Merry Christmas 2025. This doesn’t feel much like Christmas today. It is almost 70 degrees outside, yet also gloomy and cloudy all day. As I told you, we did very little decorations this year nor did we put up the “regular” Christmas tree. We sent out a limited amount of Christmas cards and frankly received less than normal, which fine by me. Julies came over to spend Christmas with us yesterday and Jim was going to join us today for lunch but leave their dogs at home which meant he would turn around and go ack home after lunch. But, he has come down with a cold so he didn’t make it over either. So, nothing was “normal” but it was okay at the same time. 

Julie made us an excellent dinner last evening of scrimp scampi. Today she helped me with fixing lunch. We had pork tenderloin, Brussels sprouts, Mac & cheese, and jello, and then I had baked Ms. Kate a birthday cake yesterday and we had that for our dessert.

So how was your Christmas? Did you get to a Christmas Eve service? I watched our church service on my IPad and I watched the Children’s program and worship service at the parish in Ft. Branch. I love the Christmas Eve service at my home church. It always closes with a candlelight service. The Bell Choir played “Silent Night”, and they had Holy Communion. I remember the Christmas Eve services from my childhood at that church. At least part of the service was always done in German and we would always sing “Silent Night” in German and English. It is a very fond memory. Back in those days churches were always packed on the Holy days. At Christmas Eve we were elbow to elbow. Last night we could easily have had another 70or 80 people added to the congregation. That’s sad. I would love to see that turned around. 

Christmas is over now and we have just one week left in the year 2025. I look back over the year and Kate and I had a good year up until the last six weeks or so when she started having all of these back pains etc. She went to her Pain Management doctor. He has put her on a regimen that we hope is going to lead to better days. I would love to see her become pain free and be able to get around without using a rollator. It is miserable for her. 

That’s it for today. Have a blessed rest of your day. I wish you Christmas peace.