My favorite chorus from Handel's Messiah:
Wishing all my readers a Blessed Christmas.
I hope that you will join me in taking a brief break from politics during this Holy Time when our Lord became Flesh and the Word Incarnate came to a lowly stable so as fulfill the many prophecies of Redemption.
I also ask you take time to read Warren's essay "A Christmas Visitor." If only we could live this spirit of giving all the year round!
Merry Christmas to you too. Hope you get some rest too. You've certainly earned it.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas as well to you too.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and Mr. AOW! I hope that your Christmas is very merry and memorable!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and joyous holiday season my friend. And all your great readers too!
ReplyDeleteHi AOW.
ReplyDeleteThank you for passing bye.
Wishing you and Mr AOW a very Merry christmas and in your case there's lot to be Merry for ,cause the best healer of them all is God's love.Have joyous holiday season!
I already had the BEST Christmas present on November 2nd!
ReplyDeleteMERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!!
This year, we have two invitations for dinner: one today at my younger cousin's house and another for tomorrow at my neighbors' house.
ReplyDeleteLast year, folks really didn't know how to act. Mr. AOW was in much poorer shape then. Even so, my neighbors did manage to get us to table there on the day after Christmas. But my older cousin couldn't be bothered last year; the rift in our family now is likely to remain unhealed: Mr. AOW and I remain hurt, and my cousin knows that she let us down badly.
Suffice it to say that I did a lot of crying last Christmas -- the worst Christmas of my life.
This year is better, not least because Mr. AOW is so much better. His being able to walk a few steps has made all the difference.
Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you both, and I hope there is more healing of body and spirit for you both, too.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and Mr. AOW. Hope the coming year is a good one.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and the Mister... Maybe 2011 find you well and fit!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to one and all
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas AOW.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking the next couple of days off too
Sending a wish and a prayer for a blessed Christmas for you, AOW, and your dear husband.
ReplyDeleteMay the coming year be one of more improvement for him, and some much-needed R & R for you both.
Your mountain has been high, and steep, this past year...I am certain your faith has kept you both climbing. Thank you both for inspiring us all!
Sending Christmas blessings to you and Mr. AOW, along with wishes for many merry, merries.
ReplyDeleteRP Free Speech said: Your mountain has been high, and steep, this past year...
ReplyDeleteI say: Yes, it has.
I've shared a lot of the details here on my web site.
But not all of them. Not the hideous ones.
I do not have words to express what it's like to see one's mate go from a fully functional individual to one so dependent on the care and kindness of others.
I can't describe the horror of watching one's mate lie passively in a nursing home's bed and just accept that diapers are the only solution to keeping clean.
I can't describe the feeling I have when Mr. AOW hands me his arm to put into the sleeve of a sweatshirt or t-shirt. He hands me his arm! And his hand dangles at the end of his arm.
I ca'tn describe the sorrow I feel when he asks me, "What day is it?"
I cannot express how my heart breaks when he apologizes and says, "I'm sorry that I did this to you."
How do I describe my loneliness every night when I go to bed in the master bedroom and have to leave him in his hospital bed in the living room? Sleeping alone after all the decades of sleeping in the same bed with Mr. AOW is one of the hardest aspects of this sorry situation we're living every day.
We mourn our losses every single day.
ON THE OTHER HAND...
I can't describe how my beloved is such a nice guy. He says "Thank you" when I do any little thing for him. He tells me when I go out of the house to the rare social gathering of homeschoolers or in the summer go to the swimming pool, "Have a good time."
I can't describe how much love I feel for Mr. AOW when he says, "Get the Mustang fixed. I want you to drive it even if I can't yet go for a ride in it."
He's a better person than I will ever be.
Not resentful.
Not angry.
And constantly determined to do his exercises or any little thing he can do.
He will not give up trying to get better! It is that determination which has brought him so far in his recovery.
So, this Christmas, despite our situation and our sorrow, is turning out to be one of the best Christmases we've ever had.
Merry Christmas, to you and Mr AOW; you still have each other and your presence. Wishes for a safe and healthy 2011!
ReplyDeleteBZ
AOW, and Mr. AOW:
ReplyDeleteIt is your faith in OUR Creator which keeps you both 'getting better'. It is up to the rest of us to continue the prayers for your strength!
Take joy in even the seemingly smallest improvement, both of you.
Live each day to its fullest (but don't wear yourselves down trying to over-achieve).
Your are both learning great patience...and that helps develop better 'character'.
Though we have never met, I know you are both persons of good heart. You are loved by many, but most importantly, by the ONE whose birthday we celebrate today. And youare both quite remarkable!
Godspeed to you both...and again, many blessings for the coming year!
RPFreeSpeech
Merry Christmas to you and Mr. AOW. Glad you had a good Christmas with family, puppies and good food. So many blessings to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com
Great one AOW. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAOW that is the best version of the Chorus out there. Thank you. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas AOW and Mr. AOW! I am looking forward to the new year in anticipation of the wonderful things that are to come for all of us from God our true Father.
ReplyDeleteBe blessed and thanks to Jesus who makes all things possible.
thank you for all of the lovely Christmas tributes-
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that Mr AOW is better this year...
Carol-CS
Merry Christmas, AOW!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Day was exhausting: we spent all afternoon and evening at our neighbors' house for dinner and a dessert party.
ReplyDeleteExhausting but fun!
Mr. AOW got a radio-controlled Mustang GT to play with. Boys and their toys -- LOL.
Best of all, I had friends to help with getting Mr. AOW up the steps and into the house. What a relief not to have to do everything on my own!
I hope it was a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeletehope you had an excellent Christmas, aow!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and yours, AOW, and God bless us, every one. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSaw several "live" Nativity Scenes" on TV and one here locally...apparently the Christmas Navis--aka openminded liberals havent figured out a way to ban these performances....yet. I am sure the little pin heads will find a way by next year to spread their "tolerance"
ReplyDelete