Almost three weeks of Advent has passed and Christmas is just around the corner. Marta came home from the grocery store yesterday afternoon with stars in her eyes: "Pappa, they have started to sell Christmas trees outside the store now. We must go over to buy one soon". Terje smiles, he and Marta share so many pleasures during advent with all their preparations. Sometimes Ingrid takes part, just as the boys have also has taken parts for years and years during their childhood, and now as grownups are looking forward to come home for Christmas.
I have taken today off work. I started early, the bedsheets are already in the washing machine, I have dusted, tidied, washed, wrapped a few gifts, written a couple of lists..........but now I sit down to smell the season.
A pot of coffee, a Spode Christmas tree mug, a couple of Christmas cookies, seasonal music on the cd player, angels dancing in the diningroom window, a book in my lap. I am not reading. I will, soon, but here and now time is too precious. Time for reflections, time for thoughts, time for memories. There will be alot of these moments the coming days. A year is coming to an end, Christmas is ahead, a Christmas with most of my loved ones close by. Ingrid will fly up to Lofoten together with Marius tomorrow to celebrate the holidays with his family. We will miss her but she will still be close in our hearts.
Soon I will go out grocery shopping, and I will go to the postoffice to pick up a few Christmas gifts. I will bake "krumkaker" , I will make dinner and I will make a salad for Ingrid which she will bring with her to a girl's only party tonight, I will continue with the cleaning and make the livingrom ready for the Christmas tree. But untill then.....I have stopped time for an hour of "me-time", an hour of prayers, thanks, thoughts.
