Cherishing The Good Moments

This Christmas hasn't been quite as planned - but it is important for me to remind myself that in amongst the sickness and sadness, there have been moments of real joy. Times when we have felt surrounded by love and care of friends and family. Moments when we have enjoyed the wonders of creation. Little things which make the days special. And often so good that we were too busy to take pictures. But here are a few

(1) Bob and Rosie looking at the fish at Urban Jungle, Norwich. A nursery/cafe where you eat lunch under huge plants and creepers, beside a pond full of carp - and outside wander among amazing vegetation. Sadly I have neither the space nor £600 to buy a massive olive tree(4), with its gnarled and twisting trunk.
Steph and Gaz brought Jeff & Jim the rabbits, and they played happily in the lounge for a few days.(3,5)
Boxing Day we drove out to Horsey to look at the hundreds of seals on the beach.(6,7)
On Christmas Eve, before the Midnight Carols, Bob and I shared a quiet Candlelit supper together.(2)The Holy Family (8) decorated the Christmas Cake as usual [the cake & icing taste much better than last year] And I hung up the seven family stockings down the Ferndown staircase (9) - then brought them over to Norfolk, where they were filled, and then unpacked on Christmas Afternoon. [next year I imagine that I shall have to make #8 for young Master Brotherton]
Rosie was very keen to paint her Paw Patrol Figure. These kits are always more complex than they appear, but Auntie Steph produced a set of better brushes. It took three of us, but "Sky" is just about recognisable! 

This has certainly been a roller coaster year - my illness in the Spring, a Summer of Ruby Celebrations, Bob's illness in October, the excitement of Steph's pregnancy, and the loss of 4 family members and a number of dear friends. (and I'm not even mentioning the mess that is British politics right now) 
But through it all, God has been with us, and I believe he will sustain us into this new decade. 
There's an old hymn which sums it up beautifully. 
"It's Jesus, the First and the Last, 
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home
We'll praise him for all that is past
And trust him for all that's to come" 

Christmas Jigsaw just completed [thank you Mary for lending me another one from your collection]