We maintained our festive clip this week and fit in a chilly night stroll through Christkindl Market, a Christmas movie marathon (we may have watched Last Christmas more than once, and it was heart wrenching each time), a lutefisk dinner at Jax Cafe, a last-minute rush to buy a “sock” for the lefse rolling pin, and a sudden sentimental desire for yulekage yesterday at 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve Day.
The girl behind the bakery counter at Hyvee tossed us a flat look when we asked if they sold the Norwegian Christmas bread. We described yulekage, mentioning the bits of candied fruits and raisins in a cardamom-spiced dough.
Still a blank expression. “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe Lunds has it again this year,” I said to Husband when we returned home.
“Call and see.”
I called. The Roseville location was sold out, but the downtown Minneapolis store had two loaves left.
“I can hold one loaf with your name on it for thirty minutes,” the guy in the downtown store’s bakery said, “but then I’m putting it back on the shelf for other customers. First come, first served.”
Husband was already revving up the engine and peeling out of the driveway.
The festivities of December are all fun and games, but our pastor spoke the truth yesterday; the First Coming was not sentimental but interventional.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Yes.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Celebrate well. The Light has come.
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*Names in this blog have been changed to protect my family, neighbors, and friends in the neighborhood, and in a nod of appreciation to the beloved Swedish author Maj Lindman, I’ve renamed my three blondies Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka and their husbands (present and future), Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr.