Fourth Sunday in Advent

We had been expecting a sunny but cold day today, so I was very disappointed to open the blinds and see grey skies yet again. However, it was an uplifting and joyous service at church this morning, the altar area being further adorned today with poinsettias, given by members of the congregation in honor or memory of a loved one. I know I shared a picture of the beautiful nativity at our church at the beginning of Advent, but I had to show it again, with the addition of the poinsettias, together with the Nativity stained glass window. The music was wonderful again. Although we had Choir practice on Thursday evening as I mentioned, we were just practicing for Christmas Eve, we will start singing regularly in the New Year, Covid permitting. However we enjoyed a flute and clarinet prelude, the Praise band and a wonderful piano and soprano arrangement by Mark Hayes as a postlude. After service there was an extra special selection of Christmas cookies, and other goodies to enjoy with our coffee, then we stayed for a very good study and discussion.
I made us some soup for lunch, then the four of us went out hiking at Long Branch Farm again, but taking the trail following the creek this time, which crosses the creek four times, and the water was a bit higher than usual. I can now vouchsafe for the fact that my new waterproof hiking boots are indeed waterproof! I was also glad to have my hiking poles to help balance on rocks as we crossed. Unfortunately, Laura’s boots are no longer very waterproof, but Philip tried to come to her rescue a few times, by adding some extra stepping stones! We also saw several white-tailed deer as we walked. We enjoyed a cup of tea and a mince pie when we got back, then later in the evening went out to our favourite Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant, another place Laura had wanted to go before leaving for Wisconsin. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite such a happy evening as we had hoped for, as I think Laura’s nerves are beginning to kick in, about this big step she’s about to undertake, new career, new location she doesn’t know at all, and doesn’t know anyone there. So she was in a somewhat quiet subdued mood. Of course she has made big moves before - Macedonia, Romania and Kuwait, but she understandably gets nervous as it approaches. However, she has slept over at friends the last two nights, so I suspect lack of sleep may be playing a slight role too!