Countdown to Christmas

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,

      Unto us a Son is given;
      And the government will be upon His shoulder.
      And His name will be called
      Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As we meditate on these awesome words this week, we push aside the images of Santa Claus, snow and reindeer that  are the norm for most people at this time of the year, even in our hot and sunny climate in Australia. We are blessed that the media are playing the traditional carols and it is  "Merry Christmas" rather that Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings.

We have our last concert for the year tomorrow, and while some would think it is the most depressing place to go as it is a dementia ward, we know we are helpful as the activities office is trying to run the men's shed out in the grounds as well as the ward, although there are other staff about.

My christmas gift to myself came today and I am thrilled with it, though I do not have the musical expertise to do it myself.

A guide to playing healing music at the bedside

Leaving the Readers who call in here with love and prayers for a blessed Christmas Season.

Thankful

Very thankful for our Christmas this year, and where we are in life. There have been some very quiet Christmases in the past.

I have a day to spare today to edge a little closer to being organised. Cards to send to people I did not include in my mailout, gift wrapping and finishing up there, and shopping for the main meal.

This year is very special as my son and D-I-Law are coming, and as far as I can remember, I have not had Christmas with my son since 1983 due to various circumstances.  He was overseas for a number of years, and since returning, they have worked (Registered Nurses) on Christmas Day every year.

He was reminiscing about the hams that our family was given in his childhood, and I said yes we will have ham. Now I have never bought a ham before, let alone glazed one, so I have been looking out for a good recipe.  Some of them have masses of ingredients, but there was a recipe in the paper this week that I like. I will only buy a fairly small one, as I don't want much leftover.  All it needs is cranberry sauce or redcurrent jelly, balsamic vinegar and cloves.

Cranberry & Balsamic Glazed Ham

I will also be making his favourite dessert, which isn't plum pudding.  Actually I confess here that I have never made a plum pudding, and now the thought of boiling one for hours puts me off, and I don't like the taste of the bought ones. The recipe was in a church recipe book back in the 1970's under the heading Continental Dessert.

It looks and tastes luscious, but it actually very economical. Anyone who would like the recipe, please email me.

So, away from the computer to get started on the day.

Love and  Blessings, Jan

How Great Thou Art

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God,

in the mountain of his holiness. Psalm 48:1

Outside my window... Cloudy, might be another storm. Temp in here is 22C, very pleasant.

I am thinking... how good life is.

I am thankful... for all the plans and good things to look forward to over Christmas
In the kitchen... a quick meal of steamed veges for lunch.

I am wearing... old Christmas T-shirt and 3/4 navy pants

I am creating... clean house, Christmas menu etc.LOL, plans for our trip south after Christmas, contacting the people we wish to see and setting up times etc.

I am going... to a country village for a Carols evening tonight.

I am wondering... if any more Christmas cards will turn up from people I haven't sent one to.

I am reading... still reading the Mawson book... not enough time

I am looking forward to... Christmas Day with son and D-I-Law

I am hearing...  actually my ears are ringing a bit today.... no silence!

Around the house... Christmas is coming, I spent two half days cleaning the bistro blinds on the deck, we were ready to give up on them, had tried a few things, and planned to get rid of them and put in another product, but suddenly the cleaning worked.

One of my favorite things... At this time of year...people who let you know what gift they would like.
A few plans for the rest of the week..... we still have another concert tomorrow, a family Christmas party from 5.30 to 8pm.   We need to pull out some more songs to cover that.

Yesterday as we wrapped up our Christmas concert, one of our regulars sidled up and said, you can't go home until you sing "How Great Thou Art".    We usually do that one for them, but I thought with all the Christian content among the Carols, they would be happy without  "How Great Thou Art". 

A few of the residents had to go back to their rooms to prepare for lunch a few minutes before we finished and I gave the first one that went past me a peck on the cheek, then they all stopped for a peck and a pat on the shoulder.  It was so sweet.

