A Christmas Recap?

Is it possible to recapture those very special moments that were positively joyful flooding your heart and bringing tears to your eyes? Can you remember the special word exchanges of love? My heart is full. Christmas was a wonderful time and now a memory with lots of pictures.

Watching and listening to choirs singing Gloria to our Savior!

Dinners and times spent with friends and family

Parties - that bear was the most desired gift at this White Elephant party!

I ended up with the White Elephant. A giant deck of playing cards! 

Fun Snow Fest Event was a HUGE success which served up fun, hot chocolate and frolicking in the snow for over 2,600 people! And even better than that, the meaning of Christmas told and re-told resulting in the gospel of Jesus Christ being shared and 210 people responding by asking Jesus into their hearts! That makes this Christmas super special!

I served at the skating rink helping manage the never ending lines of people waiting their turn, handing out skates, fastening skates and whatever else there was to do. I really wanted to go down the big slide, but never got the chance! Everybody had a blast!

Kate in her recording room, and the hot pink office chair we gave her. She has a Go-Pro for filming her videos and an iPad to watch herself as she records. These kids! The TV had Jack's undivided attention. He did manage to pry himself away so we could all watch The Star together. That was Jason's idea and I think it was a good one! He served up humongous and delicious steaks for dinner!

I have to show off this door that Jason built to close off the recording room for Kate. Kate wanted a she-shed for Christmas, which was not only impractical to have in the back yard in Texas, but also outrageously expensive. So her sweet parents have dedicated what was the office or dining room into a recording/craft studio for Kate. He did an excellent job. They have worked very hard to make this special for Kate. This is a barn door which slides on the runner above back and forth. Folding doors are on the other door to the room. Amy bought picture frames at the Goodwill Store and has been covering them with fabric to hang on the wall and cut down the echo in the room. Lots of little details and a very special gift for Kate. She loves to paint and create and she has a YouTube channel for posting her videos.

Getting ready to open our gifts to them and showing off the fun head gear from their Uncle Charlie!

My brother's grandchildren.

My brother and sis-in-love with Chase and Tenley. Tenley is sitting in the dog's kennel. No, she wasn't in time out! It's funny because many years ago Chase and Jason sat together in our dog's kennel. Hard to believe that ever could have happened because Chase is now a hulk at 6'5" and Jason at 6'7"!

Noah smiling so big because he's bringing the best ever donuts to his class at school!

Kate and Jack playing a game "quietly" together!

My sister with her two daughters.

Tenley peeking out of her playhouse and DH with Annie enjoying a rest.

It truly was a Christmas to Remember! Dear God, I am so humbled by Your love and blessings!

I hope I didn't leave anything or anybody out of my recap! I may have to add as things come to mind! Happy New Year to look forward to and pray for our nation to come together in some unity!

Wednesday Medley

National Candy Cane Day is observed across the United States each year on December 26.

In 1844, a recipe for a straight peppermint candy stick, which was white with colored stripes, was published. However, some stories tell of all white candy sticks in much earlier times.  There are folklore tales of the origin of the candy cane, yet there is no documented proof of its real beginning. It has been mentioned in literature since 1866 and was first known to be mentioned in association with Christmas in 1874.   As early as 1882, candy canes have been hung on Christmas trees.

1.  Are there candy canes left in your house right now?  Did you hang some on your tree?  Do you even like them?

Yes, there are candy canes in our house right now ... and on our tree! Meh! I really am not a fan, but the kids love them and they are a staple at Christmas time. 

2.  Without a graphic, today is also National Thank You Note Day!  I like receiving that thank you note in the mail for a gift I have given.  Are you good about getting thank you notes in the mail after Christmas (or any occasion calling for a note)?

Yes, I love to receive thank you cards and I love sending them. I think it is an important thing to show gratitude for even the smallest gift. It is the thought that counts and when someone has taken the time to send a note of thanks, it is appreciated. Gratitude is good for you! Our daughter is training her sons in this area and I think it is a wonderful thing to teach your children to do. I especially love their little notes. From the Health @ Harvard.edu:

"In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships."

3.  How are you feeling on this day after Christmas?  Tired, let down, still glowing?  I have felt all of those at one time or another and sometimes all of them at once! Tell us about it.

I am feeling especially blessed due to this wonderful Christmas we enjoyed! Thank You to God for His wonderful gift and I am thankful for my family to spend Christmas with. What a beautiful day we enjoyed with our son and his family. 

I do feel those let down feelings throughout the season from time to time ... Thanksgiving to the New Year. It is a melancholy feeling of another year passing and missing those who are no longer with us. It has left me wondering about the future. But I recount the blessings of life and know there is hope and God has all my days in His hand, especially knowing His mercies are new every day and He is always with us. 

4  It is "tradition" to leave the tree and decorations up until after January 6th, to honor the Epiphany. When will your boxes be packed and put away until next year?  Are you, like me, thinking about doing it right now?

No. They will be left up until January 6th. Then I will be happy to pack them up!

5. Looking ahead to New Year's Eve, do you have plans?  Have you ever celebrated big in New York's Time Square? Would you even want to be there?

