Christmas Eve 2020. Christmas has a different feel to it this year. We will miss greatly not attending church service at 11:00 tonight. What a different world we live in this year compared to last year.
It was a year ago today that Jim asked me to marry him. We had just finished dinner and were sitting around the table enjoying the evening together when he popped the question. I don’t think either of us could have predicted how our first year together would play out.
I went into Emporia this morning and went to the lab for my blood draw to check my thyroid levels. The lab wasn’t too busy and they got me back fairly quickly. I checked in at the X-Ray department early for my bone density test. They weren’t busy and took me back as soon as I checked in. I was done by 11:15. That was easy.
I went to the bank and deposited a check and dropped some mail off at a mail drop. Then I went to Walmart for some groceries and a few other things I needed. The parking lot was full although I got lucky and a car pulled out fairly close up and I grabbed the spot. The store was busier than I had seen it for a long time. I did my best to avoid people but somethings that was hard. Evidently a truck has just been unloaded as there were pallets of stuff the clerks were putting out everywhere. Lots of empty shelves today.
I got almost everything I wanted although they were out of several things. I wanted some corn syrup so I can make Jim some peanut brittle. I backed up and looked on the very top shelf and there were two bottles at the very back of the shelf. I tried climbing up the shelves but couldn’t reach it. A couple came by and the lady, who is at least a head shorter than I am, said she could get it. She climbed like a monkey up the shelves and grabbed it. She said short people learn how to cope. I told her she was my Christmas miracle.
The blood test restyles came back already. My thyroid level is 0.74 which is better than the 0.51 it was in November. I think I will go to skipping a pill every four days instead of the five I am doing now. Thinking next time I need a refill the doctor will reduce the dosage so I don’t have to have skip days.
Came home and put everything away and then ate some lunch and took a nap. I had taken a nap after dinner yesterday so I could be awake for my crisis hot line shift and then had trouble sleeping last night.
I handled eight callers last night. Four of them were suicidal. I was able to talk all of them down for the moment. People are sure stressed out right now and so many feel worthless and helpless. It is a hard time of the year for so many.
I have another shift tonight. I’m curious to see what Christmas Eve is like on the hot line. I’m expecting that we will be busy but maybe not.
Tomorrow we are zooming with Jim’s sons in the early afternoon. I got a ham to fix for dinner tomorrow night. Saturday late afternoon we are zooming with my kids and Craig. Sunday I can take the tree down and call Christmas 2020 a wrap and done.
Jim’s church is having a Facebook Live Christmas Eve service at 11:00 tonight. We may watch it if I get done with my hot line shift and the hot line isn’t too busy. I think it is harder for Jim to watch services though. This will be the first year in his life time that he doesn’t attend a Christmas Eve Service in person. He especially will miss singing in the choir and being with his choir family. Usually his sons would join him in the choir loft each year. Such good memories to hold on to this year when everything is so very different and gathering is not possible.
I’m fixing chicken pot pie for Jim for dinner. I am going to leave out some chicken and veggies and have that. The pot pie has things in it that I shouldn’t eat and I don’t want to have an upset stomach tonight and tomorrow.
The girls survived the cold night last night. They were eager to get out in the sunshine this morning even though it was still very cold out when I let them out. They gave me 10 eggs so far today. The eggs are getting bigger every day. I’m still only getting one green egg a day but the others should start laying very soon.
Still haven’t found my Christmas spirit but am doing OK. I’ll be glad when Sunday comes and the tree goes away. Looking forward to a New Year coming in next week.
I have the first of eight repeats done on the blanket I am making. I like the colors and am enjoying having a big project to work on. I may stop at some point and work on the hat and scarf just to make the project last longer. We will see what I decide to do.
Grateful for this first full year living with Jim, grateful for a helper in the grocery store today, and grateful for the many blessings that Christmas brings.