Christmas @ Home

Mr. Husband and I stayed home for Christmas because

of having the flu... 

so we watched the Christmas liturgy online,

Cleo often being with Mr Husband watching ;)

in two parts with a nap in-between,

had special takeout delivery,

got a surprise early morning gift of tea and 

Pate de Campagne,

had pots and pots of tea, noodles and Chicken broth,

triskets with the Pate, OJ and more tea...

We opened a few gifts,

my final installment of white gold rimmed plates came 

(for my DV delayed until after Theophany 40th birthday party),

and had a quiet day together...

***

I managed not to cry today, after doing so for the 2 days before,

I was so disappointed at missing Christmas liturgy and tomorrow,

the Church Christmas party...

***

I did not have a fever today though,

and Advil Cold and Sinus is worked wonders...

***

I hope I can get to sleep soon,

and feel OK tomorrow...

We plan on staying in tomorrow as well...

lots of rest and recovery needed...

***

I am thankful for all the love and prayers

that my family and friends have shown us...

***

Christ is born!

Glorify Him!

Christmas - the second one...

Christ is born!

Glorify Him!

*

Liturgy was beautiful this morning.

*

Celebrated at a fellow parishioner's house afterwards.

This is the ornament my sister gave me

for Christmas

from Romania -

she has the same one

which makes it even more special to me.

The cloth under it my Oma made

and my Mom gave it to me over the holidays.

I received this Icon today.

I do not know which Icon of the Mother of God this is.

Can anyone tell me?

I really love it!

*

More trusting God in my life...

There are two job ads for library jobs in Ottawa;

both I have some reservations about,

that are unbloggable.

I have not heard from either of the phone interviews I had in the past month.

*

Checked email today around 5 pm;

I was asked about a temporary clerical job via job agency

to start Monday.

They had emailed early in the morning when I was walking to church

for liturgy.

So I did not get that job.

Would of provided future rent money.

But I am trusting God for His mercy.

He has provided enough that I will be okay for the next

month and a half.

*

I am seeking to trust God for my daily needs.

*

Tomorrow I am having my Ottawa Birthday Party!

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I ended up going with a beef roast and side dishes

(one of you suggested beef roast, thanks!)

I'm excited for this lunch/dinner party!

*

I received a beautiful CD of Christmas carols

sung in French, Italian, and German;

The candle is lit by the icon I have of the Nativity.

God is so clearly providing for me;

when I think of the abundance at the table

for my Christmas Eve dinner,

I cannot but be thankful -

Friends brought three loaves of really good bread,

lots of clementine oranges (and I had been wishing for some!),

pickled vegetables...

*

I am a bit behind in my blog reading, so if I normally comment on your blog

and have not, know that it is merely because

of the business of the days.

*

My love to all

and my wishes and prayer that God will comfort and strength us all

according to our needs.

Christmas Eve Supper

Grocery shopping this morning

involved 10 lb bag of potatoes (.50 cents more than 5 lb bag)

3 lb of carrots

lots of beets and onion

2 bags of potato and onion perogies

and other things

equalled a heavy suitcase full of groceries

walking 20 minutes back home.

*

My friends helped make the dinner a success.

Borscht made with roasted garlic, onion, carrots and beets.

Lots of lenten perogies with fried onion.

Fried onion and mushrooms.

Picked vegetables.

A green salad.

Great Breads.

Clementine Oranges.

Apricots.

Water.

Tea.

*

Compline and Litia at church.

*

Suddenly back fully in Ottawa.

*

Christmas Liturgy tomorrow at 10 AM.

Christmas Time (old calendar)

This morning was Christmas.

This was a bit of a strange Christmas for me in ways.

With Resa's death (a friend of mine is a friend of hers)

and some other friend's hardships recently

my heart felt a bit heavier than some years.

Yet, Christ came in harsh circumstances

a stable for animals

dirty, smelly, unkempt.

And so I decorated my house a little bit

(see picture above).

And I did my first Christmas Eve dinner.

Small,

borscht, perogies, salad and bread.

Two friends came over to eat it with me.

I used my new candles that my Mom gave me for Christmas,

they are made of beeswax and are

almost as good as church candles,

though nothing can really compare to those!

This picture is one from the Christmas Meal we had at home

on December 25th.

I am back online with my own computer,

so I can post pictures again.

***

Please pray for my two friends this week

(nameless for privacy)

who have sadness this week.

***

I found out that my French class

(finally registered)

is going to be Monday - Friday

9 to 12.

With the tons of studying that will accompany this,

I realized I cannot have a part time job.

I will have enough savings after to not make this a

all - or - nothing decision.

I start in a week.

Wow. It is going to be intense...

***

May God help us in all we need to do.

Amen.

Christmas is here again this year

Today is Christmas

for much of the world.

Due to icy roads I was able to go to my

family's protestant Christmas Eve service

but not an Orthodox Christmas Liturgy.

Of course I was disappointed.

Who would not want to receive Christ in the Eucharist

on Christmas,

if they understood that it is He that they receive!

Nonetheless, I am striving to be thankful for what I do have

and that I am one of the few who will have another chance

at a Christmas liturgy,

since my church in Ottawa is on the old calendar.

What a blessing it was to read various blog posts

by other Orthodox Christians and so read the

sermons and verses from today's feast!

Here is one of the sermons .

How blessed we are.

Meanwhile,

I have taken out a lovely bunt cake while my family is at a

Christmas service

(I admit it, I stayed home and did my Orthodox prayers instead)

and soon my family will be home

to the lovely smell of a Christmas cake.

Yesterday my family had their Christmas dinner and party;

it was good to see everyone;

I am also reminded at how much suffering we all have to endure;

some of my family has really been through a lot

lately on the health front.

This weekend Lord Willing I will be at the Orthodox church

that is the place of my chrismation

and my Godmother will be there

and some other dear friends.

And I hope towards the end of next week,

I will again be at the monastery.

How I need to be there.

Blessed Christmas to all!