In January, I became a grandmother and a few weeks later, we were able to fly out to Alberta to see our new granddaughter, Marina. She is perfect and beautiful and cuddly and I could go on and on. I love babies, I always have. But to hold my own granddaughter was something quite unique and wonderful. Looks like I will be making vacation trips to Alberta....
Some of the highlights from my travels with family and different friends are in the collage. Naturally, we went to Hope multiple times. But, I was also able to go to Powell River, Washington, Orlando, Victoria, Whistler, Rock Ridge Canyon, San Francisco and Lumby. Washington was full of museums and walking. Powell River was chilling by the ocean. Lumby, which we visited twice as a family, was relaxing with extended family. Rock Ridge was spiritually enriching connecting with ladies from church. Victoria was educational and fun and turned into a weekend of food and shopping. Orlando was a spiritual retreat among the palm trees. Whistler was a perfect weekend away. San Francisco was pure fun and adventure. Every single one of these trips was a highlight of the year in a slightly different way. But now on to 2025! And before I can even think of travelling, I need to declutter my house...
My mother got remarried at 73 years old and I think it is nothing but great! Make no mistake-my father was the great love of my mother's life. They were together for 47 years. They were happy and in love. She mourned him for 4 solid years. She told anyone who would listen about her loss, and how blessed she'd been. But after 4 years, she met someone new. Or not new exactly- she reconnected with an old aquaintance. And that meeting of a widow and a widower, who both loved God and music and family, turned into a second chance at love. How great is that?
It has been very interesting to see people's reactions though. A lot of people can't seem to let go of the past. I loved my father fiercely and would do anything to get him back. But, that love does not in any way affect my feelings toward this new relationship. My father is not coming back. Happiness in this world is fleeting. If my mother has a second chance for happiness with a man who clearly loves her, how can that be anything but a blessing?
I did the Scripture reading at church this morning from Luke. I was particularly moved by the words from Luke 1:76-79: "because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace".
Wow, that's really beautiful. To think of the mercy and light of God being like a sunrise after the deep, dark of night. It's not hard to picture darkness, despair and death these days. There is just so much evil and suffering and injustice. But to picture the sun rising into the midst of that, the dark night ending and light dawning, that image is hope. That is the message of Christmas. Merry Christmas friends; the light has come. His kingdom is here, but also not yet fully. But, "one day everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost."
