Tuesday, varied but beautiful

Today was one of those 

"beautiful but hard" days.

I lost my peace worrying about something 

related to the unbloggable stuff.

We got some good news today but it threw me off

as it dealt with a schedule change that was unexpected. 

Yet, my Husband and I had a nice dinner at our diner.

I put up a lot of the Christmas tree decorations.

I finally got my lights only to find out that they are

real twinkle lights, as in they blink.

So now my tree blinks in the middle selection. Yeah. Oops. 

So guess what, don't buy lights that say twinkle in their name

unless you want them to actually do so....

Hopefully my beloved Husband won't mind too much

(he went to sleep early tonight so I did some decorating 

by myself tonight). 

I am already finding this rather humorous :) 

Anyway, the tree is up, it's beautiful,

I put up new not-winking twinkle lights by the plants

and I love how it makes the room so warm without tons of 

glaring bright lights. 

It makes a lot of things easier to bear. 

I watched (amazon prime video) The Christmas Angel again this year.

I enjoyed it. 

Today began the Christmas Nativity Fast. 

I pray that each of you reading this will have a blessed season

as we go towards our Lord's Nativity and that Christ will help us

and save us and have mercy on us! 

Taking down the Christmas Tree

Yesterday was the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. 

Candlemas.

The 40 days of Christmas is now complete.

And so, the Christmas tree was put away today, after

one more deeply admiring glance of all the wonder, beauty and

memories that these ornaments have for me...

This has to be one of my favourite.

And oldest. 

From a teacher in my pre-school years.

The most beautiful.

Simple, sweet and the pinnacle of the Christmas story...

a new one for me this year from a dear friend...

Handmade beauty, new this year also from another dear friend. 

This beauty is new this year, from my quilting friend!

Not new this year but very beloved, from a dear friend in Ottawa...

From BC sent to me years ago when I lived in Ottawa...

All tucked away for another year, DV.

Our priest comforted us in saying that the Pascha cycle of looking forward to Pascha,

the 40 days of Lent, etc. was coming...

The Easter Eggs in the above picture will be put out in early May,

Pascha for us is late this year, May 1!

Our tree is now put away, snug in our closet....

I am looking forward to next Advent and getting all these beautiful ornaments out again!

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What are you looking forward to?

Putting up the Christmas Tree on St. Katharine's Eve and Day!

I got out our tree yesterday,

it looks so small when putting the first of three pieces together! 

Tree progress, from left to right...

 Last night I put up the tree

and lights.

I have to try to fix a bottom strand of lights,

I have two tips to try from my Dad via IG :)

*

Today I hope to decorate the tree,

order presents,

and get this house ready for Christmas!

Today is Saint Katharine's Day!

She is a wonderful Saint and Holy Martyr!

*

I am trying, in the midst of this,

to pace myself, stay well hydrated and eat healthy foods.

*

We are still in between the lines of well/sick 

and are doing our best.

*

Happy Feast Day!

Just loving our Christmas Tree

I love the lights reflecting on the glass of these windows at night.

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The Saint Nicholas book is lovely though not fully Orthodox.

I read it to my Sunday School kids (they love it) but had to 

change a few things as the author does not have a full

understanding of Saints.

*

I am so grateful for all we have been given,

Christmas trees, books, beauty, and above all

the Lord coming at Christmas time...

First Year of Putting up our Christmas Tree

A Christmas Tree in a Box...

Needing to be 'fanned out'.

Getting there...

Our first full sized Christmas tree.

Last Friday afternoon I got this up and decorated. 

I am quite pleased with the results and love

the cheer it brings!