Nowhere else to be

It feels so wonderful to be home this evening, connecting with my heating pad, my laptop, and TV remote control. Even if the Packers lost in the last moment by one stupid point, one point!!!, I am glad to be here. Checking the calendar and schedule a couple times just to make sure I did not have to be somewhere else, the decision was made to get comfortable in my nightie. If it was summer time, the sun would still be out and fun going on, but since it is winter, well almost anyway, wearing ones nightie at this early hour is more than acceptable. Between the Packers and the Jaguars, my heart is taking a beating (get it???). What a wild ride these teams have taken us on this season!

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Today required a great deal of standing as our second Advent Song Service took place at Victory, with rehearsal beforehand. Kathy B. rode with me to the church, leaving her car parked at the dog track. Rachel, the director, sent me a message overnight asking if we could bring a music stand with us so Kathy stopped at church to grab one on her way to meet me. We tossed it in the back of my car and away we went. The freeways were clear and the two of us arrived in good time, with extra spent in the car talking until more choir members began to show up.

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It was wonderful to see our brothers and sisters again, and combine voices and hearts with them. Suzanne played the viola beautifully, having to dash between the organ and piano to accompany, as Rachel asked her to do. She is the one who should be lying down tonight after all the miles she put on. It would have been bad form to cut across the front of the church so Suzanne had to truck it around back each scene change---whew! The piano, played by Bonnie, was lovely and with Rachel on the organ, it was almost heavenly. For one of our anthems, Rachel's brother, Joel, sight-read the music and played the bells, adding much to the background. Justin was the photographer for me, and got several nice shots of various people, including me. Someone after church said it was like Justin was taking pictures at his mama's wedding, ready to shoot the picture every time his mama was up front! Afterwards, Janet came to the narthex where I was "greeting", took my hand and lead us up front so Justin could take a photo of the five of us ladies from G. S. Rick P. had already left or he would have been included in the shot. Only six of our choir members were able to be there this morning, as illness or travel prevented others from being there.

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It was great to see so many people I know, including Anne's parents, visiting from Sarasota, and Carol, a friend of Linda O's whom I had met a couple years ago at Linda's condo in St. Augustine. Linda had a gathering one year after her husband died to thank the ladies in her life who had helped her get through and there I met Carol. It was amazing that she remembered my name and was so fun to see her again! Linda had invited me to come to her condo on New Year's Eve for a bonfire and to ring in 2010, even having a sleep-over. Unfortunately, or rather, fortunately my family will be visiting me yet at that time so had to take a rain check. I couldn't make it on ThanksLiving Eve either because I was in WI and if I do not watch out, the invitations might stop coming!

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Justin had plans for after church so four of us ladies went to eat lunch at Mimi's. We were told there was a 45 minute wait but we pulled up chairs at the party bar and were able to order from the bar room. Cool! Time was our enemy a bit because we had a full day ahead of us yet with the tree decorating, caroling, and then the chili supper at our own church. Others were taking care of putting up the tree and I was in charge of the caroling. Kelly T. had left the beautifully done CHRISTmas card booklets at church for us to hand out when caroling plus a gift bag for me. Inside the bag were two Packer towels for attaching to the oven door, two Packer hot pads, a gorgeous blue candle she had made, plus two dishcloths and a dish towel. She really outdid herself and I cherish the hand towels! Presently the CHRISTmas scene towel is hanging on my oven door which was her gift to me last year but will be replaced by the Packer ones when my family is here! Awesome gifts from an awesome friend!

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We have one member at a nursing home in O.P. so that is where we headed. There were only five adults and four kids who went caroling, with Nancy being delighted to see us. Before I could introduce us, Nancy said she knew who we were which was very good. She had a stroke and is recovering from it, but her memory is strong, so much so that she could attempt to sing along with us on the carols she knew. The little ones really sang out nicely as some of the songs are part of their program for the 24th. I was so proud of them! As we were leaving, we sang "Joy to the World" going down the hallway as the kids handed out the booklets. We found a roomful of people in the dining room so we sang a song or two for them as the kids gave away the rest of the booklets. Even though I was so terribly weary, it was truly a blessing to be able to go there to sing for these folks and wish them Merry CHRISTmas!

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Back at church, the fellowship hall was aromatic with the scent of chili which those who had not gone caroling prepared for us. Three types of chili, three types of corn bread, crackers, cheese, onions, and kidney beans......wow! My first helping was delicious, Cincinnati chili, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach (really????) and I simply could not finish the next type of chili. Oh, it was such a wonderful day today being with two of the church families, preparing for Jesus' birthday and sharing the Word in song and booklet. And there was nothing else on the calendar for today besides that!