch of us were starting the humongous job of decorating our church for Christmas. In the Catholic church, Christmas does not begin until December 24 with the Vigil mass. Soooooooo, most of our decorating has to wait until after the 4th Sunday of Advent. Before then we can put the trees in place and put out the greenery, but nothing else. After the 4th Sunday we can put out everything and then we hope that we don't have a funeral before Christmas because we break out all of the poinsettias, lighted trees, the red bows, and of course the Nativity. Yesterday morning my friends surprised me with the gift of the most beautiful Nativity scene! I am posting a picture, but to really appreciate the intricate beauty of this set, you have to see it up close.



Thank you, Marlene, Shirley, Jennifer, Teresa, Sue, Monica, and Angela! The best gift is the gift of your friendship, but this is right up near the top. :)

Gospel
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.

“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.


God bless our troops!