Christmas at Epiphany

As we all know from personal experience, sometimes life can take us in unexpected directions and this past December was no exception.  When last I posted, the Christmas season was just beginning.  When last I posted, I expected to be shortly sharing lovely photos of all the wonderful holiday festivities I was planning to take part in.  When last I posted, I was also lamenting that this would be the first Christmas I had ever celebrated without my daughter.  However, as it turned out, it was a good thing that she wasn't here as Influenza A swept through the family right in the middle of the month.  My oldest son's family caught it first.  I came down with it ten days before Christmas.  It took four weeks, two visits to the urgent care and a third trip to my family clinic before I finally came back to the land of the living.  My husband caught it from me a few days later and my mother, in spite of our best efforts to isolate ourselves from her, came down with it a week later.  Within 24 hours of her first symptom she had double pneumonia and we had to call an aid car for her.  She was hospitalized twice and we were unable to help her at all because we were too ill ourselves.  She spent Christmas in the hospital and we spent it in bed.  Eventually we had her transferred to a rehab nursing facility where she has been for the past few weeks. It was a rather harrowing time but we made it through and finally were able to celebrate with our children and grandchildren on the 12th day of Christmas, Epiphany.

My mother was still in the hospital, but knowing that she was both safe and receiving excellent care made it easier for us to come together and share the holiday, especially for the sake of the grandchildren.  Fortunately, I had decorated the house earlier in the month so all bright and festive.

 

Molly Kitty was quite curious about the tree, but she went into hiding for the rest of the day once the grandchildren arrived!

 We began our day with a lovely holiday breakfast of egg casserole, roasted potatoes, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and fresh fruit. Yum! I changed out all the candles on my Advent pillars to white as Advent was over and Christ has come.

The day was spent exchanging gifts, playing games, and sharing a holiday dinner together.  It was much quieter than in past years. but truthfully most of us were still in recovery so it was just what we needed.  Our grandson loved his new toy tractor!

 

Last week we were able to come together once again to celebrate Christmas with my mother at the nursing facility.  We also celebrated our granddaughter's birthday at the same time.

 

Now as this first month of the year is beginning to come to a close, I have been preparing for my mother to come home to stay with us for a little while as she continues to gain her strength and Lord willing is able to return to her own home.  God's mercies are great and he is with us whatever the future will bring. A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the Lord bless and keep each of you in this new year ahead.

Adieu!