A Paradox

We awakened to the sound of rain this morning....as we slouch towards the shortest day of the year, I can attest to the fact that these days are short!  Of course the clouds muddle things up a bit, but it seemed like it never got very light at all today.

We drove through the rain for about an hour to get to a hall in a town about 40 miles from here.  One of our YSAs is having a Wedding Blessing tomorrow, and it seems to be as big a deal as a regular wedding and reception.  This is what a local website said about it:

A husband and wife can have their marriage blessed in church, whether they got married in the UK or abroad. For couples who marry abroad, it can be a way of ensuring more family and friends can celebrate the marriage if they were unable to travel to another country for the legal marriage.

The Church of England service is called a Service of Prayer and Dedication, which is often known as ‘a blessing’. It is a simple service acknowledging the commitment already made between husband and wife during a civil ceremony and asks for God’s blessing and guidance in your new life together.

Ellie asked us to help her decorate the hall for the reception afterward.  I wore a lightweight blouse and slacks, and my light raincoat.  We stayed for a little over two hours.  For much of that, I was outside trimming greenery - pine boughs and holly branches - into suitable sizes to go down the middle of the table.  They gave us various and sundry other little tasks.  It took me a couple of hours after we got home to get warm again!  I should have worn my Oxford sweatshirt.

We stopped on the way home to get a couple of things at the grocery store....specifically a turkey breast.  I was worried that we wouldn't be able to get one.  We had already checked several stores before today.  We were happy to find one.  I really thought I should have honey-baked ham for Christmas day, but SK really doesn't like ham.  

We are unsure how many will come, or if anyone will come.  We want to make sure everyone has a place to go.  The young missionaries will probably stop by at some point.

I made the fruitcakes, and except for the odd-tasting Dots every once in awhile, it tasted like my mother's fruitcake, so that made me happy.

I'm heading to bed.  I'm tired!  It is an interesting thing....a paradox.  I love the cold weather (I love wearing layers), I love the rain, and I even love the coziness of shorter days.  I love this season of lights and decorations and Christmas cheer.  But I have to fight a bit of depression.  There is no reason to feel blue, but I do feel it.  I know a lot of it is the seasonal thing.  So I'm doing all the things I know will help, and trying my best to ignore the "I just want to curl up in bed and cry for awhile" feeling.

I'm counting my blessings too.  That always helps.  When I pray in just a few minutes, among the blessings I will thank the Lord for is the gentle sound of rain outside.