Winter has set in much earlier than usual, here in the heartland of Kentucky, U.S.A. Last week, it snowed enough to be bothersome, but soon melted off. Today, we are iced in!
This morning I was intending, as usual, to spend Sunday, the Lord's Day, in church and praying, reading some of the Bible, and puttering around the house finishing the Christmas decorations.
The main roads may be passable, but with freezing rain continuing to coat everything in the whole state of Kentucky, it would be extremely risky to venture out.
Plans have changed: I'll just stay comfortable in my sweats all day, do everything else, at a slower pace, and try to catch up on reading. I'll start addressing those Christmas cards that have been staring at me for a week from the floor beside my favorite chair.
Mother, I wish you could see me now! During all those years I was super-busy raising my children and working overtime in nursing, I never could start on Christmas cards until after Christmas. You always told me, "Why bother?"
Then you died and now I'm retired. And I've actually mailed out my Christmas cards before Christmas for several years now! I imagine you smiling, approving, from heaven.
Who communicates with Christmas cards these days of texting and tweeting and e-cards in your inbox? Judging from all the Christmas cards for sale in the stores, I would guess, lots of folks. I, for one, display all the Christmas cards on a door or two, all Christmas season. Then I take them down and re-read them. I especially treasure "annual Christmas notes" sent by some friends. I love the photos enclosed! And I save them all.
This year I will enclose my card with the two blog addresses since this is new with me.
Not one of us is not busy! Christmas cards are an important part of maintaining family and friend ties in other cities. It's always nice to get 'real' mail from your 'real' mailbox.
This past year has been exciting and tragic for me, not "business as usual." I used to look back on a year and count the weddings, new babies born, and graduations in the family. The count this year is "zero." Yet, in January, my dear sister-in-law, Pam, passed away unexpectedly at age 60. In the summer, my college pal's husband died at age 95, and in October, my good friend, Betsy, died quite suddenly at age 70. Will this be the portent of things to come?
It seems like all Christmas newsletters are 100% 'positive.' I'll have to think about what to include: all the great travel, for sure, totaling two months away from home.
Today I'll also call a couple of family members I haven't chatted with for a while. I'm "iced in," yes, but my heart is warm today. Praise you, Jesus, for phone and internet and - ICE!
(Sorry about the delay - I actually was having serious internet issues!)
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