The Ladies' Group Christmas Party

Sue B. and Kristin carry in their treats for the table, with Judy C. looking on

 There was punch plus plenty of Diet Coke to wash down our desserts

Look at this sumptuous spread!

Terri T. had us playing Christmas carol Pictionary. This is Terri H. doing the drawing her team

 Here are a few shots of the ladies at the tables: Betty (standing) Jean, Donna, Becky, Renee, and Janet

From the left is LuAnn, Gretchen, Judy, Jayne, Fran, and Ethel (behind her)

Donna is opening a gift she chose from under the tree, since someone took her first choice. From left is Jean (a friend of Betty's who has joined our Monday Bible study), Donna, and her daughter, Becky 

 Terri T. looks on as Jean unwraps a lovely Bible cover, which oddly enough, was NOT stolen from her! (not shown is Twila, who out of the shot)

 Lynn is about to steal a gift from Terri H. but feels so badly about doing so that she turned red in the face. We have Janet, Sue, Terri, Lynn, Sue K., and Kristin (her daughter)

Fran, Ethel, Jean, and Betty are laughing as Lynn steals the gift from Terri 

...and here is what I ended up with, the only gift 'retired' from being stolen. It is a glass candle holder with a battery-operated scented candle inside, so perfect for me! Next to it is the lovely bookmark Terri bestowed on us all at the party. 'Twas a great night!

I can get used to this!

The Jaguars won again! That's three so far this season, two in a row, and away games. I don't know how they are doing it, but I say, "Keep it up!" I like feeling good after watching a game for a change.  The Packers lost their last game on ThanksLiving Day, breaking a stretch where the Lions were ALWAYS the designated losing team. Nope...not this year! The previous Sunday's score ended in a tie---oh, they need Aaron Rodgers up and throwing again.

The acolyte lighting the first candle on the Advent ring. The "Sheldon" in me doesn't like the candle leaning like this but for some reason, there is no straightening it.

Today is New Year's Day, at least it is so according to the litergical church year. The first day of Advent was celebrated in our worship, with the theme of "Watching". This Wednesday will be our first midweek service which I look forward to attending. I like how we recognize Advent before getting all feverish with Christmas "stuff".

Judy J. came outside to find me, to get me to take a photo of the cake before Betty cut into it. Good thing my cell phone has a camera as part of its functions!

We had a new member accepted today during our service by affirmation of faith. There was cake served afterward to welcome her to our midst. Betty was asked, on the way out of worship, if she would serve the cake, so she did not join us for lunch. She just couldn't say no. 

The rest of us went to Chili's for lunch, with Mike S. joining us just as we were ordering. He had to stick around afterward to supervise stuffing of outreach materials which will be delivered next weekend, promoting our Christmas services. Justin left our table to join his friend, Jesse, at another table at the Ale House where they watched the Jaguar game together. I am glad they are still hanging out together at least once a week. 

This week the Jags play on national TV on Thursday night and I only hope they makes us proud, maybe a victory, but hopefully NOT a shut-out. Looking forward to a night of football cheering!

A good day for chili

My poor sun jar feels neglected today as the sun was not ours to be had. Of course, it was going to be a nasty, windy day because Justin was going to be working in it for nearly 9 hours. He stopped only to run to Burger King to grab some lunch, ate in the truck, and then back at it. Today's task was to pressure wash his friend, Jesse's, family home on the river, where the wind is even more brisk and biting. What a job! Not only the house but the concrete circular drive-way as well. 

Knowing it was going to be 'that kinda day', it was a good choice for me to make my delicious chili. It warmed him up and filled his hungry tummy. I just amaze myself with my culinary skills, though limited to only a few specialties, I can pull it off! We were taking a break from our leftovers, which are slowly but surely being whittled away.

                             

I stayed in the house almost the entire day save for the trip to the railing to see what was going on at The Club. When I was in the kitchen, I could hear some lovely singing, and knowing my downstairs neighbor was not home, figured there was a weddding going on. NOT a good day for an outdoor weddding, in my opinion. I could see all the chairs were lined up and ready for guests but could not see where the singer was. Perhaps she was only doing a sound check and had gone back in to defrost (it was, after all, only 55 above zero).

My sleep should be good with fresh sheets on the bed. Justin helped me get it remade, knowing my back was tender from my kitchen detail on Wednesday and Thursday. It's not easy to run back and forth around the bed and tuck the sheets in just so (he calls me "Sheldon") but I am like the princess and the pea when it comes to making my bed. And then I have the nerve to ask for help???

