The First Noel

Well hello friends.

Only 2 more days left until Christmas.

This will be my last post for the year.

As we approach the final days

before Christmas, we all must remember

the reason for this season.

 

Therefore it is only fitting to feature

the nativity and all of the angels

I decided to have all of these pics shown at night.

I remember always going to Midnight mass

once I was a teen with my family.

Whether we attended our own church at home,

or the one my grandparents attended.

Both maternal and paternal grandparents attended

the same church.

It was where my parents met.

{or I should say they met at the old church}

The churches were always decorated so festive.

With trees and candles lit.

Poinsettias everywhere.

The choir singing the old carols 

and the ringing of the bells were my favorite.

It was even more magical if it was snowing outside

when mass was over. 

The stained glass windows at my

grandparents church were amazing.

When the lights shone on them,

they sparkled even more.

The original church 

where my parents met and married in

was built on a hill.

Unfortunately it burned down the year I was born.

My mom always told me it was a little white church,

which this particular ornament reminded me of.

It was surrounded by pine trees and also

the cemetery was next to it.

My paternal great grandparents,

paternal grandparents,

great aunts and uncles.

My dad and his brother (my uncle and aunt)

all are buried here in the family plot.

I would also like to be buried there one day.

I remember visiting the cemetery before

my grandparents farm was destroyed by an arson.

In the cemetery looking South, you could 

see their barns, and farmhouse way in the back.

The farm had been sold long before this

horrific act happened.

It is hard to put into words the feeling I have

while on that hill.

The pine trees have been there since the beginning.

Tall and massive.

Where the church was, now a statue stands

in the one section.

I have seen pictures of the old church.

It reminds me of the old New England churches.

White clapboard.

Small but mighty. 

I always wondered what it would have looked

 like inside during Christmas.

No electricity; only candles.

With the aroma of festive greens on the altar

and live wreaths on the wall with their satin ribbon bows.

Oh how I wish I could have been there for at least

one Christmas mass. 

The cemetery is about 5 miles West

 of the town my mom lives in.

When you are at the road,

and look towards the East, you can see 

Lake Huron.

One of our mighty great blue lakes.

Only farmland surrounds the area.

Who knows if progress will change 

the landscape in another 100 years,

but for now, it is a perfect resting spot. 

Although I currently live a little over an hour 

to the South in the next county,

when driving to my mom's

I always feel like I am going home as soon

as I see that sign...

entering Sanilac County.

This time of year is always a bit hard on me.

We buried my dad on Christmas Eve morn.

It's been 28 years now, but still hurts. 

As I stated earlier, this is my last post of the year.

Am taking some time off, both at work,

and from blogging.

I need to re-charge. LOL

I will be back in a few weeks.

I hope all of my friends enjoy your holidays!

Will try and visit my blog friends

and comment when I can.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Let's hope 2022 goes much better.

We thought 2021 would be.

The First Noel Blessings To All!

Janice