Every year for the past five years or so, we have spent New Year's Eve at my home parish in Queens, New York. It is the only place I know of that has Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction at midnight to close the old year and ring in the new. Every year, at the stroke of midnight, the pastor (an excellent, hardworking priest who really got us through the pandemic) blesses the people with the monstrance containing the body of Our Lord.
Here we are on New Year's Eve 2019 into 2020:
Here we are on New Year's Eve 2020 into 2021. Same bell tower (different vantage point), same coat (on me), same boots (on me), but there is something wonderfully different. Seven of our nine children are with us instead of only three. The one good thing about 2020 was unexpected family togetherness. With so many of their usual New Year's plans canceled, we had a lot more of our children available to begin the year the best way possible--in church on our knees before our Blessed Lord.
2021 is going to be a great year for the Gunthers!
Oh, Typepad, you were always so hard when it came to photos. I forgot just how hard. Worse now, I think. Will need to do a bit of tweaking to figure out why these photos are so warped.
Posted by: Alice | January 11, 2021 at 06:51 PM
How wonderful to see you back here Alice. I've unfollowed so many people on Facebook, I might as well leave it. This little blog was such an encouragement to me so many years ago when my house was full of little feet. We still celebrate the candlemas tea that I learned about from you so many years ago, and plan to again this year even though it will now sadly only be with 3 children. Time is a thief, and much better spent reading encouraging uplifting posts, then the ones full of conspiracy, blindness or hate. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing, your beautiful family and kind heart with us. If there was a like button on blogs, I bet you'd find so many more enjoy your shared thoughts, and little quips of your children, then you may realize.
Posted by: Katherine | January 12, 2021 at 04:03 AM
I can’t thank you enough for this, Katherine. It is extremely encouraging. ❤️
Posted by: Alice | January 12, 2021 at 06:29 AM