Don't look back. You're not going that way.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Sunday, December 29, 2019
CHRISTMAS PAST
The last Christmas of this decade has passed. Ahh, those decades go by quickly, don't they? As I usually share my events with pictures, I wanted to do that again this year. I don't want to disappoint my readers who enjoy seeing my life in pictures.
I entertained my neighborhood widows with a lunch again this year. Unbelievable that I took no pictures. None. I did entertain five women with two unable to come. We had a great time!
Another picture free event was a meal with family members from The Husband's side of the family. We enjoyed a steak meal at Longhorn Steakhouse.
The Grandbaby performed in her preschool Christmas program. I could share a lot of pictures but I will share only a few. It was a program of songs such as The Little Drummer Boy and The Reindeer Pokey. Such fun and such a growth in The Grandbaby this year. She started waving as soon as she walked in.
Posing for pictures has become challenging in our family. At least The Son-In-Law is smiling and looking at the camera. One out of three ain't bad.
Success....
There are four friends I have who, along with me, make up The Lunch Bunch. We have been friends since our kids were in elementary school. For 25+ years, we have ate lunch together....monthly for a time, often less often. Finding time together this past year has been a challenge. This group of friends have shared family problems, cancer diagnosis, spousal and parent deaths, sicknesses, and just this past few months a brain surgery. This year our Christmas lunch was a lunch full of thankfulness at what the Lord has brought us through. Yes, this group of friends are praying friends and supportive friends. The tall one was just recovered from brain surgery when this lunch happened. In fact, she was the driver to the lunch and our hearts were full of thankfulness and joy! And may I say that my red sweater got a lot of use this Christmas?
Look how sweet that tiptoe with that shoe slipping off is...it's the little things...she was having no part of lap sitting with him.
And there was the gingerbread house building. This year the house came unassembled. Unfortunately.
There was Christmas at the great grands--Grandaddy and Moe....
...and gifts The Grandbaby loved. The Grandbaby loved EVERY gift. She also loved helping everyone open their gifts. She has quite the artistic side and loves the coloring and the building.
Here's our token annual photo from that gathering. Yes, I was pleased that I was the lap of choice for this picture even though my expression leaves a lot to be desired. Lap sitting in my particular lap doesn't happen often.
Christmas Day was lunch at our house. The Grandbaby had not tired of the gift opening by then at all.
I usually fill stockings for my gathering. I suggested to The Husband this year that he shop at the dollar store and buy me three gifts for my stocking. I would do likewise for him. I bought him nice gifts--candy, crossword puzzle book, and dental floss pickers. Yes, he uses those, thank you.
When my time came to open my stocking gifts, here are two I received...
The Husband said he gave me the hair color in hopes that I would look like the girl on the box. I suggested I would need good makeup for that to happen....
I also received these for my tired eyes and a package of three mini bottles of breath drops. What a guy is The Husband!
The stocking gifts brought a really good gift when combined....the gift of laughter! Everyone except The Grandbaby laughed...she was a little small to appreciate the humor.
We played puzzles, which The Grandbaby loves to do...
The Girl got a couple of sentimental gifts. One was an "I will finish this after Christmas" tablecloth made from a couple of bedspread panels my aunt was cross-stitching at the time of her sickness and passing. I intended to make something out of it eventually and this was the year...perfect for The Girl's table. And The Girl does love sentimental gifts.
The other was a couple of framed pieces of the two favorite piano solos taught her by her former piano teacher who has also gone to heaven. The pieces have all the handwriting of the teacher and brought The Girl much joy. She will hang near her piano. She played this particular one for her county Junior Miss competition. I put the remaining pages behind the mat so they would always be together.
Of course there was the group photo session which took place outside in the warm, spring like temperatures.
See, I was not the chosen lap on this day....
And see...gotta love the challenges....
And in closing, lest we forget the REAL reason for the season.....Happy Birthday, Jesus! (Yes, we sang and blew out the candle!)
"Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15
So Christmas is past, but hopes remain that we will move into the new decade sharing the true meaning of Christmas daily in our lives and with all who we are blessed to meet.
And now....to all a good night!
I entertained my neighborhood widows with a lunch again this year. Unbelievable that I took no pictures. None. I did entertain five women with two unable to come. We had a great time!
Another picture free event was a meal with family members from The Husband's side of the family. We enjoyed a steak meal at Longhorn Steakhouse.
