Photos from Sunday

Following are some of the photos taken at the Ladies' Advent Service on Sunday, late afternoon. While we had 22 ladies signed up to come, we were a few short. Just in case, though, I had set a 'spare table' for overflow but did not need to use it. All my stress and concern regarding this event was wasted because it came off nicely, with many folks offering their compliments. One lady asked me if I could share the program for her to take to her 'next church'. Man, I really hate to see them go but they are Navy folks and move regularly. Of course, I will be happy to share what I have and will be honored if she remembers me after they are gone.

Judy is mixing up her delicious fruit punch, taste-testing to make sure it is just exactly right. She also decorated a table and did much of the leg-work involved in making this event work out properly.

Here is the dessert table, wearing my tablecloth plus the top from my CHRISTmas tree! The happy dish of candy corn is also mine while other ladies donated the sweet treats for all to enjoy. In the background is Suzanne, prepping for accompanying our singing on her viola. Janet had brought her keyboard but just did not feel comfortable enough to play the hymns so took the keyboard back to her car. Thank you, Suzanne, for carrying the load!

Some of the ladies floated after dressing their tables, helping others get things in order. Bonnie and Donna finished theirs and then stepped up to help Janet. Sandy was going to do a table as well, but had a fall at home, requiring her to be off her feet. Glad someone stepped up to take her place.

This table bears the 'presents' used in "Anticipating His Presence", our program for the day. The gifts are object lessons of the things in our lives---some which enhance, some which distract. To name a few items: the white luxurious robe (of righteousness); a knight in shining armor (put on God's armor); "call upon me in the day of trouble", a cell phone; also a Barbie doll which demonstrates unrealistic proportions, showing the unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves. Jackie opened the cell phone box and held it up, thinking it was a clock. She had no idea it was a cell phone!

Suzanne gave Hanna her first Advent gift at the Ladies' Advent Service. She was given a children's adventure Bible, which has actual chapter and verse while also being a 'study Bible'. I think Hanna liked it!

The ladies are gathered, waiting the event to get underway. You can see from the windows that it was not yet dark out, but eventually I had a dilly of a time reading my text as the sun began to set. Thankfully I had a battery-operated candle to use to light my way!

Suzanne accompanied all our singing, playing beautifully, of course. I could listen to her play all day! And in fact, I nearly did hear her play all day!!!

Watching the news from my bed

Or, what I thought was the news. Besides the hostage situation resolved in Marinette, WI, sadly with the student trying to kill himself, there really is not much real news being discussed today. So far I have seen supermodels on two separate segments, some 'stars' of reality TV (I had heard of them but never saw them before---what makes them so famous???), plus multiple replays of a sassy losing quarterback walking out of a press conference. Yesterday there were dancers outside dressed as elves with the hosts trying to decide who would get to go outside to dance with them. Come on, guys, just report the news, okay, and leave the entertainment to the other networks. Man! We will all be fiddling while Rome burns here...

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One little byte of information that was shared today was that a report has come out saying that the medical information encouraging folks to take extra calcium and Vitamin D has been refuted. What? It seems now that taking these supplements can actually cause more problems than are helped. More information regarding this will have to be looked at because strangely enough, I take the supplements mentioned. Last night I was chatting on-line with a friend who reported that she has bone problems in her later life due to her calcium being depleted when she was bearing children. She said that she had to eat lots of red meat in those days to improve her iron but at the same time, the meat helped to deplete the calcium. Who knew? I had to follow high-iron diets when expecting, too, but fortunately I thus far do not have a calcium deficiency. My friend also had/has a dairy food problem which certainly does not help with bone building at all. Yikes!

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Okay, so now I am not as upset since the program is featuring a book with 50 years' worth of presidential photography. Now, that is a book I would read! Pictures! Linda called last night with an update for me regarding a book search she was doing on my behalf. She took her grands to The Read Apple in Two Rivers the other day and scoped out some books for my great nephews. Linda also told me about a book store she gets activity books from in Sheboygan which are nice for in church or in restaurants, and do not require batteries. The store is called Sonshine, in case anyone is familiar with it.

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When I woke up this a.m. I switched the channel to a local news station to see if my friends, Helen and Donna, would be looking back at me. I thought I missed their segment by not waking up soon enough, but then looked back at Helen's FB page to see that it is actually Wednesday they will be on First Coast News. Must set the alarm and remember to change the channel as soon as I awaken. Helen, who is Dee's daughter, and Donna, an artist, I am sure will be talking about the upcoming ArtWalk on Wednesday night, just my guess.

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This week, now that the church newsletter has gone out, I will focus on the report from the SoWE, if the other ladies are available to do so. Pastor has asked me again to set a date so we had better get our ducks in a row and be prepared before this coming month gets too busy or crazy schedule-wise. In peeking ahead at the weather page on-line, it shows up in red that a cold snap is coming, warning us all to take cover, with an expected 25 degree drop in temperatures overnight. Yikes again! At 9:00 am here is 69 degrees, with the high expected to be 83. By dinner time, strong storms may roll in and the lows in the 30's. With nowhere I need to be, besides under these covers, I am good!