Birthday Blessings

As a treat for my birthday, Ermelinda, Cecílio and us two drove to Vendas Novas for church with our old friend, Padre Luís; we haven't had church here in Mourão for a while. It was so good to be with him again! Don't miss the Nativity at the front of his church, with real growing grass.

Then we went out with him, and Padre Mário for a delicious lunch - six is the limit at a table here. Home again to yet more olive tree denudation, meaning we had to leave the car at the top of the Land, and we'll have to work hard at clearing again tomorrow.

Gratefuls:
- waking to the most beautiful frosty morning, and watching the sun rise on it and turn it all sparkly; so special, years since we've seen frost here
- safety in almost four hours driving
- all the birthday greetings, and the most gorgeous book from Deb (other things have got stuck in the post somewhere - we've not actually had any post since the beginning of the month, and the sum total of one Christmas card - Deb sent the book to Ermelinda's with Hermes parcel service)
- time with the two Padres, love them both and love their company
- sixty-two years of life on this planet so far!