A wonderful family Christmas

 Christmas is over for another year and we are sitting relaxing on a quiet Boxing day. We managed to do everything we wanted and I even managed to bake us a Christmas cake. I bought tins of biscuits and chocolates for the family instead of baking them cakes this year. I don't think they minded. 

On Christmas Eve afternoon in recent years our church has combined with one of the other local city churches to put on a free family festival. There are bouncy castles, food stalls and games and competitions and the last half hour is a presentation of the Christmas story. The local community has received it well and numbers have grown each year. I usually invite my little great grands and this year Arlo came along. He had lots of fun and food. The other two were away out with their paternal grandparents :)

That night I went to a Carol service at one of the local  Presbyterian churches as I'd been unable to attend any of the Christmas services in my own church for various reasons :(  It was a lovely service and I managed to sit with a friend I hadn't seen for quite some time. When I got home we watched It's a Wonderful Life on DVD, I always enjoy this movie at Christmas time.

Christmas Day dawned grey but warm and a bit humid. It was already 20C when we left to have breakfast with our eldest daughter at 9:30am. It stayed grey and muggy all day. Breakfast was simple, only the four of us and we had bacon, eggs, tomatoes and new potatoes chipped and fried with toast. Followed by tea or coffee. Just what we'd ordered. We never have a cooked breakfast so really enjoyed it for a change.

And then about 11:30ish we headed over to our eldest grand daughter's home to deliver presents and wish them Merry Christmas. We sat and chatted over a drink and Christmas fare for a while and headed home again to watch the live stream of our church's Christmas day service that had been held while we were having breakfast. Aaron had recovered from covid which was just as well as he was the service leader :)

Before long we were away again to our youngest daughter's home where most of the family were gathering for a late Christmas lunch. Yes, all the covid patients were finally testing negative by Christmas Day. Luckily we were able to open the doors and let the kids run around outside, and in. Lunch was cold ham and salads which we followed with cold desserts. Gifts were opened in stages, whenever someone felt like handing some out, which made for a nice relaxed time.

 Eventually in the early evening  we arrived home after a busy and enjoyable day - just in time for the King's Christmas message followed by the Princess of Wales' 'Together at Christmas' service. Tired but happy. I'd like to tell you I slept like a log but I think I'd eaten too much sugary food and found myself sitting up reading at 2 in the morning.

I hope your Christmas was as enjoyable as ours was.

Until next time enjoy the remainder of the Christmas season.

Diana.

The best laid plans...

It was all going so well. We were  all prepared for Christmas. The family from Palmerston North have arrived and are staying at one of their cousin's homes.

Most of the Christmas presents are wrapped and waiting to be delivered and the cards are all written and posted away.

Dinner was organised for New Years Eve at our son's home. Just them, us and his sisters and their husbands. None of us have little ones in the house and the teenagers who will be here have their own plans.

Breakfast was planned at our eldest daughter's place for Christmas Day and late lunch at our youngest daughter's. Everyone knew what they needed to bring to contribute to the meals.

But then this morning  a message from DIL- 'Mum, Aaron has tested positive for covid. I don't think we'll be able to do dinner on the 24th'. 'Never mind, I said, it's only the adults and we can do it after Christmas sometime'.  

Fast forward to this afternoon and another message, this time from our youngest daughter - 'Mum, Daniel (her teenage son) has tested positive for covid as well. We're not canceling yet but just letting you know'.

So now it's a waiting game. Monday will tell whether our best laid plans work out or are canceled. Monday is when they are able to come out of isolation if they're clear. It could be a quiet Christmas. The only thing for certain is that breakfast is still on :)

And Christmas will happen regardless.

Remember - Jesus is the reason for the season.

In case I don't get back before Christmas, Christmas blessings to you all and every best wish for 2025. Have a wonderful time whatever you are doing.

Diana

Round up time

It's a long time since I've been here or even visited anyone so I thought I'd take time to do a bit of a roundup of the past month or so.

I hope you don't get too bored while I catch you up :)

It's been a busy time since the end of October. At the end of the month my sister in law celebrated her 84th birthday and then the following weekend she and her husband celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Only half their family were able to make it to their celebration dinner but the whole bridal party were in attendance. Unfortunately no one got a photo of them together. We all had an enjoyable evening together - and the waiter was a robot :)

Family at 60th wedding anniversary dinner.

I've already shared about clearing out the two spare bedrooms and then before we knew it it was time to head to the airport to pick up my sister who was arriving from Australia. Grandson arrived the following morning on the redeye flight and was picked up by his aunty, she was already up and had been at work so volunteered.

It was a busy few days with sis wanting to catch up on all the family so we had lots of visits, coffees and meals out.

On the morning the day before the wedding Grandson rang his sister, the bride, to have a chat. She was in a bit of a fluster trying to get the venue set up with only a couple of others helping her so we all piled in the car and went over to help. It looked lovely by the time we had finished, even if some of us had no idea how to tie a bow. I just pretended I was tying a bow in a little girls sash.