The Grandbaby performed in her preschool Christmas program. I could share a lot of pictures but I will share only a few. It was a program of songs such as The Little Drummer Boy and The Reindeer Pokey. Such fun and such a growth in The Grandbaby this year. She started waving as soon as she walked in.
It's always fun for a little girl to have pictures made with Poppas, Grandaddys, Nanas, and Neemas.
Posing for pictures has become challenging in our family. At least The Son-In-Law is smiling and looking at the camera. One out of three ain't bad.
Success....
There are four friends I have who, along with me, make up The Lunch Bunch. We have been friends since our kids were in elementary school. For 25+ years, we have ate lunch together....monthly for a time, often less often. Finding time together this past year has been a challenge. This group of friends have shared family problems, cancer diagnosis, spousal and parent deaths, sicknesses, and just this past few months a brain surgery. This year our Christmas lunch was a lunch full of thankfulness at what the Lord has brought us through. Yes, this group of friends are praying friends and supportive friends. The tall one was just recovered from brain surgery when this lunch happened. In fact, she was the driver to the lunch and our hearts were full of thankfulness and joy! And may I say that my red sweater got a lot of use this Christmas?
There was also another "bird" gift this year from my secret giver. I LOVED it just as I still enjoy all the ones given in years before. If you are reading this and are my secret giver, thank you so much! These gifts give me the warm-fuzzies every single time I get one.
There were visits with various "Ho Ho's".....
Look how sweet that tiptoe with that shoe slipping off is...it's the little things...she was having no part of lap sitting with him.
And there was the gingerbread house building. This year the house came unassembled. Unfortunately.
There was Christmas at the great grands--Grandaddy and Moe....
...and gifts The Grandbaby loved. The Grandbaby loved EVERY gift. She also loved helping everyone open their gifts. She has quite the artistic side and loves the coloring and the building.
Here's our token annual photo from that gathering. Yes, I was pleased that I was the lap of choice for this picture even though my expression leaves a lot to be desired. Lap sitting in my particular lap doesn't happen often.
Christmas Day was lunch at our house. The Grandbaby had not tired of the gift opening by then at all.
I usually fill stockings for my gathering. I suggested to The Husband this year that he shop at the dollar store and buy me three gifts for my stocking. I would do likewise for him. I bought him nice gifts--candy, crossword puzzle book, and dental floss pickers. Yes, he uses those, thank you.
When my time came to open my stocking gifts, here are two I received...
The Husband said he gave me the hair color in hopes that I would look like the girl on the box. I suggested I would need good makeup for that to happen....
I also received these for my tired eyes and a package of three mini bottles of breath drops. What a guy is The Husband!
The stocking gifts brought a really good gift when combined....the gift of laughter! Everyone except The Grandbaby laughed...she was a little small to appreciate the humor.
We played puzzles, which The Grandbaby loves to do...
The Girl got a couple of sentimental gifts. One was an "I will finish this after Christmas" tablecloth made from a couple of bedspread panels my aunt was cross-stitching at the time of her sickness and passing. I intended to make something out of it eventually and this was the year...perfect for The Girl's table. And The Girl does love sentimental gifts.
The other was a couple of framed pieces of the two favorite piano solos taught her by her former piano teacher who has also gone to heaven. The pieces have all the handwriting of the teacher and brought The Girl much joy. She will hang near her piano. She played this particular one for her county Junior Miss competition. I put the remaining pages behind the mat so they would always be together.
Of course there was the group photo session which took place outside in the warm, spring like temperatures.
See, I was not the chosen lap on this day....
And see...gotta love the challenges....
And in closing, lest we forget the REAL reason for the season.....Happy Birthday, Jesus! (Yes, we sang and blew out the candle!)
"Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15
So Christmas is past, but hopes remain that we will move into the new decade sharing the true meaning of Christmas daily in our lives and with all who we are blessed to meet.
And now....to all a good night!
Sunday, December 15, 2019
A QUESTION FOR YOU
Well, one of the busy pre-Christmas weekends is almost done. I marked a few things of my list but still have a few more. Is it okay to repeat myself by saying "the old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be?"
Today was our church's annual Christmas program. For the first time I can remember in the past 45 years, it was a morning program. This year it was a program involving the children and a musical but told the simple story of Jesus. It held Happy Birthday Jesus, Wake up Shepherds, and my favorite program song for years Jesus Was Born For Me.
