[Magdalen] Merry Christmas

Thu Dec 27 23:27:25 UTC 2018

I sang in the choir at 7:30 pm Christmas Eve Liturgy at Dormition of the
Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Winchester, VA.

On Christmas Day, Jim and I had midday brunch (blueberry French toast
casserole, potato and cheese casserole, salami, pomegranates, cheeses and
Xmas cookies) at the home of son Dan, daughter-in-law Laura, and
granddaughter Lucy in Shepherdstown, WV.  Son Jack and daughter Beth who
rent a house together in Ranson, WV, were also there.

We had originally planned to cook our rib roast, Yorkshire pudding,
asparagus and mashed potatoes on Christmas and had invited my brother Steve
Bailey and his wife Deb as well as family.  However, Steve was laid low
from starting chemo on the 17th for bladder cancer so our plans changed.
Jim and I had the meal yesterday and have a lot of leftovers.

Jim gave a new 10" round Copper Chef skillet to go with the square one I
got last summer.  I love it!  (They are really non-stick and can also go in
the oven)   Plus, he gave me a new padded computer bag  and someone from
Democratic Underground mailed me a spare (new) copy of Michelle Obama's
book, *Becoming*.  Jack gave me the book of stories, *Gutshot,* by Amelia
Gray.  Lucy gave us a decorated framed picture of herself and hanging
birdseed packets.  Dan and Laura gave us an Applebee's gift card and Jack
and Beth gave an IHOP gift card.

Tasos, Hannah, Rosie and Luna seem to have had a good Christmas in Raleigh.

Jim had set up our pre-lit tree a week ago but our tortie cat Midget
climbed up in it and bent the branches.  I took that as a sign not to
bother putting the ornaments on.  We have lights on the porch in the
evening and also light the bare tree.  There is an angel on the piano but
the creche I got from my father will have to wait another year at least
(for fear of Midget).

Christ is Born!  Glorify Him!

Kate
"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk
humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 5:04 PM Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:

