Hope

We haven't gotten the new KidPak ornaments in yet, but this is a picture Madison took of last year's ornament which is of course already on our tree.  The idea is to do the Fruit of the Spirit, each year a different ornament, and part of a collection that started last year and will go on until we've gone through each fruit.  We were laughing at that one year where everyone gets an ornament that says, "SELF CONTROL."  But this year's ornament is rather poignant, as it is the word "HOPE."  I've actually said out loud how hopeless things have seemed as of late, just within our own little sphere, not to mention the world.  We just don't seem to have any hope.  And yet, it just so happens that this is the one ornament that was planned for this year, the one that says, "HOPE."  It's a nice little reminder.  

Of course, until we get that ornament, we're without hope.  I'm making a bad joke.  Anyway, today was a school day for Madison, and also a taekwondo day.  I went to the doctor's office today, the first time in a while, really.  I've got some blood pressure medication, as my blood pressure is pretty high lately, uncomfortably so.  It's been pretty bad on my skin, hence the visit.  I was in that office for an hour, most of that in the waiting area.  It's down at Flowery Branch, and at least it's right there next to the train tracks.  I got to see a train go by that was at least two miles long.  That was the highlight of my visit.  Mom and Nana were in the car, waiting for me all that time, as only a few people are allowed in the building at a time.  Anyone with COVID-like symptoms were instructed not to come in, which I guess limited things further.  I don't know.  Nobody knows.

We stopped by the grocery store on the way home, and had a nice turkey lunch, leftovers from this weekend.  It was a big Thanksgiving-style meal, the first of many, no doubt.  The weather was cool outside today, and things are going to get cooler.  This is appropriate, as we are approaching December, and winter.  

Tonight's viewing was "Shrek the Halls" and "Miracle on 34th Street," the newer version.  We're still debating which is the better version of the two, although we feel pretty confident that the one version in the seventies with an aggressive David Hartman in it is not our favorite.  We do have that one, so we could watch it this year if we wanted to.  Actually, we've got plenty of time to watch all these, as we seem to be going through the Christmas movies rather quickly lately.  This is basically to provide "something to do" each night a little more for our new guest, as we usually don't tear into watching things this quickly.  Anyway, we watched a few things tonight under the Christmas tree, and it was nice.  

Afterwards, we read a bit, and we prayed.  Tonight we were in bed a lot earlier, and asleep early too.  It might be the new medication, it might be the cooler weather.  It's nice getting under all those blankets in the winter, but hard to get out from underneath them!