Almost Christmas

Just a couple more days and then it'll be calm (I hope so) for a bit.  

Sunday was our church Christmas program.  I was on the organ for the opening, closing and Sacrament hymns.  On the piano for 3 of the 6 musical numbers.  To say I was a bit "spent" by the end of the day would be a tiny understatement.  I truly am happy to help people when they ask.  I have come to understand that generally, when the request is made, the person asking hasn't really any clue the amount of time is required (and more than it used to be since I'm older and slowing down) to learn, polish and be prepared to accompany singer / instrument.  Add to that my inherent nervousness about being in front of people for any reason and it's no wonder the day took its toll.

But I think it all went well enough.  And the happy part was being able to do a music duet with our daughter - so fun.  Another daughter heard the song and said she'd love to play it with her own daughter.  That's happy.

Tomorrow I've another funeral.  Which started as "can you accompany me for a solo for this funeral?" Progressed to include the singing of the attendees (opening and closing song) which then grew to also include the prelude and postlude.  If I get paid another $50 for this one, I will feel like I really earned it considering how the scope expanded and the time of year.  (Though I fully understand that things like this have nothing to do with schedules or time of year or anything at all like that.)

So, after this last couple of weeks, I told The Husband I needed a day.  Just a day.  No errands to run, no schedules to keep, no one to answer to - just a day.  To rest, recuperate, recharge my drained batteries. It's been lovely.  I've puttered around and done a couple things but am ready to head to my comfy chair and just read. 

We treated ourselves to a joint Christmas present.  I've long been unhappy with the stands for the plants in the eating area.  Decided on Saturday it was time to change that.  In and out of several stores on the Saturday before Christmas was probably not our wisest course, but it netted us just the perfect thing. We both love how it looks and I keep telling the plants to enjoy their new support.  The lavender orchid?  That was gifted me very early in the year.  It was blooming then and has been blooming ever since.  What a blessing flowers are.

I'm grateful for a day at home.  Where I don't have anywhere to go in the blustery snowy-ness and have a good book to sit and read and don't have to do anything else if I don't want.  What a luxury.