I lost the Christmas contest with CourtneyS this year. Two years in a row, she has heard Merry Christmas Darling first. Drat!
This morning while getting ready for church, I was streaming KHCB and the start of the five days of Christmas. One of the first songs I heard this morning was the overture the orchestra at Houston's First Baptist played before each Pageant performance. The memories of finding my spot for the first act flooded in, remembering different parts over the years. Now, the music KHCB played is from different church orchestras and different singers from various churches all over the country but oh those long ago times complete with orchestration and voices, if I didn't have joy already, I had a little bit of a scoop more.
Our friend Katrin came to our church this morning. So fun to see, visit and laugh with her. We had a brunch before the morning service. It was wonderfully done and so tasty. Roy made his biscuits. He hasn't made them in quite a while but the biscuit making doesn't leave, it's like riding a bike if you've done the proper learning and training. The church service itself held beautiful music, prayer, Lord Supper, ordination and a wonderful sermon. This month I have been thinking that changing churches and joining a new one is more of a full circle thing. The reverence, the purpose of praying, singing and hearing The Word in a setting that reflects more of the pilgrimage I began a long time ago is truly predictable but totally joyous. I read an article the other day by a, please brace yourself for an old person description, young person, embracing hymns whether they be the original version or ones that has been updated. He remembered his grandmother who didn't know who she was or anyone else, but she could sing hymns and know their meaning. He thought of some of the more modern praise and worship songs and couldn't imagine himself singing those when loss of memory sets in. I wanted to respond to just keep the song, You're A Good, Good Father at hand cause you can sing that song ad nauseum and nobody knows what verse you are on.
We welcome this bright, sunshine overflow on this Monday morning of Christmas week. Think the low was 24. The Feral Fam was hungry this morning and are members of the clean plate club. I love having days where I don't have anything I HAVE to do or HAVE to be at. Christmas gifts have been ordered and delivered mainly supporting local or small businesses. I even got some cards in the mail. My friends, that is a huge accomplishment for me...mostly because, if it isn't late, it's not from me is the usual mantra.
This is one of those Christmas seasons I am treasuring. Because of family issues while growing up and the years beyond were just so stressful. The energy it took to navigate the usual traps drained me. The narcissist in our family was at least consistent in using sabotage, anger, gaslighting, and then their being the victim when they didn't get the results they wanted from their behavior. It became so predictable if one paid attention in the weeks before Christmas or remembering anything from Thanksgiving, their behavior kind of gave a hint at their first offensive Christmas campaign. Of course they passed away a while ago, but changing our mindset is a continual victory of trusting in the Lord and experiencing or observing the Lord in the ordinary details of a celebratory season. I heard the term the other day, emotional incest, when a narcissist dumps their emotional baggage on their children to keep them small and the attention diverted. Believe me, I knew more about that kind of thing growing up than I should have.
My friend from Houston sent Three Brothers Bakery gingerbread men for Christmas. Oh happy day! They are delicious and again I will have to say brings back great memories. I was looking at Christmas memories on FB of going to see holiday lights in the Galleria area and River Oaks. The huge Starbucks on Post Oak and Westheimer open on Christmas Eve. We'd get hot chockies and head out to look at lights. When First Baptist stopped their 11:00 pm Christmas Eve services or maybe it was about the time we couldn't stay awake for the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve services, we began attending the Christmas Eve services at St Martins. Wonderful music and taking communion in the service was a pink slipped offense while working at First Baptist since the Episcopalians use wine.
I saw a picture the other day on FB and I knew even before reading the caption what I was looking at. It was the Santa house at the downtown park in the city where my parents were born and well I guess me too. Only we moved when I was a toddler but those few times we came back for Christmas while we were younger included a visit to Santa. The house had a choir singing as decoration.
We have been invited for Christmas supper by some friends at our new church. I didn't even know how to answer because no one has ever invited us for a Christmas meal around here.
Warmer than usual temps for Christmas but I just read that we will have two winter blasts in the beginning of the new year. This past one has gone by so fast.
Merry Christmas!
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