There is something odd feeling about the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to me. Like a twilight zone. I am reluctant to let go of Christmas and anxious to welcome a new year.
I try to reflect on the past year. I try to determine where I am with my life. I try to plan some goals for the coming year or at least a few months. I recently came across a phrase I liked. Trace goals. It was something on Instagram. I like that thought. To me, tracing means to make a light sketch that will be altered and refined with work over time.
I haven’t gotten to the point of tracing goals for 2022. I will turn 57 in 2022. So many things I had imagined for my life did not happen. I am learning to live my life as it is rather than what I think it should be.
Yet, life as it is has turned out to be pretty wonderful. Rock and I are still loving each other happily. The children and the duchesses are doing great. I have some very dear friends and family to share life with.
There are some difficult things to manage. There are some heartaches to let hurt. There are some joyous moments to celebrate and some precious times to savor.
This in-between time even has its good things going on. Visits with friends, time with Rock, a quickly filling January calendar, hope in Christ.
May each of us have a renewed hope in Christ for the coming year. And blessings falling like orchids raining. Happy New Year!
This past weekend was a whirlwind! We got up and went to my brother’s to have a short visit for his birthday. Then on to the party place to give the older Duchess a birthday present and get hugs. The younger Duchess was at both parties. Double blessings. Next, we rode out to Montgomery to a spectacular venue for a fairy tale wedding. Our life long friends’ son wed his beloved. Everything was lovely. The men all looked handsome in their suits. My girlfriend looked spectacular in her navy evening gown and made a wonderful showing dancing with her son. We all teared up watching. It was more touching than the bride and her father dancing.
Rock and I had an adventure riding home. Following the google map in the dark along unfamiliar back roads. We stopped to eat at Whataburger in Livingston in our evening attire. He had shed his coat and tie, but was still gorgeous in his red shirt. We enjoyed our time to visit with each other while riding all over the place capturing moments with very important people.
Sunday, I cooked turkey and dressing, dumplings and all for a belated Thanksgiving meal. We ended up only having all the girls. The Duchesses and their mothers. Their daddies couldn’t attend. The girls play well together for the most part. They are very loud when they get going at times. Running and screaming through the house.
I have a set of china that was a gift to my parents from my maternal grandmother. I don’t know how she afforded it, but there are twelve place settings and some side pieces. I always use it for Thanksgiving. I want the children to have memories of it when I am gone and they are old.
We serve ourselves buffet style. I’ve never really tried boarding house style. Think the Walton’s or the Picket House. All the food in serving bowls on the table being passed around. I think I would like it and I certainly have the bowls for it. Maybe we can give it a trial run in the spring.
Christmas is usually a casual arrangement of hors d’oeuvres and sandwich trays. Platters of cookies and a few pies make dessert. Throwaway plates are the usual for that day. Shooting and opening gifts are the main events for Christmas Eve. Though I would be in serious trouble if I didn’t serve Cheese Torte and Ham Rolls.
I have waited till this week to start on Christmas decorating. I got the tree out of the closet. It’s still in the box. I should have everything done up by Friday. I hope I have enough working lights to go around. I want to have it done by then because I should have a Duchess over to spend some time with me. One this weekend and one another. I like the private times I have with each of them. Time to give each my undivided attention. And to get some undivided attention. Grannies need to feel loved by their grands. So do Paw Paws.
In this season of festivities, I will make time to be quiet with as many of the ones I hold dearest as possible. Yes, we will play and feast and have a ball. But we will connect more deeply, too. If we make it a point to do so. Intention is the word currently in fashion. It is an idea that should never be out of fashion.
Raining Orchids 