"Gradually there gathered the feeling of
expectation, Christmas was coming."
from The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence
I'm still very much involved with Mom at this time - she's still in hospital - so I feel a little outside of normal life these days. Thankfully the Christmas spirit whispers between the moments... giving my heart a giggle of joy.
One. Oh, the weather outside
We've had fog and snow and sleet and rain. Sometimes all on the same day. The sun set today at 4:30 in the afternoon, and the nights are now as dark as the inside of a boot. But the full moon last evening peeped past the clouds...and glimmered in its shiny glory from that far away place. Straight into my heart which needed a bit of a lift after a busy day.
Two. Update on Mom
It's now over three weeks since Mom fell and ended up in the hospital. There were a few days last week when it felt like I was watching my mom disappear... word by fading word. For several days she couldn't find her words and it was horrid to watch her trying to grasp for phrases not quite within her reach. The speech therapist came by, and she so encouraging. She gave us a helpful layman's description of what happened when she fell and hit her head. A little like having a full filing cabinet knocked over. Nothing was lost, but everything's in a jumble and needs sorting, organizing, and putting back where it belongs. How precious is our ability to speak and communicate. It's what makes us human, I guess.
I'm happy to report she is doing much better this week. She's been slowly finding her words and stringing sentences together in her more 'usual' manner. We are relieved. She has now been transferred to a rehab hospital where she will be going back to 'school', as her doctor teased her, to get her speech back as much as possible. And make her ready for the next step - going home. Which they told us today might not be until after Christmas. She is getting such good care, we're grateful for her medical team.
Three. Hemming dresses and sleeves
The other day I was sitting by our Christmas tree with the lights on—bent over doing some hand stitching to shorten sleeves on a couple of tee-shirts Mom needed for her stay in the hospital. It made me think of long ago memories when Mom would be busy hand sewing lace or buttons or finishing hems on our new Christmas dresses. In that moment, I felt a connection in that memory to my beloved mother. She was sewing for me then, and I'm sewing for her now.
Today over on InScribe, I have shared a few of those old memories... it's a piece I wrote years ago and have since revised. You can find Whispers of Tissue and Chiffon HERE.
Four. 2025 reading goal wrap up
Last January I decided to tackle some of the roughly 130 to 150 books that are currently sitting on my 'to be read' shelves. They include new acquisitions, gifts, library sale books, and thrift store finds. As I see it, it never hurts to have a grand 'pantry' pile waiting in the wings—I always enjoy browsing the titles when looking for something new to read (and there's nothing new coming from Amazon).
From those shelves, I selected 33 titles to read during the coming year. To date, I have finished 25 books from that list. I won't finish any more as I'm now into my Christmas reading. If you want to see the list, check it out HERE.
Five. Books for the holiday season
It's the season when we want to sing 'old familiar carols' and read our favourite seasonal books. There is something comforting about traditions - the same tree, the same decorations, the same recipes for special cookies and holiday meals, the same books that we remember with fondness from previous Christmases. It's tradition, we say.
There is one book I'm relying on at this time that, although not a seasonal one, fits as though it were. It's Reclaiming Quiet by Sarah Clarkson. In this Advent season we like to find those quiet moments where our hearts can listen and be in wonder and awe. Sarah's writing helps me do that. And even though it may be just a couple of pages at a sitting, her writing helps my heart settle and be at peace.
Here are a few of the Christmas stories and books I enjoy having around this time of year. I enjoy browsing here and there, picking a handful of favourites to get lost in on a cozy afternoon or evening (the four stars indicate my forever favourites). It's always fun to discover something new for the collection.
Nonfiction
Gospel of Luke, Chapter Two, KJV****
The Christmas Story
haphazard by starlight
A poem a day from Advent to Epiphany
by Janet Morley
Christmas Poems
by Wendy Cope
Winter Solstice, An Essay
by Nina MacLaughlin
The Christmas Chronicles****
by Nigel Slater (musings, recipes, traditions)
Christmas (Recipes and Holiday Tips)
by Susan Branch
Home for Christmas (short memoir)
by Susan Branch
Fiction
Winter and Rough Weather
by D.E. Stevenson (gentle English novel)
The Country Child
by Alison Uttley (Children's Fiction)
Rumpole at Christmas
by John Mortimer (seasonal short stories)
A Child's Christmas in Wales
by Dylan Thomas (Children's Classic)
Christmas at Thrush Green
by Miss Read (gentle novel)
"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Christmas mystery)
Once Upon A Wardrobe****
by Patti Callahan (Christmas Narnia-related novel)
An Irish Country Yuletide
by Patrick Taylor (Christmas novella)
An Irish Country Christmas****
by Patrick Taylor (novel)
A Christmas Carol (classic)
by Charles Dickens
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
by Agatha Christie (Poirot mystery)
Winter Solstice****
by Rosamunde Pilcher (novel set mostly in Scotland)
Small Things Like These
by Claire Keegan (novella set in Ireland at Christmas)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe****
by C.S. Lewis (Narnia series)
Little Women****
by Louisa May Alcott
Shepherds Abiding****
by Jan Karon
A Christmas Memory
by Truman Capote
Christmas at Thompson Hall and Other Trollopian Stories (unread)
by Anthony Trollope (short stories)
Christmas Bells (unread)
by Jennifer Chiavernini
Christmas with Anne and Other Short Stories
by L.M. Montgomery
Midwinter Murder, Fireside Tales
by Agatha Christie
The Mitford Snowmen (gift booklet)
by Jan Karon
Esther's Gift (gift booklet)
by Jan Karon
Simeon's Gift (children's)
by Julie Andrews
The Winter Mystery (novel)
by Faith Martin
Anthologies
A Classic Christmas
A Collection of Timeless Stories and Poems
Thomas Nelson
Nature Tales for Winter Nights
Editor, Nancy Campbell
Christmas Classics
from the Modern Library
(excerpts, stories, poems, songs and carols)
Christmas in My Heart
A Timeless Treasury of Heartwarming Stories
by Joe Wheeler
Christmas Penhaligon's Scented Treasury
(poetry and prose excerpts)
Editor, Sheila Pickles
Christmas with Hot Apple Cider
Stories from the Season of Giving and Receiving
Editor, N.J. Lindquist
Christmas Miracles
Chicken Soup for the Soul Anthology
Christmas: Stories & More
InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship
(I have a piece in this anthology)
Winter Anthology (nature essays and poems)
by Melissa Harrison
Magazines
Bella Grace Magazines
Christmas/Winter Editions
Victoria Magazines
Christmas/Winter Editions
Country Living Collection
Christmas British Edition
Christmas!
