Blessings

                                                                      Needlepoint nativity set I stitched in 1992.

Little Jesus of the Crib,

Give us the virtues of those who surround you.

Make us philosophical as the fisherman,

Carefree as the drummer,

Merry in exploring the world as the troubadour,

Eager for work as the bugler,

Patient as the spinner,

Kind as the ass,

Strong as the ox which keeps you warm.

Give us the sacred leisure of the hunter.

Give us also the desire of the shepherd for earthly things,

The pride of the trade of the knife grinder and the weaver,

The song of the miller.

Grant us the knowledge of the Magi,

The cheerfulness of the pigeon,

The impulsiveness of the cock,

The discretion of the snail,

The meekness of the lamb.

Give us the goodness of bread,

The tenderness of the wild boar,

The salt of the haddock,

The good humor of old wine,

The ardor of the candle,

The purity of the star.

~The Prayer of the Children of Provence~

I am so touched by the outpouring of prayers and encouragement regarding my upcoming surgery.
My husband and I are currently in Kansas City.  Interstates and airports in Minnesota are closed due to a winter storm.  We are hopeful that conditions will improve, and we will arrive safely and timely for my surgery on Tuesday.

In the meantime, if you see a reindeer with a shiny red nose and magic sleigh, please send them our way!