Thursday 17 December 2015

November Reviewed



     
The Pattern
          
So now that December is more than half over, and Christmas Eve is a week away, I think I’ll just catch up with the news from November. 
                In late October and early November I was busy sewing.  In 2013 I made a wall hanging for St. Mary’s Christmas Fayre.  The result was very popular.  Last year I did a painted jars project—which was not nearly as successful.  Plus I had not enjoyed the glass cutting and painting.  I really enjoyed making the banner.  For 2015 I decided to make another wall hanging.  Looking on the internet, I found a colouring page of Mary and Jesus that I liked.  I enlarged it—with the help of a photocopier and tape!  And the end result is this. I will write an instructional blog for the
Finished product
construction of the 2015 Christmas Wall hanging on another day.
                One afternoon in about mid-November “Maverick” rang me.  “I’ve once again disproved the theory of being able to suspend gravity.  It’s nothing major, but I’ve been taken to hospital.”  He went on to explain that the platform he was working on had no safety barriers and the last step he’d taken was onto thin air.  The scrape on his left shin was deep, down to the bone, requiring stitches.  So, I’ve had his company since then.  He also had scrapes and bruises on his arms and torso.  Due to an infection, and an allergic reaction to treatment, he’s been off from work longer than originally anticipated.  He is due to go back on 28th December.

                For my birthday this year, I was given a gift that did not fit into my pierced ears, nor on a finger.  It was just too big.  It is a beautiful object, basic white, and has been longed for over many years.  It arrived the day before my birthday, on 18th November. “Maverick” stretched our budget and bought me a dishwasher.  His best friend, “Jon-David” came over to help with the plumbing, for which I am very grateful.  There is a beautiful rhythm of loading it up during the day, turning it on at night, and unloading it the following morning.  The kitchen always looks tidy now, as the dirty dishes are collecting inside the dishwasher.  We made space for it in the kitchen by moving our condenser dryer into the lounge. 
  
              St. Mary’s Christmas Fayre was on Saturday, 21st November.  It was lovely to see familiar faces and have an early taste of Christmas.  For some people, coming each year is a tradition.  You can see how beautiful the church was on the day.  I hated seeing the Christmas Decorations coming down afterward. 
On Wednesday, 25th November, which would have been Thanksgiving week for my American friends, I went to see “Chantilly” and family.   I was there for a week.   Maisy went with me—and handled the journey pretty well.  She was a little anxious, but she enjoyed being held in my arms during the train rides, all the way to Wareham and back home. When I walked through the door at “Chantilly’s” home, three-year-old “Man-cub” looked at his mum and said, “I think I need to go to bed!”  It only took a day for him to decide I was okay! 
            
    On Saturday, 28th November, “Chantilly” took me to the Ladies Pampering day at her church.  I met some lovely ladies there.  The men-folk dressed up in tuxedos served lunch, did the washing up and sat out afternoon tea.  After the lunch we ladies were given the opportunity to enjoy doing crafts together.  I did paper art, and “Chantilly” did her first flower arrangement—which turned out beautifully.  The ministry team at the church set aside time to pray for people and give them prophetic words; I was blessed with words of encouragement to press in for a deeper intimacy with Jesus.
                I returned home on December 1st.  I had hoped to be a little more productive and get my Christmas cards addressed and posted by the first weekend of December.  However, I’m not as organised as I would like to be, and am still working on it. 
                However, I did get the Christmas tree up on the 5th of December.  I’ve also been doing on-line Christmas shopping this year.  The gingerbread houses didn’t get built this year—which disappoints me a bit.  Not only do I enjoy making them, but it means I’ve giving of myself, something made especially for family from my hands and my heart. 
                With that, I’ve pretty much brought you up to speed with us. 
Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,
“Lady Helene”

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