Weekly post

Dear friends,
What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had! On Thursday, we enjoyed a quiet dinner at home. On Friday, all 14 family members on my side were together for the first time in a long, long time (possibly first time ever!) at my parents' house, and it was such a joy. Friday afternoon, we enjoyed a visit with Mark's side of the family.
On Saturday, I finished a term paper, ran a couple of errands, wrapped gifts and addressed some Christmas cards. I was horribly ill for all of last December, and it's finally occurred to me that I can wrap SOME gifts and address SOME Christmas cards, and then do some more later. I'm allowing myself a reflective pace, and it's lovely.
Picture this: A Saturday evening, with the whole family gathered in the bedroom watching the Patrick Stewart version of "A Christmas Carol." Me in my jammies, sipping a glass of Riesling (a gift from Mark's brother and sister-in-law), with Christmas candles lit nearby, leisurely addressing some Christmas cards. So nice!
On Sunday after church, I prepared some notes for a final-exam study session, made my fanulous turkey soup and helped Fiona with the first window on the Advent calendar.
The end is near ... hooray ... all that's left are two final exams and one more term paper. Can you believe, only two weeks left in my first semester? Wow.
Grace and peace,
Beth