And So We Wait

 

And so we wait in Cincinnati.

It wasn't a pretty Bengals win last night in Pittsburgh, it never is, but a win is a win, and the Bengals' slim playoff hopes are still alive.  For the Bengals to be in the playoffs, the Jets need to beat the Dolphins and the Chiefs need a win over the Broncos.  (Joanne, will you be watching?  4:25)

It was a dismal start but the Bengals had a winning season, their fourth in a row, by winning their last five games.

And we wait for the snow.  Predictions are all over the place.  There will be precipitation, it 's just a matter of whether it will be ice or snow or both.  And if it's snow, whether there will be a lot.

My grandson's Christmas break is scheduled to end tomorrow and I'm sure he is hoping for snow.  My church cancelled services for this morning.

Last night I was able to put a baking sheet of breaded shrimp into the oven and take it out.  It sounds like nothing, but it's something I couldn't do a week ago.

Blessed Among Women

 A Christmas card from a church friend had a piece of green paper enclosed.  It was a reflection of Elizabeth's telling pregnant Mary that she was blessed among women.  

All of us women need this reminder, no matter what we tell ourselves or what others may tell us, or have told us

And so I am telling my women readers today, "You are blessed among women." 

Tuesday's PT led to a very sore Wednesday.  Thursday the therapist took out the squats we had added, and today the day-after is better.  I can move ahead with the exercises.

And today was the first normal-feeling day in a long time.  I could cook a simple meal, which I enjoy, and wash the dishes later.  I could focus enough to work on a jig saw puzzle.  In a few minutes,  I'll turn on the sewing machine, enjoy its computerized sound, and sew a few simple blocks together.

I'm so happy to be able to read in bed again at the end of the day.  It's one of my pleasures.  During the really painful times there was nothing left of me at bedtime to be able to concentrate on the words.  I'm not reading anything "heavy," just enjoying those mindless Christmas novels.

If the books' plots seem to run together, that's ok, I don't mind, I just skim along.

The Work of Christmas

 

The Work of Christmas

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flocks,

The work of Christmas begins.

            To find the lost,

        To heal the broken,

        To feed the hungry,

        To release the prisoner,

        To rebuild the nations,

        To bring peace among the people,

        To make music in the heart.

                                                       by Howard Thurman     

The star above was a Christmas gift.  It arrived folded, made of stiff paper, and is lighted.  It will remain in the window for a long time,  reminding me of the poem, which stays relevant year after year.

            

Not Yet

 

Social media has been full of posts describing friends' taking down their Christmas trees, packing away decorations, starting fresh for the new year.

Not me, not yet.  I'm still enjoying the tree, loving the lights and ornaments.  There will come a time in a couple of weeks when I'll take off the ornaments and pack them in their little boxes but still leave the lighted tree in place until more toward the end of January.  

I don't need the space, no one is telling me it's time to pack it away, I'm happy for now.

The news from New Orleans is hard to hear.  All those people, enjoying themselves, never thinking that in a moment they would be dead or hurting.  They weren't carrying guns, probably, or looking for a fight, just out celebrating a happy night of the year.  Enjoying their friends, enjoying the city.

Gardening Dreams

 

They time it just right.  Some time between Christmas and New Years the Burpee catalog arrives in my mail box.  

It's a spirit booster, those wonderful pictures of flowers and vegetables, with the tempting new varieties.  

I loved the little yellow squash that grew on a bush last summer - will it work as well next summer with small watermelon that climb on a trellis?

And a late flowering basil?  My neighbor and I definitely need to share that seed packet.  He makes the best basil pesto.

And that deep, deep purple morning glory - oh my goodness.  

It's the season for gardening dreams.

Flowers

 

Thanks to my neighbor for this wonderful bouquet.  It started out like a regular florall bouquet, then this lily started opening, and it's huge, with another that will be following behind it.  My neighbor said she got it at Trader Joes. 

The same neighbor just took out my trash and recycling cans.  When I'm mobile I'll be taking her out for a nice lunch.

My North Carolina family got home at midnight last night.  I miss them, of course, but I'm glad they are safely back home.

The first day after company leaves is always a tired day, but navigating  with the walker is going much better and most of the exercises are as well.  There will be PT again in the morning.

And tomorrow New Year's Eve.

Tradition

Tradition - the car is packed, good-bye's have been said - and then someone says, "Wait, we need to take the picture."  And so we do.

And then the car rolled up the hill and the Christmas visit was over.  

The house is way too quiet, of course.  The refrigerator is full of good things for the week ahead, the presents are all unwrapped.

I have new Christmas pajamas to wear to bed tonight, along with many, many other nice gifts.  

The little dogs are no longer looking out the window waiting for dogs and people to bark at.

The single bathroom in my house is empty.  There are no plans being made.  No on-line after Christmas shopping.  No sisters' nights that may or may not involve a bottle of Tito's.

No Bengals do or die games for another week

It's been the best.