A Quiet Night

I don't remember a Christmastime when we've been finished decorating so close to Christmas. I think we're about there tonight, December 19. We were supposed to go with the Ambassadors Class on an outing, but we reneged because we planned to go see Bill Weber in the hospital. He was scheduled for gall bladder surgery this morning. But we found out after 5:00 that his surgery was postponed till tomorrow. It was really too late to join the Ambassadors outing, so I just came home . . . and used the time to finish up a couple of pre-Christmas tasks here.
Put up our tabletop tree with the white lights and the white and glass ornaments--it's one of our favorite traditions. And sorted out a mishmash of CD's that hadn't had much attention since last Christmas. Sorry Bill's surgery was delayed. Sorry to miss the fellowship with the Ambassadors. Glad for a quiet evening at home.
Skipped supper and ate a piece of turkey and cheese after 9:00, because Matt Lockhart took his direct reports for lunch today, as a pre-Christmas treat. We went to the Melting Pot and had a feast of cheese fondue; chicken, beef,and shrimp and lobster tail to cook; and chocolate turtle fondue with fruits and cake for dipping. It was a wonderful treat.
Two more days of work before a long Christmas break. Breakfast with my Thursday-morning men's Bible study guys in the morning at our favorite haunt, Cracker Barrel.

Eight Days Before Christmas

Teach Ambassadors at 8:30 a Christmas-themed lesson based on the appearance of the angel to Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds. CHECK.
Enjoy a good sermon by John Russell at the 9:30 service. CHECK.
Take Evelyn to lunch at one of her favorite places, Abuelo's, pick up a Christmas gift for the grandkids, do a drug run at Walgreen's before heading home. CHECK.
Complete some random decorating: redo wreath for sled to display on the front porch, arrange some artificial Christmas greenery for a blank spot in the living room. CHECK.
Address and stamp the Christmas cards. CHECK.
Put up the Christmas tree . . . a longer process than I'll enunciate, interrupted with wonderful leftover pizza from Dewey's and another long, sad news report about the mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. CHECK.
A good day, but at the end of the day, I'm very tired, and my back hurts.