This is our first Christmas in the new house and things are different.
Because Thanksgiving was such a raucous event with everyone in attendance,
Guess who took the photo?
we are being let off the hook!
In England we don’t do Thanksgiving to put a sleeping policeman in the celebration works…so to speak.
Things barrel along through November and December without a major holiday to shift the focus from the Nativity.
But because I am in America and my children no longer live under my roof, I am overjoyed when I can get them all in one place at the same time for one of the two major feasts!
Last year it was Christmas,
This year it was Thanksgiving.
Another difference, apart from our address, is we decided not to put up a full tree again.
We lit one outside the barn, a meagre little 8 footer with a few strands of lights….
…not enough but in the darkness they sparkle colourfully and remind me that,
“In Him was life and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.” (John 1:4-5)
We put up our little table top tree from last year when we were in the apartment,
covered it with chocolates and then cut some greens from the junipers and sprinkled pretty white lights around.
We placed ornaments in odd places,
and hung the stockings from doorways.
We positioned our creches,
and used wrapped presents to do the rest.
We are planning on spending the day with our married couple, Simon and Lindsey.
First of course I will call London where my brother and two nephews live,
Then we’ll touch base with California where our oldest resides and say “Christmas Gift” to the others who are out of pocket.
Then we’ll stop by to wish good tidings to the in-laws, aunt, uncle, cousins and grandmother,
Where we will meet up with our son and his wife and drive back to Footlights together.
We were going to see a film but decided we would rather spend the afternoon at the ranch catching up and chatting,
cooking, opening presents, revelling, eating and listening to carols.
The next day, Boxing Day, we are exchanging gifts with those who dwell in our barn and then later on will entertain some of the neighbors who have been so good to us during our first six months.
On Sunday we are going to visit our teacher-daughter, her friend and the three dogs, for lunch and more gifts.
The holiday will be well strung out at the McNeny household! With good cheer spread to all!
Then the birthdays will begin!
But that’s a whole other week away….
Merry first day of Christmas and may each day bring you joy and peace wherever you may be.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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