Then it was back to the house to finish blowing up balloons to take round to decorate the newlyweds house and bedroom. Someone decided it would be a nice idea to put red balloons, petals and chocolates in their room to surprise them when they arrived back after the wedding. I think they enjoyed it :) I hope so.

I'd like to say the wedding day dawned sunny and warm but no. It was fine but no sun and a very cold wind. The bride's dress was backless, sleeveless and beautiful and she must have been frozen as it was an outdoor wedding. The venue was lovely but to be honest I was hoping they'd move it indoors. We weren't the only ones who went home between the ceremony and the reception to have a warm drink. Caitlin was given away by her paternal grandfather, he looked so proud. Her father had passed away when she was just 13 years old. It was good to catch up with them again.

proud Grandad and Granma with Caitlin

The reception was fun, it was only a small wedding and most people knew each other. Round tables and family groups.

The next day we were all invited to a barbecue lunch at Caitlin and Brayden's. It was also a chance for the kids to come as well, they hadn't been invited to the wedding. We spent a relaxing couple of hours chatting, playing with the kids, they had outdoor games set out for them and catching up again.

Then it was home for a freshen up and out again for dinner at a Chinese restaurant in town with our son and his wife. We were celebrating his 50th birthday. Just them, his sisters, their husbands,  his aunty and us. A lovely immediate family time. 

We'd spent part of Friday wrapping little parcels - 50 silly presents for 50 years. It was a lot of fun watching him open them all.

And I've also had a Christmas/end of year function to attend where the food was delicious and we sang Christmas carols accompanied by the harp. So unusual and lovely.

And after all that Sis got back home and discovered she had covid. Youngest daughter and I are currently recovering and my GKB has come down with it. Wonder if we picked it up at the wedding? Who knows. We were out and about a lot that week.

So, I hope you haven't been too bored - if you got this far.

Keep well and enjoy this Advent season.

Diana 

A cause for celebration.

But first let me say how sorry I am about all the devastation that has occurred in Florida and nearby states. I can't do much from here except let you all know I think of you and you're in my prayers.

******

And now for the celebration.

It is just on a year since the family gathered to celebrate our son's ordination. As we were still meeting in the rugby clubrooms we 'borrowed' one of the local Baptist churches for the ordinations. We offered to swap buildings with them but that offer wasn't taken up. I can't imagine why not :)

Newly ordained, the bishop standing behind Aaron.

As well as Aaron there was another young man being ordained, and a young minister from the US being licensed to work in New Zealand while he is here studying. There was a little humour in the service but it didn't detract from the purpose and so at the same time it was still reverent. 

being congratulated by his proud big sister.

Afterwards we were able to have a catch up with friends and family over a delicious afternoon tea and have photos taken. It was a blustery day so the outside photos weren't terrific, my GKB and I opted for indoor ones.

family photo.

Aaron had waited a long time for this moment and we were very happy for him and proud parents :)

with his sisters, out in the wind.

It will be another couple of years before full ordination, at present he is a deacon in the church, but if the time goes as quickly as the past year has gone it'll be here before we know it.

******

Some of you wondered how I found Prince Harry's book 'Spare'. If I'm to be honest I didn't want to like it. I'm pleased I read it though as it gave me an insight into why he acts the way he does. There were parts I just skimmed over, especially part 2 when he was in the army - I'm not interested in the why or how of helicopters and planes. I just like to know they're going to get me where I'm going in one piece. And I wasn't interested in his frost nipped body part, which he went on about. The other thing that really struck me was his obsession  with his mother. I know he lost her when he was a young boy but he's in his 40's now and she was a constant thread throughout the book. He never spoke about her death or had counselling of any kind until just before his marriage. I found part 3 very interesting, his meeting Meghan and his marriage.

Anyway, would I recommend it? Yes and no. If you want some insight into the why and wherefore of his life, go for it. I don't think it is as bad as the media made it out to be. 

******

 And that's it from me today.

Diana

Celebrations

 It's been a week of celebrations for our family.

On Friday we had a visit from middle Granddaughter and her new fiancee. They came around especially to tell us they had just become engaged. She is a lovely thoughtful girl and he is an outgoing and caring man and I think they are well matched. We're very happy for them. 

On Saturday my daughters took me out and bought me a 'decent' pair of walking shoes for my birthday. All the kids contributed. Asics. They've taken a bit of getting used to, and I think I look like I'm wearing Daisy Duck shoes, but they're really comfortable. Just as well for the price :) That evening we went to number one son's home for a lovely birthday dinner. 

And a couple of days later we welcomed a new addition to the family. Theo was expected to arrive on my birthday but he had other ideas. He wanted his own day :) He is our grandson's son and our fourth great grandchild. He is well loved :)

I will leave you there and try and have a catch up with everyone as the day goes on.

Enjoy your week, keep well, 

Diana