> No church for me, as we celebrate Nativity on Jan. 6, and I am still not
> sure where I will celebrate that, as my experience with the local ROCOR
> church has left me with an extremely bad taste for them.  Perhaps with the
> Ukrainians near Charlottesville.
>
> I'm still down and exhausted with this cold/bronchitis, but we have my
> daughter and her two boys from Tennessee. They've been in a hotel since the
> fire but she needed a respite in a home. It's been fun but she did have a
> rough patch yesterday afternoon, probably brought on by low blood sugar. We
> had a big smoked turkey with all the trimmings last night. I'm just happy
> that everyone is safe and healthy and that the house wasn't damaged more
> than it is, and that Jonathan had the foresight to put the fire-retardant
> insulation in.
>
> On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 3:24 PM Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu>
> wrote:
>
> > Happy 2nd day of Christmas to all! Beautiful early Xmas Eve service at
> > Trinity Lancaster (NY, where I am rector) - music, perfect child
> acolytes,
> > enthusiastic singing, just lovely. Then to friends for a time, with small
> > gift exchanges. Late service (attending, not serving) at Trinity, Buffalo
> > (my pre-ordination home parish). Christmas Day home alone, by choice.
> Today
> > a morning AA meeting (have finally managed to string together close to 9
> > months abstinent of alcohol), then back home.
> >
> > Christmas spirit barely lukewarm this year, but have had fun with my
> little
> > crèche, and have burned candles enthusiastically.
> >
> > For those who didn’t see on Facebook, Santa finally brought the red
> cowboy
> > boots I’ve wanted for the better part of a decade, but couldn’t bring
> > myself to buy new. Okay, I had to go pick them up at the local Amvets
> > thrift store, but I just know Santa left them there for me! And he also
> > left a red leather handbag at my favorite consignment shop. The token
> (very
> > token, I assure you!) amount I paid for each of these, I consider
> shipping
> > fees from the North Pole. And I just ordered a copy of the Leonardo
> daVinci
> > book from Amazon.
> >
> > So overall, it has been a different, quieter sort of holiday for me, too.
> > Not wonderful, but far from awful. My fridge is full of wonderful food
> that
> > I made for myself, and actually, my heart is pretty full of gratitude,
> too.
> > Sounds like there was some time to just be still in the miracle of the
> > incarnation for lots of us.
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 9:23 AM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > After individual visits with each of our children and their families,
> we
> > > arrived back in Summerville late yesterday afternoon.  Christmas
> 'dinner'
> > > was Nabs and water on the road.  Thirty hours away from home with lots
> of
> > > goodness in the midst of that.  Last night's grilled cheese sandwiches
> > will
> > > give way to our Christmas dinner today...just us.   This morning, I
> have
> > a
> > > physical therapy session for balance issues I've been having, a short
> > trip
> > > to the grocery store, then I will cook.  Beef roast and all the
> > trimmings.
> > > Also an unusual Christmas, but a good one.
> > >
> > > Ginga
> > >
> > > <
> > >
> >
> https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon
> > > >
> > > Virus-free.
> > > www.avast.com
> > > <
> > >
> >
> https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link
> > > >
> > > <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
> > >
> > > On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 8:44 AM Marilyn Cepeda <mcepeda514 at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Sounds wonderful!  We had our family here in two shifts due to work
> but
> > > had
> > > > a wonderful time both days. Now we rest!
> > > >
> > > > Marilyn
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 7:29 AM cady soukup <cadyasoukup at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Blessings to all on this second day of the Christmas season,
> > > > >
> > > > > We had a very low-key Christmas with first son & family (Sunday
> > > > > afternoon), 3rd son home from Washington state, second son & family
> > > > > (yesterday), daughter home from Harrisonburg, VA (Shenandoah
> Valley)
> > > > > where she now resides. Limited "decorations" (Advent calendar is
> > all),
> > > > > self-grazing sandwich/buffet meal, no alcohol, everything suitable
> > for
> > > > > the 3-year-old granddaughter who is of an age to be transfixed by
> the
> > > > > doll house her grandpa made for her aunt (#3 son helped her to her
> > > > > heart's content to play with the dolls and furniture for nearly 90
> > > > > minutes!). Everyone commented what a "relief from the storm" it was
> > > > > just to relax. No buttons pushed, lots of simple conversation, no
> > time
> > > > > on social media or electronics. A true break in our daily patterns.
> > > > >
> > > > > Yesterday's service - simple eucharist, no music - another small,
> > > > > welcome gap. It was surprisingly well attended, with several new
> > > > > faces, even a young couple (ho both came to the table for blessing
> > yet
> > > > > neither took communion).
> > > > >
> > > > > Quiet joy brings its own quiet blessings. I am grateful for the
> space
> > > > > to welcome and recognize it.
> > > > >
> > > > > hugs - Cady
> > > > >
> > > > > On 12/25/18, Clarissa Canning <canplum at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > We had services one each evening this week. The last one in
> > Killarney
> > > > > where
> > > > > > wr live. Had Christmas over Fb with our Granddaughter Gaby & Sons
> > > Josh
> > > > n
> > > > > > Sam. Having a Christmas dinner with one of the Seniors complexes
> in
> > > > town.
> > > > > > Blessings this Christmastide
> > > > > > On Dec 25, 2018 6:42 AM, "Marion Thompson" <
> > > marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >> Every blessing at this holy Christmastide.  Just this morning’s
> > > > service
> > > > > >> to
> > > > > >> go and then I can have a nap or something before going to some
> St.
> > > > > Mark’s
> > > > > >> people for a grownup dinner later on.  Last night after our
> 5p.m.
> > > > mass I
> > > > > >> drove into Scarborough to my daughter Fiona where we were 11.  I
> > had
> > > > > made
> > > > > >> a
> > > > > >> Christmas pudd’ according to Mary Berry on The Great British
> > Baking
> > > > Show
> > > > > >> and it was spectacularly good, I must say.
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> Have a wonderful day and week.  I must go now and bone up on the
> > > Kyrie
> > > > > >> from Willan’s Missa Brevis.  Thanks to illness and things, I
> will
> > be
> > > > the
> > > > > >> only alto.  Baby Jesus will understand ….
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> Love to you all,
> > > > > >> Marion, a pilgrim
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Marilyn (Owens, Palmero) Cepeda
> > > >
> > >
> > --
> > Ann
> >
> > The Rev. Ann Markle
> > Buffalo, NY
> > www.onewildandpreciouslife.typepad.com
> >
>