Sunday, December 26, 2021
A Sunday Boxing Day is rare. Looking back at the week of joyful celebration and hope, we have enjoyed Immanuel, God with us. Can any of you understand that mystery, or the adventure to which God calls us? It continues to occupy my heart and mind, this love that comes to us - just as we are - not demanding that we first measure up to an impossible standard. God has come among us to help us. Amazing.
Friends share food and treats with us all week.
Some treats don't make it into my photo album. They've been sampled with friends or sent to the freezer to be enjoyed later. Some of the treats sent over are not only pretty but useful.
We share the abundance with others (including some who are shy and won't appear here.)
On Christmas Eve (Friday), the groomers come to clean up the dogs, muddy from yesterday's walk.
Then we have pizza on the porch.
We take selfies by the tree - it's fun to customize own own toppings.
Because IbuS is working today, she chops the toppings. (W makes the dough, but I normally prep toppings for Saturday pizza nights since we have no weekend helpers.)
After sweet conversation and good pizza, we raid the garden for herbs, lemons, and cuttings. Of course, W takes a quick selfie, too.
From early morning, I putter around the kitchen. It's nice: We don't do much formal entertaining these days - we've always had people over but rarely set the table. We usually use rattan holders with paper inlays. Not today.
Sam has sent over his homemade bbq ribs and roasted beef, to which I add onions, mushrooms, and gravy. W chops up peeled potatoes for the slow cooker; we add cream and butter while they roast all morning.
It's especially fun to set the Christmas table with items from Canada, France, Sweden, China, Indonesia, and Singapore.
I have a habit of outlining a rough schedule of cooking and prep. "No food left behind." It's been almost 2 years since I've cooked a feast. The last one was for 70 people at movie night, February 2020 ...
When the day is done, dessert has sweetened the final conversations and the teacups are empty.
It's a joy to welcome company for lunch. We've had to forego our annual Christmas open house due to Covid and neighborhood restrictions. The relaxed lunch is a great pleasure for W and me.
Our Christmas tradition is to read scripture aloud with guests during Advent, the account of God coming among us.
Once again the Story comes alive ...
Treats are sent to neighbors while leftovers go into the freezer for another day.
By nightfall, the dishes are clean and put away, thanks to extra hours of work from IbuS. Before lunch, I filled big tubs with water for cleanup. Without that, by the time IbuS comes at 3:00, there's not enough water to do the dishes. Why? The city turns off the water after a few hours each morning; and we get no more until the next morning.
The red Christmas tablecloth goes into the laundry basket after we pour boiling water through the fat spatters and fruit stains. (That trick is from my great-aunt Emily, who owned a cherry orchard.) The spots magically disappear on the tablecloth and placemats. The washing machine awaits the morning when we have city water again.
All is calm and bright as we head for bed. The table settles in with the peaceful change to black after a month of red.
Boxing Day
It's nice to come into the clean main room and record next week's talk for BIC Online. We walk up to the GG office to check that all is well.
At 9:00, we host this week's Gathering online on FB.and YouTube. (Watch at your leisure.)
The lights are still sparkling in the arrangements. Once the batteries run down, we'll recharge them and store them away.
Earlier in the week:
We did the tea plantation walk Thursday.
The tea crew is hard at work.
Our final destination is a waterfall, coursing down the mountainside.
The steps to the waterfall are steep. They range in height from 7-12 inches so you have to watch your feet. "Even" is relative here. I run back up - it takes less effort once you're moving. Before we know it, the dogs and I are back at the top.
The rain holds off on the way to the car.
We finish with a swim at Gracia Spa as the rain starts. W measures the distance of the thunderstorm. One the pools fill up after lunch, we dry off and get dressed.
The owner of the Gracia Cafe must be a Christmas collector. There are all shapes and sizes of ornaments, Santas, stuffed animals, and trees in the lobby.
Melvi takes a picture with the pink Santa outside the cafe door. Cute, isn't it?
Read more:
Sunday epilogue
Lunch is leftovers, easy to prepare and tasty. W, ever restless, heads to town to see what's to be seen. I'm happy to rest at home.
If you haven't heard it from us before, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God bless you with his peace and may his joy fill your hearts.
Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) — Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-4,(5-12); John 1:1-14
*Moses said, “You must diligently observe everything that I command you; do not add to it or take anything from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32
*And the word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
*This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another. 1 John 3:23
Moravian Prayer: Holy God, we rejoice again this day in your coming to live in us. Your presence makes all of life holy. Help us to share this good news. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment