Christmas on Steroids

Back home after an intense but glorious 3 days of Christmas at our faraway church. 

On Christmas Eve I woke at 4 AM. Realized I had a rash. By 6 AM I was doing a video call to my medical provider. I did a covid test (negative) on a real good tester.  Left about an hour later than planned trying to find a dermatologist. Went to at least second half of the Royal Hours and liturgy for Christmas Eve. By time that was done the referal my medical provider did worked and I had an appointment a bit after 3. Before that we went to lunch with a friend and then dropped stuff off at hotel. The doctor appointment. Then to Munchkins house for Holy Supper 

 

Then to Christmas Eve vigil 

Then to pharmacy to get prednisone (I really meant it -- Christmas on steroids) -- and a sleeping pill to try to sleep as steroids keep me from sleeping. As you can tell .... the sleeping pill is not touching me. 

Christmas Eve night I was in a lot of physical distress. 

Christmas day was wonderful with liturgy, handing out Christmas gifts 🎁 and going to hotel to eat takeout we got the day before and we were with friends Christmas night 🎄

And I maybe slept 2 hours Christmas night. The hotel heat system was so loud we had to turn it off completely. I was so overtired that to try to keep warm I wore my wool coat to bed with other jackets wrapped around my feet. So that was a bit nuts. Sunday liturgy was lovely and went to church Christmas party afterwards which was wonderful 🎄☺️🥳🤶🎅🎄❤️🌹🎄

Then home about 5 PM unpacked and had a simple dinner of granola and milk and a yogurt from the hotel. 

And that is that. I will see if I can get something better for sleep btw. But I will be having less prednisone now than before starting today. The rash is getting much better. 

I really appreciate your prayers as it is not great physically to not sleep etc. But I am home now and can rest!!

I am so glad that it's finally CHRISTMAS 🎄 ❤️🎄❤️🕯🙏

May God bless us 🙏 

antibiotics day 2

I had ear pain for a couple days waking me up at 3 AM. Better at the moment but I am very weary. 

Christmas is Saturday. I may not blog until next week. 

Asking your prayers. 

May God bless you all 🙏

Isn't this cute + prayer request

Cute 🎁 and 🌹🤩 My Husband's idea! He found the paper roses 🌹 🥰🥰🥰

I made this cute display for the kids that were coming over for lunch now we need to do a different day so we will see what is possible.... things change easily!

SO: Prayer Request: I was feeling a lot better but then had insomnia and while I slept in.... I did a lot in the afternoon (🎄🎁🌹 Christmas present prep) and am more congested again. 

So. I talked to my Healthcare provider and start antibiotics tomorrow along with many other things. I drank a LOT of tea, had kombucha, hot soup, and meds and a hot bath with eucalyptus Etc. Also elderberry syrup, honey....

Tomorrow I will rest up in the morning, see my foot doctor early afternoon, and plan on picking up a few servings of a lentil soup at a restaurant for myself. And will start antibiotics (and probiotics) by the afternoon. 

So I feel good about the plan and ask your prayers as I take chest congestion seriously. 

My Mom's gentle reminder to rest also helped 💖 

May God bless us and save us 🙏 ❤️

Getting There

God willing we are having some friends with young children over on a few weeks for a festive lunch... my Husband was worried (understandably) about using my vintage English Christmas Card Spode pottery for a 4 year old's place setting....so with the rest of my birthday money we ordered these melamine salad plates for the kids to use. I am excited DV to use these!

I rested a lot more today.... I can tell that I am getting better! I am working on Christmas gifts (just wrapping no food prep). 🎄🎁🎈🎄 ... I did a lot before our trip which helps!

Well not much else to add...I am drinking lots of tea, getting excited to use my new teapot!

Soon, for us, it will be Christmas!!! For others, it's already the 9th day of Christmas 🎄❤️🎄

May God have mercy on us all!

Thankfulness during illness

I am still feeling quite unwell with this cold and realized that I need to practice thankfulness. So here's things I am thankful for, Christmas Holiday Edition.

1. A plant-based vegetable broth I found at the store 

2. Parents who care for me and gave medicine and were very solicitous

3. We drove to see a nephew who is very responsible but didn't show up at the restaurant... he was sleeping after long days of work snowplowing ... we were so relieved when we found out that he was safe and well. 