A Collection of Favourite Seasonal Blog Posts
by Brenda Leyland
This is still available on Blurb.com
❦
"Some Christmas tree ornaments do more than glitter and glow,
they represent a gift of love given a long time ago."
TOM BAKER
❦
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda
Photo credits:
(Top) Image by Anastasia538 from Pixabay
My Blogging Schedule:
I post on Fridays
Dear Brenda ... thank you for your offering today. I love your book list and have ordered a couple I'd never heard of before Truman Capote's, and An Irish Country Christmas. Looking forward to reading them.
ReplyDeleteI think of you sitting and hemming sleeves for your mom and think, "What an act of love that is." And in the doing of that little act of love you remembered the love of your mother when she sewed Christmas dresses for you. Love and kindness returned full circle.
I'm so pleased that your mother is being so kindly cared for. The speech therapist sounds a lovely warm hearted person.
ReplyDeleteYour book list made me smile, as there are so many of mine there! The Alison Uttley was given to me when I trained as a teacher, and so many of the stories were read to the children. And of course.....Winter Solstice, December sint the same without re reading it!
So pleased to hear your mother is recovering and being cared for by caring and committed people. Your love for her and her love for you shine through your words. Have a wonderful Christmas season with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear about the truly rehabilitating care your mother is getting. I was just yesterday imagining how easy it would be for me to fall, running up and down the stairs, or losing my balance, and what if I hit my head hard on the floor?? I like hearing the filing cabinet illustration -- it's reassuring. I pray you can continue to connect with the peace and joy of Christ that are in your heart, even alongside your concern for your mother.
ReplyDeleteThe list of Christmas books you have offered is so extensive!!! It will be a treat to look into them further, though any I find myself wanting to acquire will probably have to wait until next year to read -- though come to think of it, isn't reading Christmas stories just the thing we might do if we keep all Twelve Days of Christmas?
Thank you, Brenda.
Brenda, so happy your Mom is recovering. She is slowly sorting out that “filing cabinet”. I’m sorry she won’t be home for Christmas but just think how happy she will be when she does get home. You learn what you live and your Mom was a wonderful teacher, hence all your beautiful memories of your Mother sewing for you. I loved all your Christmas favourites. Quite a few are mine, too. Others I’m not familiar with so will check them out. I’m glad you included Alison Uttley. I spotted her charming book “Little Grey Rabbit’s Christmas” at an antique market about a week before Christmas. When I asked the price, the vendor gave it to me. It made my day. So sweet of him. Take gentle care. Hugs, Elaine
ReplyDeleteIt brings me comfort that your mum is on the mend. It's never an easy thing to recover from a fall, more so at your mum's age, so knowing that she's able to do a little more each week is definitely a reason for relief and joy. Today, I had news that a friend's biopsy results had come back with the hoped-for all-clear. Hence, I have two special thanksgivings to offer to God today - your mum's improvement and my friend's relief.
ReplyDeleteChristmas this year may not be your most ideal but it's likely to be one you'd look back on with even more thankfulness. Sometimes Christmas comes to us in dark clouds but with a rosy heart hidden within its folds.
Dear Brenda,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to hear that your mother is improving. It's a terrible thing to watch someone struggle to communicate. When our son had his head injury I remember thinking that his brain was like scrambled eggs and it took time to settle and sort. How lovely that you can hem shirts for your mom and reminisce about all the beautiful things she stitched for you.
Your seasonal book list has many of my favourites, as well. I picked up Rumpole at Christmas at a used bookstore just this week. I've just dipped into the first few pages and love the wry sense of humour.
May gentleness be your companion this next week.