A day of quietness

After my busy day yesterday, I was exhausted. The bed and sleep was good, but had to tear myself away for Breakfast Club. It was only going to be Nancy and I, which I knew in advance, but still did not wish to miss. There was no hot breakfast buffet today since the Rotarians were not there, so Nancy and I ordered from the menu. We had a nice visit, staying until the waitress rolled up the tablecloth. They are so subtle sometimes!

Yesterday Nancy's knee was aching as it was today and my back was nice 'n achy after my time in the kitchen the two previous days. It does not seem to take much to wear me out any longer. Upon getting home from The Club, I got myself situated here in the desk chair which feels so good with its lumbar support. 

My little space heater was keeping the room cozy for me, but Justin was cold in his room, having two exterior walls. He actually got my little Rosewood space heater out to use in his room and turned on the A/C heat to get the chill from the rooms. It was only 74 in the house yet felt much colder.

For lunch we enjoyed our leftovers yet again, the same as we'd had for dinner last night, with him finishing off the green bean casserole. At a certain point in the afternoon, me comfy on my bed with the heat pad behind me, Justin came in to propose dinner. Earlier I had asked if he was going anywhere, and in case he was, could he pick up some Bloody Mary mix for making chili. He proposed we make our weekly trek to Koko's. He could only go so long without having sushi and fried rice! Me, too! And then we'd stop at Publix.

I really would have been fine staying in for dinner but who can resist those brown eyes? Plus I still wanted to make chili for tomorrow, so off we went. I am so glad we did go because our meals were delicious and just as we were about to leave, I met someone I had not seen in a couple years---Carrie Jackson! 

This photo is a couple years old but it already shows how much Carrie resembles her mom, and her daughter resembles her!

She was there with her hubby and kids, and some of her in-laws, home from Italy on vacation. Her mom, Kathy, had her granddaughter in church with her on Thursday and I got to see her. I am friends with Carrie on Facebook and get to see the lovely area where Jeremy and she are raising their family, while he serves in the Air Force. She spotted me and came running over for a hug. Love it! She did not think they would make it to church Sunday because of leaving the next day and then having to get all their Christmas presents purchased and ready to be shipped FedEx to Italy. It would be great if they can make it. 

Anyway, Justin and I got home just in time to watch Jeopardy! in the chilly living room and have now retired to our own rooms for the rest of the night. I am having trouble getting Fox in my room again so am missing O'Reilly but found something to amuse myself with instead as I write. It was a good day! 

"Oh, give thanks unto the Lord"

This is the cornucopia of bounty which was displayed at Good Shepherd this morning. So very nicely done!

Here is my table dressed and loaded with food, ready for us to eat. You can barely make out Mike C.'s legs at the top of the photo, as he was taking a picture, too. See my glass of soda? Was so pleased to have Mike 'n Mike, plus Betty S., and my friend, Nancy, joining Justin and me at the table this year. Thankful to God for good friends, family, and this bounty!

Happily exhausted

Oh, my aching back! I can say this with a smile on my face and my heat pad in place, lounging on my bed. I am done for the day, but ready for another one!

Justin and I began our day with him taking me to breakfast at Grumpy's. We had such a lovely time, talking and eating, as though we hadn't seen each other in months. I ordered the single pancake which nearly covered the plate (thinking this is a lesser portion than the short stack...) plus a side of hash browns. Justin had the Grumpy's Breakfast which was two of everything. Well, not actually everything but two eggs, two sausages, two strips of bacon, that type of thing. Plus pancakes, so he could not help me finish mine. 

From Grumpy's we headed to Walgreens to take advantage of the cheap soda deal. Justin had looked it up and it was a four case per customer deal so we both went in. It was a blessing and a curse for us both to go in..oh my. The blessing was the manager taking a liking to me and saying I could take as many I liked, and even helped me to load my cart. Justin also loaded up his cart with double the amount permitted. Cool! The manager liked my accent, thinking I was from MN. He was from MI so he picked up on it right away. 

Besides my soda purchases, I picked up other things, some which were needed and some which were impulse purchases. I got a generic Alleve product to help my aching back plus some Christmas cards, my exchange gift for Monday night's Ladies' Group party (already???), some candy, and even mini-ornaments to display in a bowl. I laughed as Justin put them in the cart because stuff was supposed to be going out of the house, not bringing more in! That makes two violations of said policy this month, with the acquisition of my blue glass lantern, and now blue and silver ornaments!

We had done our grocery shopping on Tuesday afternoon so I was all ready to begin my meal prep for Thursday's feast. I began with the Jell-Os, standard fare for Lutheran events which even smelled like the holidays. I made the sweet potatoes, steamed my red creamer potatoes in two batches, made honey carrots, the green bean casserole, and was about to make the dressing when I realized I lacked the celery and onion needed. Nuts! No, I had nuts which were added to the sweet potatoes.