Here is a link to the history of How Great Thou Art

With Love and Blessings
Jan

Out again today

Today we attended another volunteers thank you, for the musicians who  entertain, and "Friends" of the Aged Care Home.  It was a lavish afternoon tea, slices with icing, caramel, chocolate etc, and also cream puffs (round eclairs or profiteroles).  Hope we sleep well tonight as don't usually eat sugar, preferring coconut sugar, stevia and raw honey.

We were presented with a certificate, and I didn't expect that, as we were only  there once, on a recommendation, possibly when they had a cancellation, though they have indicated they want us a lot more in the future. All our invites have come from recommendations, we have not chased up any concerts ourselves.

This week the main thrust in any spare time has been to get the Christmas cards in the mail, and I have always enjoyed sending them to people that we don't see these days, neighbours and friends from earlier times, and relatives that live in other parts of the world.

Increasingly I am finding that some don't send cards any more, and ignore the one I have sent, though one or two have the opposite opinion and say they don't count cyberspace greetings and are blessed when they receive a card they can hold in their hands.

So it is a challenge to please everyone, and also to be prepared for a card or small gift received  locally and unexpectedly.

Other years I have included a short letter, just outlining some of the things that have happened to us over the year, in the hope that the recipients will include a few lines in their card, as I feel short-changed when I get a card that just says to..... from...... I feel it is a waste of a card and stamp.

      Quote: Don't worry if your Christmas card list seems to be growing each year.  Instead, be grateful!  It just means you're making friends faster than you are losing them.

A little child
a shining star
a stable rude,
the door ajar.
Yet in that place
so crude, forlorn,
The Hope of all
the world was born.
--Anonymous

My list is getting shorter as some people, including my sister and her family, are no longer interested in snail-mail cards!

I am also wrapping the few gifts that we exchange, and planning our trip away in January, contacting the people we wish to see and it is all coming on in a very satisfactory way.

Love and Blessings, Jan

CHALLENGES OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

"CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT"

I remember wth nostalgia wonderful "Carols by Candlelight" evenings years ago. People of all ages, families, singles, elderly would gather at the open air venue, in the balmy evening air as dusk fell. We would recieve carol sheets as we arrived and light our candles in their protective cardboard sleeves. I especially treasure the memory of one such occasion in the grounds of Taronga Zoo overlooking Sydney Harbour.

They still call these occasions Carols by Candlelight in our town, and advertise  a Christmas message, but last year it was read out a few minutes before the end of the night when all the families with young children had long departed, and only the last few items were waiting their turn. The carols were only on at the end too, the evening was all Santa orientated. One of the local service clubs runs it, with their raffles and chocolate wheels, and this year markets are being held in conjunction with it.

No we aren't attending, but one of my Christmas banners is, my friend who will be singing just phoned and asked to borrow my Christian one.  We have spoken about putting on Carols and hope to organise it for next year, thought of it too late and have too many commitments this year.

 Love and Blessings
Jan

Into the "End of Year" functions

I do wonder why so many end of year functions, even "Carols by Candlelight" are held at the end of November, early December, and for many people, particularly elderly, coming up to Christmas there are a lot of days with nothing much to do, as many meetings and activities in Australia close down until beginning of February as it is the hot season with many taking their annual holidays. 

We are getting ready for the concerts and Christmas parties at the Aged Care homes now. We have 23 Christmas Carols and Christmas Songs and will include most of them. 

Changing the subject, we have been trying to keep up with the garden (and have not been able to complete the plans outlined in the previous post), and busy with our singing and activities, and Barry has been struggling with some health issues..... he just said "I take one step forward and two backwards" so somehow I was unable, in myself, to come here, I just didn't seem to have anything to say and felt particularly guilty not being able to get around all the posts that I "follow".

I think too, having my son and daughter-in-law move back to Queensland has given me a contentment that I didn't know I was missing, we've seen them every month since then, so we have been away a bit, when not keeping up our singing commitments, though we had to cancel some due to Barry's illhealth.

( Rob, Emi and Rob's daughter)

However I was admitted to a group on Facebook that has inspired me to reactivate this page, (Thank you Dorothy) and I look forward to writing my humble thoughts here again.

With love and Blessings,
Jan