Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Pics worth a thousand....
Hey, I was lazy and only just got back to work today and some time to write a quick note about our jaunt into downtown Chicago..Emily and Alicia and Norb joined in and we shopped and dined and opened presents together before heading over to Old St. Pat's Cathedral for midnight mass..It was a relaxing, fun filled time but soooo different than our usual Lennon get togethers but Kathe needed to keep her mind off Brett and I wanted some timedowntown...The rest of you all please let us know how things went. So nice to hear from your memory lane Jo and Bonnie..Pat and MJ are hopefully theSmiths will join us this weekend. We shall see what the weather does. Anyhoo my love and wishes to ya'll for a great Christmas week..Write soon. Love p
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What a Christmas gift to get a letter from Jo on the blog!!! It was so interesting too because just the day before I had remembered that sad morning when I came out into the hall on Christmas morning-it was still dark-and picked up a peanut on the hall floor, and ate it. Before I had chewed it and swallowed it, I remembered that I was breaking the fast. (In those days, we had to fast from midnight until Communion time-it did not matter whether we were going to 6:00AM Mass or noon Mass. ) It was traumatic to miss communion on Jo's First Communion. Yes, Bonnie, we did make our First Communion with our family on Christmas Day. I probably made mine in 1942.
ReplyDeleteAlways on these gray, snowy days, I think of the winter days (likely over Christmas vacation until New Years) that Jo and I spent with Aunt Do and Aunt Lizzie. We would sit in their dining room around the silver pop-bellied stove, staying warm. it was like a nest of security. Then at night, we would listen to all the radio programs from 7:00 to 10:00 PM each night of the week. Their Christmas was so simple. But we could just be. The memories create a mood that permeates my memory. Kind of a time of longing, and at the same time a time of New Year's resolutions-we just had time to vegetate and though the day was snowy, sunless and yet warm, somehow those memories are full of quiet expectation and a kind of fullness. I cannot explain it-but it was good and a blessing. It can create the same feeling in me now. We have had a few such days lately here in St. Paul Park. We were so blessed with the lives of these two dear aunts.
We are still in the middle of celebrating Christmas. Ed and I joined Phil, Deb and kids for Mass at 4:00 PM at St. Pascals on Christmas Eve. Then Sue, Paul, Ed and I had a meal together and opened gifts before 10:00PM Mass at St. Thomas. (I had to lector and Ed was a Eucharistic Minister.) On Christmas Day, Sue had the four of us, plus Cathy and Guy for dinner and visiting after. Tomorrow I will prepare a casserole and take it to Deb's house where the family will gather with Patty, Chris and family for visiting and games Friday night and then Saturday, we will gather for lasagna at Cathy's place and exchange gifts. We draw names for the exchange from Becky on up. Some of us buy for the 3 young ones. Sue took Nick, Matt and Izzy to the catalog where you buy animal stock to donate to poor families in other countries. Izzy bought bunnies; Matt chose bees (because he did not want the animals to be killed and eaten!); and Nick chose half a llama.
Tonight, Sue and Ed and I are going to the Guthrie Theater to see Dickens Christmas Carol. I have wanted to do that for some years. Well, we filled in a questionaire in November, and got a chance to win tickets. As I filled out that questionaire, I PRAYED we would be pulled. (We do not often win such things!) and low and behold, a couple days later we got a call that Ed's name had been pulled for free tickets. Hurrah! So we are off to the city tonight.
I started on my cards this morning, so soon you will have mail coming. Must get back to task so will close this. It is so great to hear of all that is going on in your lives and the lives of our nieces and nephews. Love, Mary C
Love the pics Meg! It is so good to hear the fun you guys have together as it makes life so filled with the joy that is so important in these great days. I look at these pictures of the nieces and then look at our grandchildren and although ten years may seem like a long time between their ages, it is nothing as they continue to grow older. It is fun to see them injoy themselves in a world that is so screwed-up. We have been on a non-stop trip since well before the Christmas day activities and it has been so wonderful. On Sunday, we did our Christmas with Mike/Katherine family before taking them to the airport for their trip to Disney World. By the time we got home, we were exhausted. On Christmas Eve, we had all the remaining families at our house for snacks and whatever. On Christmas day, we went to Holy Mass early, then to the Faraj's for brunch with Wendy/Brad family. Beth's brother drove in on Christmas day & then we all went for dinner at the Faraj's. Tim's family went to the Lamb's, Wendy hosted the Cousino family (they must have had 15 cars in their driveway), & we enjoyed out time with the Faraj's & other friends. Last night we had the Cousino family over for supper & opening of gifts - a ton of fun with their children. Today, Beth's brother drove back to Milwaukee, Beth got her hair cut in Dearborn, met with a friend & I had a meeting with a premarriage couple at St. Gerald's. Tomorrow is a funeral at St. Gerald's, a premarriage couple meeting & hopefully some good fish for our dinner. Sunday we will do a nice dinner at the Lord Fox Resturant with Tim/Sheila & a couple of their children. And next week is just more of the same - but we love it. Peg, we will be making our call to George next week & hope to sit-up a date for picking up the goodies for the Lennon Center so we will let you know when it is finalized. Hope all of you are enjoying the Christmas season which for us in the Church, runs until Jan. 13th, The Baptism of the Lord!!!! It is not just one day like so many people make it but many days. I love it!! May you all have a blessed & fruitful New Year. Love, Deacon Joe
ReplyDeleteI loved reading Fred and Mary's blog letters. So newsy and filled with Christmas cheer.
ReplyDeleteFred, I would love to hear more about the LENNON CENTER. I know you and peg have spoken of it in the past, but its been awhile. It would be nice to get more details about it, since it bears the family name.
Our school adopted a family of four this year to buy for instead of/to replace our usual gift exchange and it was wonderful. I think we all spent more on them than we would have for an exchange, which is a good thing.
Mary I love Sue's idea of adopt an animal stock for a poor family to help instill great values in the little ones. Habitant for Humanity gets my vote here in the Atlanta area. Years ago Joseph and I worked on one of the construction crews with other church members and really found it quite rewarding, so now we are on their list for contributions.
Kathe, Did you get a chance to talk to Brett on Christmas Day? If so share with us please if he received any packages? I sure did have him in my prayers on that day and just saw the movie, "Charlie Wilson's War, yesterday and again felt the pangs of concern for our soldiers. God Bless them.
Mary and Jo loved your recollections of the aunts over the holidays. What a blessing to have had them in your lives. See, Peg, there is a reason you are not married. Sometimes our destiny is just not what we invisioned for ourselves. Look at all you do, Peg, to maintain and keep the ties between your family members, a most valuable commoidity for sure.
Thanks. Love, B.