I'm not sure yet what we will do on New Year's Eve. We've never been to NYC during Christmas and New Year's Eve. It would be exciting to see all the lights, but no, I think I will pass on all the crazy crowds. Too much for us!

6. Tell us something random about your week so far!

It's been a very enjoyable week. A fun Christmas party with our life group, Christmas Eve service, dinner afterward with the kids and Christmas Day with our son and family. 

Dinner together after Christmas Eve service

Hoping everybody had a holly, jolly, and blessed Christmas this year!

The Greatest Gift

Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday Medley

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

1.  Wednesday, December 19, 2018, is National Hard Candy Day! So the first question today is to ask if you enjoy hard candy, especially the kind we usually see during this festive time of year?  What is your favorite?  Which hard candy brings up the best memories for you if any?

No hard candy for me. But I do recall bowls of the stuff, especially the ribbon hard candy around the house at Christmas time and in the little brown bags we received at church. Those bags held an apple, an orange, a variety of nuts for cracking, and lots of hard candy. I put peppermint candy canes on our tree for the kids (and Jason)!

Give me something with dark chocolate, baby! Fudge!

2.  Holiday shopping!  Are you finished? If you could spend an entire day in just one store, which one would it be and why?

I have finished my Christmas shopping, which I did online. Now all I need to do is wrap gifts and I will do that this weekend. To spend an entire day in a store would not be my idea of fun. Maybe a department store in which I could browse around different departments. Or maybe the Nebraska Furniture Mart which might take all day to look through. Lots of goodies to see there. 

This place is GINORMOUS!

3.  What holiday dessert describes you and why? 

It might be the pecan pie, which is nutty, some flakiness, and simple ingredients that come together in a fairly nice way ...vanilla, syrup, butter and sugar . Not too sweet, not tart, just plain old everyday ingredients, a little crusty on the outside and soft in the center, but firm in my beliefs. (I really don't like describing myself like this, so maybe just leave it at nutty.)

4.  What is your least favorite holiday side dish? 

I will pass on anything gelatin. 

5.  Now be real!! There is one on almost every tree. What is the ugliest tree ornament you have ever seen? 

Honestly, I can't say I've seen any ugly ornaments that I can think of right now. 

This is my little Jesse tree I'm working on for Advent.

6.  Tell us something random about your week!!

It's been a great week so far! Kate and Jack stayed with us Saturday night. We saw the movie Ralph Breaks the Internet which was a fast moving kind of show and went to church afterward. I did a lot of running around on Monday just getting things on my list done and had a doctor appointment, too. Tuesday morning was our Ladies of Grace Bible study Christmas brunch, which was a great success! So much fooood! And sooooo very festive. And sooooo good! Because I wanted to make sure I didn't leave anyone out so I took a bunch, but I will share just a few here. We have a great group of ladies.

Our fearless leader, Janice and her daughter.

All our ladies are special, but these three with me are in that

very, very special category and close to my heart.

I counted 30 ladies there today, which was a good turnout.

We are having our Snow Fest event at church this Friday and I am going to help there. It should be interesting and so far, over 3,000 people have indicated interest. 

Friday Foto Friends

Happy Friday and Friday Foto Friends! 

It's been a very Christmassy kind of week and what a wonderful week making memories:

Beginning with Kate's school choir

Dinner with RuthAnn and her father, Wayne

(Me with my coat halfway off as the picture was taken.)

Lunch with my dear friend, Connie

at our favorite place … Cracker Barrel

Fellowship luncheon with a few of my BSF group

This very talented young man entertained us while we waited for the program to begin.

Chasing Lights at Gateway Church with our Monday night friends

who met on Thursday this week. Hot chocolate at Lloyd and Cindy's with yummy cookies

in front of a beautiful fireplace. Chasing Lights was very good.

Wednesday Medley

Wednesday Medley!

1. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? 

Wow! That's tough! If this is 8 hours extra per day, I wouldn't want to spend that extra time watching TV, and it might be hard to read all that time, but maybe I would read more of the books I have. Maybe go to cooking school? Do more volunteer work? If it were all added up together,  I think long vacations or visits to family would be nice. But I think I'm happy sleeping!!!! Wish I had a better answer.

2. What’s your favorite piece of clothing you own/owned?

Comfortable! And whatever makes me look nice. I think a loose, long tunic top over a pair of comfortable, nice looking jeans or capris.

3. What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue? Photography.


4. What would your perfect room look like? (You can post a picture.) Maybe something like one of these. 

It doesn't have to be this big and I would also like a fireplace and very comfortable furniture!

5. When was the last time you climbed a tree? As best as I remember, it was several years ago in Colorado.

Does this count? It's the best I could find. 

Back in the frizzy hair days!

6. Tell us something you will do/did today.

I went to Bible study this morning, came home, did a few things around the house, and will cook dinner later. Tried to work on a blog post and gave up, then remembered Terri's questions, so ta-da, here I am!

Wednesday Medley

Well, fun! Thank you, Terri and good job for the medley of questions today. 

1. What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?

Right now, an amazing adventure for me would be to take the Royal Canadian Train Trip across Canada. We have wanted to do that for so long and we love train trips. 

