Our Christmas week 2024

 

Time to get back here for an update! And I have so much catching up to do in reading your posts!  

I'll start with something we did last Tuesday evening (12/17) after I had written my last update here.  

The evening before I had seen a beautifully decorated Victorian house with a Christmas tree on the porch.  I thought, "Hmmm.  We got a new tree this year, I wonder if Dick still has our old one in the shed."  He did!!  So since we don't have any rockers on our porch because they have broken and we got rid of them, we put our old tree on the porch and I put a string of lights on it.  I LOVE it!!

Wednesday was soup day.  During Advent season we have had a worship service each Wednesday evening preceded by a soup and bread supper.  I had signed up to make a pot of soup, and it was also my regular cooking day for Anthony and Lori, so I made two pots of chicken tortilla soup.  It was a hit at our supper.

On Thursday I was busy with music prep and practice, and in the evening we had choir practice. 

On Friday I had my annual cardiology appointment and also did some grocery shopping and then Christmas card shopping at the Dollar Store.  We had a bit of snow that day, but not enough to make any driving issues. 

On Saturday morning Dick and I drove to Reading (a 3-hour drive).  Destiny, Ozzie, and Elizer had come from Indianapolis, getting there about 3 am.  Destiny's mom was at work, so we didn't get to see her.  Destiny and I were on a cleaning spree!  She cleaned the laundry room where the cat litter and food are.  She also went through a stack of her mail that had arrived since she was there three weeks prior.  Elizer and I (mostly I) organized and cleaned up Elizer's room.  Dick assembled a shelving unit for the bathroom.  

Then we said our goodbyes.  We were taking Elizer to his dad in Lancaster.  He'll be there for a few weeks.  I wanted a picture before I left.  She was embarrassed that she was still in her jammies and had bedhead.  But she laughed and posed for a picture.

Elizer - always the comedian!

I had SO much fun working in his bedroom with him. 

We drove to Lancaster and dropped him off, then went to my sister-in-law Nancy's house.  Her son Steve and his family were visiting from Texas.  We had a really fun visit with them, although rather short.

Then we went to our hometown Manheim to see the Christmas lights in the square.  Those lights have decked the square at Christmas time as long as we can remember.  

Sunday morning was really special at church.  The children did not go to classes, but there was a special part for them in the adult service.  First Pastor Jim talked with them about Jesus' birth being foretold hundreds of years before.

 

Then my friend Vicky presented the most interactive story of Luke 2:1-8.  You could tell that she was a teacher.  She was so good!

When we got home from church I decided we should take a picture of ourselves in our "Sunday clothes." I set the timer on my camera and ended up getting some really hilarious pictures.  

I decided this one will do.

We went to a 4:00 showing of "It's a Wonderful Life" at the theatre in State College.  It's our favorite Christmas movie, and it was fabulous getting to see it from beginning to end without any interruptions for commercials.   

As we went back to the parking garage afterward we walked through this lovely patio.

Tuesday evening was our Christmas Eve service.  We were filled up!  Even put a row of folding chairs in the center aisle.  It was a beautiful service.

On Christmas morning I sat in the living room for a while and reflected on the beautiful moments of peace we are privileged to have in our lives.  My heart aches for so many who need to fight just to survive.  We are SO blessed!

I made a huge batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in the morning.  Also a too-yummy fruit dip for all the fruit I had gotten.  In the evening Anthony, Lori, and the boys came over.  Anthony had smoked ribs and they were the BEST he had ever done!!  We also had a hodge podge of meats, cheeses, crackers, small bites, desserts, etc.  Very informal and fun.  

Then Hunter wanted to play "Grounded for Life."  It's the most ridiculous game, especially geared to juvenile humor.  Lots of laughs.  This is the only picture I got of our evening together.  The men were in the living room.

This is Thursday and I gave my choir a Christmas break.  No practice this evening!  First time off since the beginning of September!

We have some more good times coming up, so stay tuned for the next update!  I'll try to visit you soon.