4. I saw beautiful bluejays and red cardinals (one of my favourites) when we were having a snow storm. 

5. I got to see my Grandma on December 25 Christmas 

6. I got my Grandma's tin that she was given with a fruitcake in it in the 1950s. That tin was such a meaningful gift. With baked goods, the last my Grandma plans on making for us grandkids. She's 92.

7. I turned 46. A friend gave me a really sweet gift and I got some cards, emails and texts. I also was given birthday money that paid for the vintage Christmas Tree Spode Teapot that I got earlier in December. It was shipped on December 5, the day people in Holland celebrate St Nicholas day. 

8. I got treasured emails from a dear family in Ottawa.

9. Another Ottawa family with my sister-friend texted me pictures of her Grandma's tin that is similar to mine. Special that we both have one that was our Grandmother's. 

10. My niece made me a potholder and my sister gave me a calendar of pictures that I love. 

11. My Husband who is my sense of home. I love that he is my best friend. 

12. That I am blessed with family and friends. 

13. My parents and being home with them. My Dad's fried eggs and potatoes. My Dad fixed my lamp that was not staying on.

I am praying that I can recover from this cold soon. The biggest thing is that I didn't get the rest I needed because I kept having very interrupted sleep. Now I am home and so far am resting a lot more. 

We really hope we won't miss our Christmas again this year like last year when we got COVID. 

Our Christmas is this Saturday. 

Please pray for us. 

May God have mercy on us and save us 🙏 

Back in NJ Again

We began driving to Michigan St Nicholas day in the afternoon. We drove back yesterday and today. I got a cold the night we arrived and still have it now. 

I hope to rest up and be able to celebrate our Christmas this Saturday, January 7th. 

I don't have much more to say.

May God have mercy on us and save us 🙏 

St Nicholas Day

O who loves Nicholas the saintly,

O who serves Nicholas the saintly,

Him will Nicholas receive,

And give help in time of need:

Holy Father Nicholas!

He who dwells in God's holy mansions,

Is our help on the land and oceans,

He will guard us from all ills,

Keep us pure and free from sins

Holy Father Nicholas!

Holy Saint, hearken to our prayer,

Let not life drive us to despair,

All our efforts shall not wane,

Singing praises to your name:

Holy Father Nicholas!

St Nicholas Eve 2022

well then

I don't think I have cooked a hot lenten meal (orher than Mary's soup) for a long while. 

I just got news that our local priest may be gone by end of January (before it was May).

I don't know more but am rather reeling. Ten years and now a significant change.

May God have mercy 🙏🕯

A Quiet Thursday

Mr Husband is at work. Quite rainy today. I realized I can now walk up and down steps normally!!!!! 

I baked 8 more loaves of Koek (Dutch spice bread) for St Nicholas day!

I am so glad that I was able to do this. 

We have family visiting starting next week so been getting ready for this! If I don't write much for the second half of December don't worry it just means that I am busy 🥰🎄🎁

I still have to prepare (stamp and seal) all our Christmas cards! 🎄 

I am quite weary so trying to pace myself....

May God have mercy on us 🙏 we surely need it.

NYC ~ Busy at Christmas Time

I had a real run of shopping today!

Harney and Sons 

McNultys Tea and Coffee 

Myers of Keswick 

Tea and Sympathy 

Trader Joe's 

TJ Maxx

And now my Christmas shopping is (nearly) done.

For me the last three years Tea and Sympathy homemade mince pies 🥧 are part of Christmas for me.  I personally really love them.  I got some today, wrapped them carefully and put away in the freezer as our Christmas, as most know, is in January.  

Picture from last year of a mince pie 🥧 so small, warm inside with a little bit of brandy butter: perfect.  With a nice hot cup of tea 🫖☕️

I was glad to be walking again! It's getting better, some soreness but I need to get stronger again. 

I found a planner for next year. It's perfect for me. And two nice notebooks for DV more research next year. 

I have a lot to be thankful for. 

When I back in New Jersey there was a young girl maybe early 20s nice clothes, makeup, neat hair in a pony tail I think. Sitting on a bench, in the dark, weeping as people walked by.  I circled back.  She said that I was so nice but she didn't need anything. I promised to pray for her tonight. Maybe you can join me? 🙏

Christmas time is always hard for so many.  

May God have mercy on us 🙏