Christmas

Yellowstone River at Glendive on December24th, 2018.

Oh, my!  I really am behind the times.  It tells you something about my life back in the church full-time.  Since starting the 1st of November I have had 3 funerals, 2 weddings and 3 baptisms besides staying abreast of the lives of the folks in the congregation.  There have been many illnesses and just a lot of balls to keep juggling.  I don't know how long this will continue, but finding a pastor who is a good fit for the congregation will be the first step.  For now I am committed personally for six months then we will see after that.
Our prairie winter has been startingly absent with brown earth, blue skies and temps in the 40s and 50s right through Christmas Day.
​This morning, however, we woke up to lots of snow and a snowfall that continued all day.  I used my mini-snow blower, did a little shoveling and then decided to leave it for tonight.  The temps say 40 degrees in a few days.  Now that we have had a taste of both winter and December, but not winter weather we will have to see how it goes.
I was telling someone today that I don't mind snow and cold, but the snow wouldn't have to come all at once!!  How but a few flakes over a week's time?  I can take winter much easier in small doses.
The two little girls in the lower picture are Linnea in pink and Lovisa in southern Sweden.  Their grandmother is a second cousin of mine.  The picture was from their mother who said they don't get snow in southern Sweden where they live, along the Baltic Sea so when they do get it they really have to enjoy!  I really enjoy the fact that communications are trans-Atlantic as well.
I preached Sunday the 23rd, then at the candlelight service on the 24th and Christmas Day on the 25.  Regardless of the size of the crowd there is the need to do your best.  Everything went well and we were able to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord with great joy. Happy New Year!

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Ice breaking up on the river 12/14/18