Justin said he would go to the store for the needed items but not immediately as he was busy cleaning in his room. Love that! He got two containers of the already chopped up veggies, so we are good to go. I can use the second container later to make sloppy joes or chili, using the fresh ground hamburger he picked up from the butcher shop on Tuesday evening. 

I also baked the pumpkin pie and while some things were baking or cooking, I could go and sit at the desk for a while to rest in between. At last I had the needed info for the newsletter and was able to get that completed and sent off. The house smelled good with the aromas mixing, and especially the pie. Yummy!

Justin and I went to church at Victory this evening for their pre-ThanksLiving service. Oh, it was lovely, with Rachel's playing of the organ being her "A-game", as Anne H. described it. She had fantastic interludes and introductions to the familiar hymns of thanksgiving and it is so great to sing in this sanctuary. Afterwards was a pie social which was great, as well. I like being able to go with him for this service, as some years he would be there with his father instead and I'd sit it out. Got to see many of my friends whom I do not see at Bible study.

When we got home, both sort of full from desserts, we opted to not have dinner per se, and got busy putting the dressing together. My bird would not allow for being stuffed so it was being baked in a casserole. It really is not a two-person job but so appreciated the company. The dishwasher got a work out, celebrating its birthday earlier this month. Would certainly have a more tired back if I had to handwash all these dishes!

I made it through!

In the pouring rain, I trundled off to St. Catherine's church for the annual event of Senior Presentation. I had not been there since 2005 when Justin was 'presented' with his class to the student body in this official manner. According to the school calendar, the time for the service was 10:00 a.m. but mass was still taking place. Another lady and I were there, waiting, when the photographer told us she just called the school and they said it began at 11. 

I know I was not mistaken and the other lady also said she saw 10 a.m., saying her son had to be at school at 9:00 a.m. for rehearsal, as he was in the choir. Oh well, I just went back out into the rain and listened to the radio in my car until I saw people streaming out from mass, and other people began to arrive. Back in I went through the raindrops. So glad my hair adapts well to being wet!

I sat in the back, as was my plan, and watched the kids stream in and go through their rehearsal. This was the upper grades to begin with, as the buses had to go back to school to reload. One of the faculty members came over immediately to speak with me, giving me a warm hug as she watched my tears fall down. She was so glad I came and spent a good deal of time with me. We had built her home many years ago, when Timmy was one year old, and her youngest was two. He graduated last year, and remembered me, somehow. Probably because we lived in the same community and my kids were in school with them...

A little bit later, Amy came back with a gentleman in tow, saying he wanted to meet me. It was the new headmaster, Mr. Ellison. I was so flattered that he wished to meet me, and put a face to the name. He was most gracious. A while after him another teacher came over and sat down with me. She told me that there is going to be a function in May sometime where Timmy will be remembered as part of something done for the Seniors. She asked me if I had some special photos or anything to share with them, she promising to take very good care of them. I said I did have some taken in his classroom, where his shoes are on the wrong feet (as usual). 

In addition to those, I am going to do something with the piece of artwork which Timmy had begun but his classmates completed, and signed. Dee might be able to help me with that part of the project. The teacher told me that after New Year she will get in touch with me, or one of the others on the committee will, with a firm date, in case any of my family wanted to attend. That sort of startled me, because I never even thought about the fact that otherwise they might be coming down for graduation....I weep....

I recognized only a couple of the names from the program, and some of them appear on the perimeter of Timmy's artwork. Some of the kids would have been in another class and not signed the piece. One young man had left St. Johns for a few years but came back for his Senior year. He had attended Childtime with Timmy and lived in our neighborhood in The Preserve. My friend, Jen, worked as the nanny for this young man and his brother, so I got to spend time with him when he was growing up. That was nice.

See the girl in the front row looking at Justin's shoes?

I knew the couple in front of me through my neighbor, Travis. Rob is our State Senator, and Travis is the State Representative for our area. It was nice to see Rob and Jennifer again (I frequently see them out and about). Their son was among the Seniors, and it appeared had grabbed the wrong blazer this morning, as his shirt sleeves stuck out two inches below his jacket. Jennifer was horrified, and was going between laughing and crying as he walked down the aisle. Afterward I told them about Justin's white shoes for graduation mishap and had a good chuckle over that. I cautioned them to pay special attention to the paperwork that comes home for graduation tuxedo requirements, and note that zoot suits are NOT among them!