Hello everyone~
As
Susie said, it has been so difficult to concentrate on much of anything else this weekend, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends, and townspeople in Connecticut who have suffered such an unspeakable tragedy. Our chuch service was very moving this morning. Our pastor delivered a wonderful and heartfelt sermon where she spoke about, but didn't focus completely on the tragedy. The particular anthems sung by our choirs and the womens a capella quartet in which I sing had been chosen a couple of weeks ago, but thankfully were beautiful and somewhat introspective pieces and couldn't have been more appropriate for this day. Many people mentioned how touched they were by the music during the service today. I kept my face glued to our director, or gazed at the far back walls of the sanctuary instead of people's faces while we were singing, to keep from losing it, myself. One of our childrens' choirs also sang at the late service, as they had been scheduled to do for several weeks. Watching their bright, smiling faces and hearing the enthusiastic voices of these kindergarten, first, and second grade children singing about the coming birth of Jesus just about broke your heart, when you realized they were the same age as the victims.
But it also gave us hope for the future and helped us remember that the light will eventually conquer the darkness, and all is not lost.
On a lighter note, we finally have our minivan back from the body shop and it looks as good as new, or as new as a two year old car can look.
We were able to pick out our Christmas tree and decorate it Saturday afternoon, and most of our presents are wrapped and sitting underneath it. Now it's time for....a little baking to provide for teachers' gifts this week, my daughter's basketball parents' meeting and a b'ball tournament Monday and Tuesday evening, my son's school Christmas chorus concert Tuesday evening, squeezing in a rehearsal for our quartet, and whatever else I need to do this week to hang on for dear life to the speeding, runaway freight train that is Christmas.
Susie~ I'm glad you and hubs enjoyed yourselves with all the festivities this weekend, and they probably provided you with much needed and well deserved distraction. Yay to you for having two weeks off work! Another thing we have in common I can't recall if we've mentioned previously....our Moms are both breast cancer survivors. My Mom was in her fifties and actually perimenopausal ( think?) and has been cancer-free for twenty years.
Sarah~ I have been so amazed at the stories of love and ultimate sacrifice offered by numerous adults at Sandy Hook, as these stories gradually come to light. There most definitely is a special place in heaven for these persons. I hope your Mom had a wonderful birthday and am sure she enjoyed her surprise party. I also love Charlie Brown's Christmas, as well as Rudolph, and The Grinch. Are the Santa Clause movies you mentioned the ones with the younger, red-haired Kris Kringle? How are you enjoying your new car? The "Be Safe" sticker sounds appropriate....maybe I need one too, with my recent history of automobile incidents.
Marielle~ Congrats to you and your bf for receiving the new house keys Tuesday. Will you have any time to paint before your move furniture in the new place? Are you sure your toe wasn't broken? (not that there's too much you can do for it, if it was). I hope your brother enjoyed his birthday and I always think it's neat that you two are so close. My brother and I are about eighteen months apart and fairly close, as well. We usually talk briefly on the phone every other day or so, just to check in with one another. He lives about thirty minutes away and is very busy as a full-time attorney with a wife and two young children, so we're sort of in different stages of our lives, as my kids are older (eleven and twelve years old). Both he and I have the same sense of humor, and sometimes his wife and my husband will just shake their heads when listening to us and our stories. We also like to watch the same TV shows and movies, and read many of the same books (although he'd never touch Twilight with a ten foot pole, as he can be kind of a book snob.
) My kids adore his kids and vice versa, and I imagine my daughter will be able to babysit his kids in a couple of years.
Sean~ Hope you feel better soon and regain some of your energy. I think it's natural that the news of the tragedy can be emotionally and mentally draining, particularly if you watch the coverage all day, which is possible to do with all the 24 hour news outlets. Will you have some days off work around the holidays?
Lynne~ I'm so glad you found a temporary "home" for Harry while you're away for the holidays, and know that must be such a relief for you. Harry will enjoy his new playmate as much as you enjoy your time away with family.
I thought you and your hubs would probably like Skyfall, and I think they set it up well to continue with the series with some intriguing new actors. Daniel Craig is certainly easy on the eyes, isn't he? And the scene where his face and neck were carefully shaved with the straight razor.....
That's great news that your GP isn't concerned about your recent medical issues.
Desiree~ I'm sorry you're having some issues with your son. Is he enjoying his karate class? Please know that we're here for you, whenever you need a shoulder to lean on, or a listening ear. I think several people here gave you some excellent ideas about involving friends as "extended family" for the holidays. I'm sure your kids appreciate how much effort you put into making the holdays special for them, or they certainly will when they're a bit older.
Songbird~ I'm glad that your son's first playdate was such a success. You certainly have a busy weekend planned, and we'll leave the light on for you.
I'd love to see your recipe for the orange poppyseed cake. What a wonderful and fitting tribute to your Mom--to share her recipes with friends and family who had inquired about them over the years.
Jaclyn~ It's great to see you around here. I'm sad that your busy work schedule keeps you from posting as frequently, and I'm always so glad to hear from you when you have a chance to check in with us. Some of my favorite Christmas shows/movies are Rudolph, Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Story, and The Grinch. I always found Frosty the Snowman sort of creepy, for whatever reason.
I laughed at your sweet stories of early Christmas morning, and your Dad pretending as if Santa had not come to your house. I know you'll miss being at your parents' home now that you're an "old married lady", but as you said....you'll make new traditions with your hubs that you can carry on with your own kids someday. I think I've already asked you this....do you watch the TV show
Fringe? Hubs and I started watching it the second season and caught up with it via DVD and DVR. It's in the final season with only three or four episodes left, and it's one of those shows that seems to have more of a cult following....smallish fanbase, but very loyal.
Austin~ I, too liked your idea of lighting a candle in memory of the victims, and in tribute to their families. I don't think any act is too small, and I know that being with our friends and family at church today--and knowing that at the same time, families and friends in churches all over the country (and world) were probably thinking about and praying for that little town in Connecticut too--helped me feel a sense of connection and solidarity to those families.
Amanda Beth~ I'm just not ready to even think about the political ramifications of last weekend's events either, as I think there will be plenty of time for that in upcoming days and weeks. I believe the first funeral for one of the children will be held Monday, and I can't begin to imagine what those family members and that community are going through at this time. Christmas will never be the same for them, and will be a holiday difficult to celebrate for years to come.