house

house

Saturday 29 December 2012

What a Happy Christmas we all had!

I know that I am not alone in just having had a Christmas that proved to be very happy indeed.

Christmas Eve my son and his wife arrived, then my other son John entered the house,then my husband's daughter and her husband and his parents and their children were all here ready to attend the Christmas Carol Service starting at 6 pm in the evening. The weather was cold, but not raining, and so we walked to the church which is literally two mins away!

The church was absolutely packed.. All the children were given a face mask representing the kings, the sheep, the sheppards,the angels and of course Mary and Joseph.. As the service processed along, each of them came into the centre isle and were made part of the tale.. It took just over and hour with the singing and the performing, and everyone left the church feeling very connected and ready for Christmas to begin.

John's daughter and family then left us, taking their presents with them, and we settled down to a quiet evening all chatting and laughing away. I was a little anxious as I was told that I had nothing to do, Amy my daughter in law and Rebecca were going to be doing it all.

We sat in the kitchen whilst Chris my son, and Amy prepared the vegetables for the morning... I felt anxious as I was out of the loop.. Rebecca would be bringing the turkey in the morning driving over from Oxford which is just over a hundred miles away.

 Spot on time, she rang the bell and trouped in with her two sons and daughter.. more laughter and chatting as I was told to sit in the front room and make sure the table was laid!!! When the meal came, it was utterly scrumptious and really and truly a feast... ending not with Xmas pud, but a round wreath of meringue and fruits of the forest with almond flakes and cream to top it.. Swooningly marvellous!..

In the evening we played a quiz that Amy had prepared and divided us into three teams, John and little John being one.. they actually won the quiz, although the other teams consisted of three persons, so we should have had the advantage... Anyway it took a long time and many sections to complete and the evening just swung by*

Boxing day was excellent too, as although Rebecca and her brood left around lunch time, and so did Little John my youngest[ we call him little John to differentiate from big John my husband,] we still had Amy and Chris with us, and our young neighbour came around with her husband and young daughter and more cups of tea and endless cakes made the afternoon whizz by..

Today we went next door for drinks and nibbles -these nice people rent from us and are the perfect lodgers.. we met up with other friends and had another super day..

I cannot believe how it is almost Sunday, Christmas is over, the New Year beckons, and we have all been so very happy in each others' company, and although the booze did flow, it wasn't making anyone be silly.. Actually I think that is the main cause for my anxiety, having booze around... but with my lot they do it, and don't get silly or argumentative.. so I should really relax about having it around.. just another hangup from other days before..  

I do hope that you all have had a good time too... Its really not about getting gifts, because the most precious gift of all to give your kids and grand kids, is your time, love and attention unguarded and total in depth to them.. They will not remember the presents, but the feelings, the warmth, and the laughter that they heard and felt when they visited together at your house.

I may not be rich, but all the people that are close to me, family and friends, cost nothing but are the most precious things I carry in my heart.



TO all my friends and fellow bloggers, I hope that this coming year is going to be a super one for all... that it will lift our hearts and fill them with joy and strength to cope with whatever we have to face.. next month I will have been blogging for one year.. it feels like a lifetime already.. but how pleased I am that I have found you all in blogland!

8 comments:

  1. Oh, that made me so happy to see your beautiful home and all those happy and loving people gathered around to share your Christmas with you! Thanks so much for inviting us in for a glimpse.

    So happy to have been reading your blog for a year and hope there are many more posts throughout the coming year filled with your insights and memories of your life. Love that you share!

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  2. It's lovely to hear that your christmas has been so good! Ours has too and so much going on that I find myself holding my breath. It's so lovely to have family around you this time of year, I wish you a wonderful and prosperous New Year, hugs Sally xx

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  3. I am so happy you had so many loving family around and to want to cook for you. I hope you have a happy and healthy New Year.

    Boxing day, I have always wondered what this holiday is all about. I will definitely have to check into it.

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  4. What a lovely post and how nice that your family all came round to celebrate with you. What a clever idea to involve the children in the carol service. And if any of your children want to come to America and cook for me, send them my way. I have no problem sitting around letting them do so. ;)

    I hope you have as wonderful a new year as you have had a Christmas.

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  5. Oh Janzi. I'm so pleas that it was such a wonderful and memorable time. We store these things in our hearts and they warm and gladden us! The pictures show it all! Joan

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  6. I am glad, glad, glad that you had a Merry Christmas! I wish you a Happy New Year, too. xo

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  7. Wonderful post, thank you for letting us "in"!

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  8. That sounds like the perfect way to spend Christmas. I enjoyed looking at your pictures.
    A very Happy New Year to you.

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