Merry Christmas Day and family event #4

So it is the evening of Christmas Day, soon another December 25th will be gone.  It is the perfect evening for quiet reflection since we usually do not schedule any events on the evening of Christmas.  After all these many days of Christmas events and lots of time spent with family we awoke to Christmas morning, for us a seasonably normal morning with lows in the forties that wound up being an unseasonably warm afternoon of 72.  I began my day much like I ended Christmas Eve, that was assisting at a Christmas liturgy as the Deacon.  Our 8 am Mass was sparsely attended since the vast majority of folks attended one of our 4 masses last night.

Wendy and I exchanged gifts and then began final preparation for the dinner we were hosting for my family sans any kids or grandkids, just my two sisters and spouses and my aunt.  We were all just together on Sunday for a Christmas luncheon with the kids including Brennan.  Today we gathered to consume Ham, several casseroles including my favorite that highlights artichokes, oyster dressing, dirty rice with shrimp and potato salad and beans.  A delicious meal indeed!

Good conversation and an exchange of gifts along with delicious deserts capped the afternoon before they all headed for home.  Family event day #4 was, just like 1-3, a rousing success.

I've pondered over these last several days if the missing of our dear loved one, Wendy's mom Lynn, better known as Momsy, has contributed to these really nice family days.  There is a realization that as a family, both my side and that of Wendy's, we are small.  In other words, we are all we got.  Also, I think that there has been a heightened sense of awareness that we should look for the best in one another and enjoy what we do have and then focus on kindness.  If this all be so, then what a great final gift we all have received from Momsy.  I can honestly say these last four days have been delightful.

And now we move on, tomorrow brings Wendy's birthday which I plan to make a pleasant experience with a nice lunch down in New Orleans and a movie come Thursday.  It's been very cool to have the week off since I don't think I've done this in quite awhile.  So Merry Christmas to all of you and remember, this is but one day, today, of a season that is Christmas!