Christmas Weekend

My neighbor's farm this morning...

We experienced such a gentle snowfall overnight that I was surprised to find the forest covered in snow this morning.  The kind of snow with no wind at all so the fallen snow remained on the tree branches and in the bushes.  We will have a white Christmas.  Lovely.

All day yesterday I have had to remind my husband that the kids will be here on Sunday and that it will be Christmas Eve.  We both have felt the Holiday came far too fast this year.  I have found each Holiday Season to be different with joys and tribulations.  This year is no exception.

I had just finished my wrapping and packing and sending where needed when I began to develop a cough.  Within a couple of days it was a full fledged cold and I was am miserable. The worst thing about a cold is that I find it difficult to sleep with the congestion and I can't take most cold medicines.

The best thing about a cold is laying on the sofa with my pillow fluffed behind me, a cup of hot tea sitting aside my box of tissues, and a cat wondering around and sometimes plopping next to me.  Having a Christmas tree lit in the corner is a bonus, especially on gloomy days.

The first night of the congestion, I woke up in a panic feeling as if I couldn't breath.  Fearful memories filled my mind of the years I developed bronchitis and had to be rushed to the Emergency Room for treatment.  These thoughts were raging (it was the middle of the night) until I made myself a hot cup of peppermint tea and settled down a bit.

There is something about the darkness where the enemy of our souls can whisper fearful thoughts and we tend to believe them.  I had to remind myself that this was just a cold and most likely will remain just a cold.

So how has this changed my plans?  My energy had to be concentrated on the Christmas Eve dinner itself and other baking will not be accomplished.  I normally would have baked ahead for the freezer in November but this year with the eye "issues", I didn't get any of that accomplished.

My plans for gifts of Christmas cookies had to be set aside and perhaps in a month or two, I will surprise those for whom they were intended with sweet February gifts.  Perhaps a Valentine's Day surprise?

This morning I brought out the red Kitchen Aid mixer and whipped together the cheesecake batter.  It is now baking in the oven and will be cooled for tomorrow's feast.  I always bake it a day ahead, anyway.   The Christmas dinner is an easy menu and my daughter-in-law is bringing her green bean casserole so all is well.

If this year has reminded me of anything, it is that we have to be adaptable to unexpected changes.  Mostly the adaptions have been easy but I do feel like Coffee Tea Books & Me has been neglected a bit.  The "not being able to see out of my right eye" thing made the making of creative work difficult and I know some emails were buried before answering.

However, my eye is improving.  The specialist is still concerned about me making a total recovery but lots of us are praying for it.  It has been a good Christmas season, even if rather limited.  There were movies and books and music and a breakfast at Cracker Barrel (did you try their Holiday Sampler?).  There was time before my last eye specialist appointment to peruse British magazines at Barnes & Noble. 

The Season was not perfect but it was... good.

I pray for you a good (if not perfect) Christmas Holiday, one that reminds each of us that Christmas is but a tiny peek into the sparkle of Heaven.  Christmas on this planet will never be able to answer our deepest needs for Beauty.  That will not occur until That Day when we meet Him face to face.  But it can be good...

I'll be taking my usual Christmas through New Year's Day blog break to get over this cold, read some books, and enjoy having part of my family here on Christmas Eve.  May you and yours be blessed...

Mentioned in this Blog Post
Cheesecake recipe... here.

Image:  The photo is a little blurry because it was so cold my hands were shaking!  This was the best photo I could manage.  Brrrr...