Friday
Christmas Day 2020!
I woke up really early this morning and crept through the darkness of the pre-dawn morning to check on the leg of lamb which had been simmering overnight in the slow cooker. As I pondered the day, I was filled with gratitude at the arrival of all that we had hoped for this year.
A year ago, the building was just up to basement level…we were amazed it had got this far…
We were gearing up to go to Egypt. I couldn’t really see past that big event. Egypt held many unknowns and uncertainties. It was my hope and prayer that we would get back home safe and sound. When we did, it was all systems go with the build…
And then came Covid-19. It swept unexpectedly into our lives bringing with it massive doses of uncertainty and anxiety. Suddenly we were in unchartered territory. The two big goals for 2020 – my jaw surgery and to finish the build were suddenly in jeopardy. Fear of Covid played havoc with our brain. Each morning when we woke up, we asked each other how we were feeling. No cough, no temperature, still well. We disinfected shopping and sanitised our hands until they itched. We had a 5-week hard lockdown where we only went out to shop. It was thoroughly foreign, but afforded us a complete rest and when we went to a lower level in May, the stabled horse came out at a trot. Building slowly recommenced until Level 3 and then the horse bolted. The house went up at speed. Mike was pushed to long days racing to keep up with the builder. Julian started coming to Cape Town again.
As frenetic building days continued, at the end of May, I received news I was ready for jaw surgery. Amidst Covid restrictions, on 17th June, I went into hospital alone, had the surgery and was discharged the next day. Now, it is all a blur. My recovery was fast and successful.
Unbelievably, 4 months later, on 16th October, we moved into our new home and less than two months after that on 10th December, my braces were snapped off.
And now it’s Christmas Day and we have achieved all that we hoped to. I am so very grateful.
So early today, Mike and I went to the beach before everyone was up.
A relaxed morning followed with cooking and presents and then Christmas lunch. Everyone retired mid afternoon and now we are gearing up to go for another beach walk.
And I think, from today, there will be no more Covid numbers on my blog.
Happy Christmas everyone! May God bless you today!
1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
We celebrate Him today.
The best is yet to come.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