A Different Sort of Day

Christmas Day 2011 has been different...for us.  We did not have a lot of presents to open.  Our present will be redeemed in January.  Our Christmas breakfast is at 7:30 pm because of church, work, travel, and other family schedules.  It's just been an odd sort of day.  Not bad at all...just different.

Church was a wonderful celebration of Christ's birth, and a challenge for us to be light in this world.  I so want to be.  I fail too often, but, in my failure, I feel the love of God and His cheering me on.  Grace is such an abundant commodity from the Father.  It is a little more scarce from His children.

Mr. Lincoln was recognized for his amazing accomplishment of Friday....60 miles and around $20,000.00 for Living Water.  Lives will be saved.  I pray thanksgiving that Mr. Lincoln survived the day, seemingly without any serious physical residuals.  His mental state is still questionable.  He has promised me that he is done with such foolishness.  A friend said this morning that when he turns 70, we should ask for donations to Living Water to keep him from running.  Sounds like a good plan to me. 

After church, we realized that we had absolutely no food at our house for lunch.  Praise, God that most everything was closed so people could spend Christmas in some way other than working.  But, I am grateful that Walgreens was open, for that is where we found lunch...canned chili, Fritos, and cheese.  It was certainly a strange Christmas lunch that truly neither of us enjoyed particularly.  But, we ate it together in our cozy home with the Christmas lights on, and so it was just fine. 

In a couple of hours, the family will arrive.  We will have our traditional Christmas breakfast ~ Whitelaw/Buchi ham, cheese grits, quiche, sticky buns (almost homemade), fruit and biscuits.  We will laugh.  The younger ones will check out their stockings.  Santa spent the week in Minnesota playing instead of shopping.  Have you ever tried to put a box of Cocoa Krispies in a stocking?  It does not work well.  We will miss Stewart and Channie.  She is sick.  But, we will fix Stewart a plate. 

It has been a different sort of Christmas.  I miss having little ones around.  Ah, but next year, if the Lord is willing, we will have two little ones to keep us occupied and entertained.  Traditions are about to change.  It is good and right that they do.  Young families need to make their own traditions, and we, the older generation, need to comply.  Mr. Lincoln and I will do so,  hopefully graciously and joyfully. 

So, on this most special of days, I wish you contentment in the moment, anticipation of joys ahead, and

blessings