2. Name five songs that you have completely memorized?

Ha! Really??? The other day DH had the TV on My Fair Lady and I was able to remember all the words to On the Street Where You Live! I love that song and most of the songs we sang in Glee Club I still remember: You'll Never Walk Alone, Que Sera Sera, Edelweiss, Do-Re-Mi, and, of course, songs of faith, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, At Calvary, Jesus Loves Me, Nothing But the Blood.

3. What takes up too much of your time?

Facebook maybe. Blogging? Also I am caught up in a historical fiction right now and finding it hard to break away.

4. What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?

Hmmmm. I refuse to watch shows led by or starring celebrities who have been so hateful toward our government, leadership, or mock our faith. 

5. What’s worth spending more on to get the best?

Food, clothes or shoes which I wear forever!

6. Tell us something random you want us to know about your week...

It's another busy week with appointments and I'm hoping we make it to see the new Unbroken movie this week. Looks like Thursday will be a time we can do that. And I'm looking forward to our concert series beginning on Saturday night, and dinner with friends. Yesterday after a full day, we drove over to see Kate's team play softball. They played very well and Kate had a good hit! So proud of our grandkids.

Wednesday Medley

1.  National Ding-a-Ling Day is observed across the United States each year on December 12.  Ding-a-Lings on this day call the people they haven’t heard from in a while.  It may be an old classmate, co-worker or neighbor from years ago.  Or perhaps a call will go out to the child who used to mow the grass during the summer.  How about that couple who carpooled for soccer. There are all sorts of people in our lives who manage to slip out of our lives who would love to hear the ding-a-ling of a call from you or me.  So tell us who you want to call today!

I think I want to call my old classmate, Becky. I haven't seen her for years and at our age, you wonder sometimes if they are still around and in good health and what is going on in their life. 

2.  Each year on the 12th day of December, people across the United States recognize National Poinsettia Day.  I am including this "National Day" too because my neighbor's poinsettia from last year is blooming beside their house!!  Have you ever tried to plant a poinsettia outside?

No, I don't know if it would survive our heat, however, Florida is pretty hot. But also very humid. I bought a poinsettia today. Maybe I might try to plant it outside. I also bought a Christmas cactus. Both are beautiful. 

3.  Do you believe in Bigfoot? No.
What size shoe do you wear and do you have trouble shoe shopping?

I used to be embarrassed by my "Bigfoot", but not anymore. These feet have been my friends for a very long time now. Size ten and I pretty much end up buying the same styles over and over. Whatever is comfortable. I don't wear heels or cute flats. I need a shoe with a bit of an incline for my back. I like slip on casual. 

4.  What is one thing you refuse to share?
A few secrets from my past. 

5.  Are you finding that this Christmas is stressful? Not so much. Since I gave up trying to make things the way I think they should be.  

More or less than last year? Maybe less.  

6. Tell us something random about your week so far.

We attended Kate's Christmas choir performance last night. Driving over to the school was a fairly stressful ordeal. It's 35 miles one way, driving in the dark on the freeway and highway at rush hour on roads that are under construction and people driving crazy at speeds of 70 and over. We arrived just in time for the performance and I had to park out in the boonies because of the crowd. It was a sweet time seeing Kate sing. She is in the honors choir and they did a great job singing Carol of the Bells and another song that sounded African, with drumbeats and lots of hand-clapping. Seeing and hearing them made the stress of it all worth it. My pictures aren't that good and the kids were so serious as they sang. 

Kate is the cutest girl on the far right!

Last Friday, I had a little brunch time with my friend, RuthAnn before I went for a haircut. She had said to come by for a cup of coffee with danish, but I  should have known better. She had coffee with different creamers, apple danish, yogurt and fruit, biscotti, a cozy fire and a lovely table set. Sweet!

Tuesday evening we met up with RuthAnn and her dad for dinner, Wednesday is breakfast with the guys and Thursday we are joining our friends to attend a performance called Chasing Lights at Gateway Church. I’ve heard it’s quite spectacular! According to a news article, it is a "must see" and it will not disappoint! I have high hopes for it!

Speaking of hope, I loved the graphic Deb at Breathing in Grace posted last Friday and I used it on Facebook. Hope has a Name, and it is Jesus. Today in one of my readings, I discovered (why didn't I know this before?) that in the story of Joshua concerning Rahab, that the  Hebrew word for the scarlet rope hanging out her window is Tikvah! Tikvah means hope! The rope was her guarantee that she and her family would be saved! And, of course, the scarlet thread of redemption runs throughout the Bible. Hope! Coming in the person of Jesus Christ, our Savior! And I love this:

Tikvah is translated as "Hope" in the English, but it has a much deeper meaning in the Hebrew. Tikvah is defined as "a cord, a rope, a line, meaning to bind." Tikvah is a rope that we can hang on to Yahweh with when things are good and bad. It is a cord from heaven, it is a rescue line and a life preserver!

I love it!!! And I'm holding on!

For thou art my hope (tikvah), O Lord GOD: 

thou art my trust from my youth.

(Psalm 71:5)