WEDNESDAY WORDS 7

Sunrise on November 23

Today is November 23, a month from tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  I will be moving back home by December 17th as Susan and Ray are coming home to spend Christmas with their family.  It's working out well as Michael, our house sitter, is leaving about the same time to spend Christmas in Ontario.  It works best for our family to spend Christmas Eve in their own homes and then gather at the farm on Christmas Day.

Yesterday I started reading all my blogs from this year in preparation for writing my annual Christmas letter.  I'll have to finish reading them today as it takes awhile. Then I can get on with that job.  I delivered our Christmas Child boxes to the Alliance Church yesterday so that's one item off my list.

I'm going to the farm tomorrow after a morning visit with Howard. On Friday I'm playing the organ, along with Vickie on the piano, for the funeral service for Bob Sabin.  He was Vi's father-in-law.  Vi is one of the "Torquay Grannies" along with Vickie, Phyllis and me.  Bob was 89 years old, the seventh in a family of fourteen.

We had another beautiful above zero day today.  It certainly shortens the winter to have a break in the cold weather.  And it really isn't officially winter yet!  After last year's, we are wondering what's ahead for 2012.  Time will tell!

I stopped at the mall yesterday to look around at the new SportChek store.  I tried on a few jackets but didn't find one that I was real happy about so left empty handed.  They certainly have a big selection, but probably more designed for the younger crowd.

I was glad that Lilah felt well enough to go with me to Torquay on Monday for our monthly Faith Circle Bible study at Narrie's.  It was such a nice day for a drive with sunshine and clear roads.  Next month we'll meet here in Estevan at Lilah's.  We'll have our study at 10:30 followed by a potluck lunch at noon.

Howard was out in the lounge area when I came today.  He was sitting stretched out in a cosy recliner, fast asleep.  A nurse said that he had been sleeping for an hour so it was good that I didn't come any sooner than two o'clock.  After coffee we visited Willie Wanner and his wife as well as Aunt Viola.

Viola often has stories to share about "the olden days".  Today she told about a terrible storm that came up one summer night.  Two men, who had been working on the telephone line, were asleep in the barn when the fierce wind took part of the barn down.  One of the men was severely injured.  In an effort to save the man's life, Ben Johnson braved the severe lightning storm to get the horses and take the man to Ambrose to the doctor.  Gina didn't think that she'd see her husband again when they left in such weather.  The injured man died before they reached the doctor, but Ben had done his best and got home again safely.  A new barn had to be built as the damage was so extensive.

Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent so I'll put up a few decorations starting then.  I bought a set of electric candles like the ones they have in Norway.  Almost every home has these and/or a large star in the window.  Lights on the outside of houses aren't common.  Decorations are simple and meaningful.  I'll see if I can put this one in the window of Howard's room.

I'm late with my "Words" today.  I'm listening to Christmas music as I write tonight.  Now I'll switch to my letter writing and see how far I get with that.  A blessed Advent season to all.