Christmas Eve, Continued

Sooo... We all retired to Judy and Phil's. Judy had WAY too many dessert choices, all delicious. The children launched into their presents and things got goofy. Judy had bought blinking Rudolph noses for the men, some of whom declared that they would take theirs to church! At about 5:30, I came home. Judy and Phil needed to be at church at 6:00 to prepare for services. I met them all there just before 7:00.

I got to church a little early. Had I been any later, I wouldn't have found a place to sit! I walked down one side of the sanctuary looking for Nathan and family. Not there. Walked down the other side where Kendra spied me. There was ONE empty seat in the pew just in front of them, so I squeezed in. Our church has five (5!!) Christmas Eve services, and I must say that the 7:00 PM service was fabulous, with the full choir and an orchestra. Absolutely beautiful music! There was Scripture and singing and a short pastoral message, and the service concluded with the congregation lighting their candles, singing Silent Night. I've learned always to have tissues with me in church because I can't make it through a single service without tears! I decided years ago not to worry about what people would think of the gray-haired lady bawling in the pew!

I said my good-byes to the children in the parking lot as they prepared to leave for Muncie, then I came home to my now-too-quiet house...and wept most of the rest of the evening. Don't ask me why I cry. I simply don't know! The meaning of the season, the beauty of the music, memories of past Christmases when my loved ones were still alive, change, loss--you name it. I think it comes with getting older...

There were some interesting moments. Since Robin had told me that there were presents under their tree at home, I thought it would be okay to put my presents for the children under mine. Ryan accepted those as gifts from me. On Christmas Eve morning, they discovered their stockings full...but Ryan announced that SANTA hadn't brought him anything except the stocking things because there were no "new" presents under the tree. Oops!

During church last night, I coughed a lot and had a drippy nose. This morning (Christmas Day), I woke up to chest congestion, a scratchy throat, a gluey eye, and more nasal stuff. Thus, I have postponed my trip to Illinois...waiting to see if I am going to get better or if this is the start of the heebie-jeebies. Hope not!

My daughter just checked in. They are doing the Grand Canyon today, but she says it is cold. And so it is.

Merry Christmas, everyone!