The Grandbaby was Mary this year. One never knows how three year olds will do at this kind of event. The Grandbaby was a bit wiggly in her part and her nose did some running without a tissue but all in all, for a three year old, she did pretty good. Her buddy in crime was Joseph. The director said that the audience might get some chuckles. They did that for sure.
In the beginning all went nicely.
I will insert here that The Grandbaby's Baby Aurora was the one chosen to portray the Baby Jesus. She was swaddled tight tight tight. That is a very good thing.
It was shortly after the program began that Joseph did something different.
Baby Aurora/Jesus disappeared from the manger and Mary had to look for her. Seems that Joseph thought his stuffed dog might want to be in the manger instead. Joseph actually was quiet and subdued for the remainder of the program. Mary? Not so much.
Yes, all this was comical. I reminded myself of all the times I worked with children and assured the parents that the children would grow out of their "mischoop" (as The Grandbaby calls it).
Look at this picture.
My question for you is "What do YOU see?"
Sure, I see little feet in stylish shoes that some day will show up in someone's photo box and they will say "That's the kind of shoes we wore back then." I see a wide-eyed doll lying on the floor under something wood.
You know what else I see? I see a piece of weathered wood with stains and I am reminded of the many many years that manger has housed a doll of some sort for children and adults alike to tell the story of Jesus. That manger may be shaky, but it's stood the test of time.
Then I look and I see a representation of a baby on the ground trying to be hidden from sight. How often do I try to hide Jesus away from sharing and showing? Too much, I fear.
I want to be like that weathered wood and stand the test of the storms of life. I want my manger to house the blessed Jesus who is the light of the world!
As The Husband said, he didn't realize the first night of baby Jesus was so "restless" meaning the wiggles on stage. I chuckled at that but I so love the story and I love to hear children, however wiggly they are, portray that story as they learn it for themselves.
Yes, Jesus was born as a baby all those years ago. He lived on earth, was crucified on a cross for my sins and for yours, and three days later rose again! He lives in my heart today and for that I can say "Jesus was born for me"....hallelujah!
So random as this post is, there you have it!
Consider..........
Today was our church's annual Christmas program. For the first time I can remember in the past 45 years, it was a morning program. This year it was a program involving the children and a musical but told the simple story of Jesus. It held Happy Birthday Jesus, Wake up Shepherds, and my favorite program song for years Jesus Was Born For Me.
The Grandbaby was Mary this year. One never knows how three year olds will do at this kind of event. The Grandbaby was a bit wiggly in her part and her nose did some running without a tissue but all in all, for a three year old, she did pretty good. Her buddy in crime was Joseph. The director said that the audience might get some chuckles. They did that for sure.
In the beginning all went nicely.
I will insert here that The Grandbaby's Baby Aurora was the one chosen to portray the Baby Jesus. She was swaddled tight tight tight. That is a very good thing.
It was shortly after the program began that Joseph did something different.
Baby Aurora/Jesus disappeared from the manger and Mary had to look for her. Seems that Joseph thought his stuffed dog might want to be in the manger instead. Joseph actually was quiet and subdued for the remainder of the program. Mary? Not so much.
Yes, all this was comical. I reminded myself of all the times I worked with children and assured the parents that the children would grow out of their "mischoop" (as The Grandbaby calls it).
Look at this picture.
My question for you is "What do YOU see?"
Sure, I see little feet in stylish shoes that some day will show up in someone's photo box and they will say "That's the kind of shoes we wore back then." I see a wide-eyed doll lying on the floor under something wood.
You know what else I see? I see a piece of weathered wood with stains and I am reminded of the many many years that manger has housed a doll of some sort for children and adults alike to tell the story of Jesus. That manger may be shaky, but it's stood the test of time.
Then I look and I see a representation of a baby on the ground trying to be hidden from sight. How often do I try to hide Jesus away from sharing and showing? Too much, I fear.
I want to be like that weathered wood and stand the test of the storms of life. I want my manger to house the blessed Jesus who is the light of the world!
As The Husband said, he didn't realize the first night of baby Jesus was so "restless" meaning the wiggles on stage. I chuckled at that but I so love the story and I love to hear children, however wiggly they are, portray that story as they learn it for themselves.
Yes, Jesus was born as a baby all those years ago. He lived on earth, was crucified on a cross for my sins and for yours, and three days later rose again! He lives in my heart today and for that I can say "Jesus was born for me"....hallelujah!
So random as this post is, there you have it!
Consider..........
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