December Past

~ MaryG

Posting for Lens-Artist Photo Challenge: Holiday Fun

I’m afraid the 2025 holiday season will be forever remembered as the “Year of the Knee.” Arthroplasty is rough, people. My husband is doing OK, but the pain is quite brutal. Thank goodness for opioids. I honestly don’t know how anyone gets through this without a partner. (I know they can and do, but it would be really hard.) Outpatient PT has started and now I get why folks call the PTs “Physical Terrorists.”

But on to happier things…

I have been enjoying looking at the lovely, happy holiday posts and photos from Scillagrace and others.

Last year was such a special Christmas because we had my brand new baby granddaughter—so perfect in every way. After the sting of the horrible election in November 2024, she gave me so much hope. She was—and is—a miracle. All babies are. I thank my wonderful daughter for the greatest gift of all last Christmas. Infants are pure love, pure light, pure joy.

My granddaughter and me last December
Our tree last year
The new mom managed to decorate—and even bake—last year.
Hand-dipped and decorated Oreo cookie balls
White roses for Christmas last year
I got Christmas “crackers” from the British imports store and did special napkin folding last year.

Related post and pics, also from last December:

Winterlights

I hope everyone can find some way to enjoy the season this year, despite whatever pain or hardships burden you. I recommend watching Sweden’s National Santa Lucia Day broadcast this Saturday, December 13. It’s always such a beautiful celebration of light in the darkness, with gorgeous choral music—including young children singing in tune. It’s typically available on YouTube the same day.

December Rx:

Music, lights, babies (if you can’t get your hands on a baby, watching young children sing is a good substitute)

25 thoughts on “December Past”

  1. I was reading through about Christmas and babies and yadda yadda miracles (I hate Christmas) and then I stopped in my grinchy tracks when I saw that baby. What a gorgeous photo of, indeed, a perfect baby. No wonder!

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    1. Aw, thanks Shelly! I love her so much. I’m not a fan of the word “blessed” or “blessing,” but I just can’t think of a better word for the feeling of holding your own grandchild in your arms.

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  2. Beautiful napkins. Everything looks really lovely and quintessentially Christmas in the best way possible. 🙂 It’s funny that I was talking to someone about the pain of PT yesterday, and how before I went through it (not recently), I could not have fathomed how intense it can be. It’s great that he’s got you, and all the resources needed to recover.

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  4. Love your photos!! Baby is adorable💞 what a great little gift around the holidays 🎄
    You reminded me to buy Christmas crackers!!! Last year I waited too late and couldn’t get any in town 😬

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