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No longer on the river and, again, an empty nester. Back to living on Fleming Island and making some more friends!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

A full day with the church family

 This morning for our Lessons and Carols service, we had a little choir formed to sing three pieces, in which I sang two verses as a solo. The choir got many compliments which were warmly received. 
After church our group went to Chili's where we surprised Mike S with a new TV. He was presently watching a 13" one and ruining his eyes in the process so we chipped money and gift cards together to get him this one. Gotta love the electronics sales this time of the year. He was blown away, and even wiped a tear from his eye, saying he's never gotten such a wonderful gift. Nice!
But, no time to enjoy his new TV---not when there is a tree waiting to be decorated. Nick and Mike were stringing the lights so we ladies didn't have to climb up on the ladder. And then Mike had to go to the kitchen and make some soup!
Once the tree was decorated, a group of us headed to the Veterans' Home near St. Augustine to sing carols to the residents. After we sang to each dining room of vets, we'd go around to greet them and wish them Merry Christmas, thanking them for their service. The kids were real troupers, not shy about greeting these folks. I am proud of them for being so kind and willing to serve.
We had ten total carolers, three of which were young kids, and one young man who is Judy's grandson, David, a law student at UF. We put on lots of miles on foot going dining room to dining room but it was well worth it as Laurie's youngest son remarked to her on the ride back, "That was fantastic..." or something to that affect. Love it!



This is what awaited us when we got back to church. We had several choices of soups, and breads to eat with it. We had lots of people show up to eat besides the carolers but there was plenty of soup for us all.
                               
Here are the soups, as prepared by Chefs Mike 'n Mike, and one by Brad, including graduated types of chili starting with mild and ending up with 'there go my fillings' hot. Also a turkey and wild rice, a seafood chowder, and another one which I don't know what it was. The bread was wonderful, too, with butter---yum!
When I got home from my church activities, Justin so too excited to wait for me to open my Christmas presents from him. Even though I didn't have mine ready for him, he just couldn't wait. This bag contains numerous bottles of scented hand sanitizer which I like, plus the bag is actually a cooler. Once frozen, the bag will chill a 6 pack of soda or beer for a period of time, like a giant coozy. I just love it, perfect for the pool!
Justin made these wooden pillars for me, resembling gifts. Working together with Jesse, they cut, sanded, shaped, and painted these pillars and applied the ribbon to make them look like this. Both us moms got a set and some friends as well are getting some of their hand-crafted gifts. I like them, our only decorations out this year!  He also gave a scented candle which doesn't appear in the photos, two scents as one flows into the other as it burns. He is a gem!