Anticipation. There is something about this season besides the incessant commercialism of buy this, Buy This, BUY THIS! It’s the anticipation of celebrating the birthday of Jesus.
Seems like it has been a busy, almost hectic year.
Phil’s Mom moved into an assisted living facility in mid 2018 and was placed on hospice care in late 2018. On January 2, 2019 she reached her 96th birthday. We celebrated with her by placing a candle on a cupcake.
Her health declined rapidly following that, and she passed away on February 9. Following this, Phil was consumed with administering her estate. Caring for her family deeply, she had provided for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. It didn’t seem like much of a burden to slog through the paperwork to get that distributed.
At the beginning of March we spent a couple of days in Morro Bay, beach walking and hiking some of the bluffs.
At the end of March Phil was caught up enough for us to take a trip up 395 in the Eastern Sierra. Fun times. Explored the arches in Alabama Hills, visited the old Mount Whitney fish hatchery (wonderful old stone building), Laws Railroad Museum, and rock art in the volcanic tablelands.
In late July we (and all the kids) stayed for a few days in the Teton Valley, ID. We did hiking, biking, and sightseeing in the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.
In late August, just the two of us went to Bishop and did some of our easier favorite hikes. In September, we spent a couple of days in the Mendocino/Fort Bragg area. And finally, we spent almost 2 weeks in Eagle Crest, Oregon. With the fall colors, there was lots of beautiful hiking to be done.
Now, it’s only a few days to the actual birthday celebration. Our whole family will gather for wonderful food, fellowship, giving and receiving gifts, and a portion of our anticipation will be fulfilled. But not all. There is still more to the story, and that’s the beauty and mystery of what was revealed to us by Jesus.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
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