And that produces mixed emotions. It’s kinda sad in that Christmas is over and the house doesn’t look quite as sparkly. But then again, taking Christmas down means some deep cleaning and that’s always good. Also, the process gives me ideas about next Christmas even as it helps remind me of the good times this season brought. Indeed, those memories will last a long time after the decorations are stored away.
Among the most significant from this year?
- Beginning Christmas in Branson...
- Putting all the decorations and the trees up...
- The tree lighting ceremony at Boys Town...
- Listening to some different Christmas music (as well as old favorites)...
- Quizzing each other after we watched some of our favorite Christmas movies...
- Lunches and dinners with good friends, including "Holiday Under Glass" at the Joslyn with the Coppis...
- Listening to Jack Benny Christmas radio programs while the logs burned in the fireplace...
- All 14 presentations of the Christmas edition of “When Swing Was King”...
- Working on presents together, especially the project involving the diary of Denny’s mom...
- Learning a lot from Denny’s sermon series, “The Theology of Christmas Carols”...
- Trying and succeeding with some neat, new recipes...
- The annual Christmas tea with the girls of my family...
- The annual Christmas Eve breakfast with my family at a new restaurant in Lincoln...
And then we ended the season with a wonderful Epiphany celebration.
- A rustic dinner with Rocky Mountain High Chili, pigs in a blanket, roast beef, loaves of Panera’s bread, a relish tray, and Knudsen’s sparkling fruit juice.
- Then retiring to the living room, warmed by a lovely fire to have coffee, tea, lemon curd cups, and one of those new recipe successes, homemade orange scones.
- Listening to Dylan Thomas read his classic poem, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” poem. (Many of us know it so well we were speaking some of the lines along with him!)
- And finally, reading aloud some wonderful poems by G.K. Chesterton, Leslie Norris, and others relating to the Christmas miracles.
It was truly a wonderful way to end the Christmas season…and to spring forward towards the challenges of 2014.
