What I Love about December 2011, Part II

Well, I just decided I would continue the previous post as I way to finish out the year.  I'll have you know that one of my New Year's goals is to blog more consistently.  It's so easy to get out of the habit and I sure have. 

Let's see, where did I leave off . . .
6.  On Friday, the 9th, E and I spent the whole day shopping, eating and just plain having fun.  I don't know when I've enjoyed a day more.  You know we went out on Black Friday but that just comes with it's own set of issues.  So going shopping on just a regular day was just delightful.  We started off with our traditional breakfast at Chick-fil-A and then did all of our shopping within about 3 square miles of where we started.  We had to laugh; we kinda kept going around in circles until we got it all done.  Well, not done completely but done for that day.  We had the best time. 
7. D and I got up bright and early the next morning and made our way down to Statesboro to see our boy.  The GSU Eagles were playing in the football quarterfinals that day and that sounded like as good as excuse as any to go see G.  We met for lunch and then gathered up our things and headed to the ballgame.  Yes, they won but I was more focused on the blessing of sitting between my two favorite men in the entire world for 3 1/2 hours.    We went to G's house after and hung out with lots of his friends who were in town for the big game.  It was fun to be in his environment and a great way to spend a Saturday.  We left bright and early the next morning to get back home. Our church's annual Christmas Presentation was that evening and we made it just in time to change clothes and get there.  The sounds of the season are just so wonderful - adults and children singing about our Lord's birth.  Loved it. 
8.  On the 14th, we attended our Christmas Communion at church.  Traditionally, our whole family goes together but this year G and N couldn't be there.  We sure did miss them.  I love this service. It's so beautiful and meaningful.  I always do supper afterwards at the house and this year's selection was chili and BLT wraps.  Quick and easy. Check.
9.  On the 15th, the Birthday Girls got together for our Annual Cookie Swap Extravaganza.  Oh, this is so much fun.  Seriously, food, gifts and cookies with your best girlfriends - what could be better?  It's a blast every year. Every one's cookies were amazing.  My contribution - Toffee Chocolate Chip Shortbread.  I'll have to post the recipe for you. 
10.  On the 16th, D's immediate family gathered - D's sister and husband traveling from Tennessee and their children coming from the Atlanta area.  D's mom has been experiencing some health problems so we opted for dinner out at Red Lobster and then went to their house.  We had such a good time but we had a big ole hole - G was missing.  He has gotten a job in Statesboro and his schedule wouldn't allow him to be home.  First time in 22 years that we haven't all been together.  Made this momma's heart a little sad but in the big picture, it was okay. G did get home on Christmas Eve eve and for that I was grateful.
11. On the 17th, E and I worked our final wedding of 2011!  This was kind of a last minute, 2-week-before-the-wedding panic call from the bride's mom in need of some day-of assistance and we were happy to help.  Let me just say that a Christmas wedding is just gorgeous.   The church and reception site were already beautifully decorated.   It was just lovely. 
12.  My birthday present from D this year actually allowed me to check something off of my bucket list.  In the 70s one of my favorite bands was Pure Prairie League (or PPL as us cool kids called them back then).  I first laid eyes on their new guitarist in 1978.  Let's just say it was "love at first sight" or the best it could be on an album cover.  I wanted to know all there was to know about this handsome guitarist who could sing as smooth as buttaaah.  This little known talent (at the time) was Vince Gill. I have followed his career ever since but had never seen him in person.  So you can imagine my thrill when I opened my birthday gift and it was tickets to see him and Amy live at the Fox Theatre for their 12 Days of Christmas Tour. So on Monday the 19th we headed that way.  I was mesmerized from the moment he took the stage.  The man is so incredibly talented that I just couldn't take my eyes off of him.  That Amy was pretty good too but honestly, I could have cared less that she was there.  Aren't I terrible? Just honest.  Although, she did provide quite the interesting fashion show.  She changed clothes four times and all equally gorgeous choices.  So for that, I was glad she came.  :)
13.  The next day, we hosted the store's Operations Staff and their spouses for a Christmas Open House.   We had never done this before and now I'm wondering why.  It was so much fun.  We honestly enjoy these folks so much and loved having them in our home.   I had a blast cooking for this party.  I'll have to post the menu in the next couple of days. 
14.  On Christmas Eve, G and I went to the 5:00 service at our church.  What a powerful and meaningful service it was.  And I was so thankful to be there with G because it seemed as though he had missed most of what had gone on during the season.  This service was a great remembrance through baptism and communion about what Jesus' gift of life really means.  I was moved to tears and held on to that boy tightly as we left.   That moment will be with me for a very long time.
15.  Ahhh and Christmas Day!  Joy to the World, the Lord has Come!  It was a great one.  I woke up with all of my family under my roof.  What a great thing!  D fixed breakfast and I fixed lunch and in between we opened more presents that we really deserved.  I am never happier than when all of my family is in my house.  It is a thrill I will never tire of.  Thank the good Lord that He provided that blessing on that day!  We had a great day!

Well, that was kind of an abbreviated version of a very busy month.  I'll post some recipes in the next few days and then we'll start thinking about the new year.  Have you made any goals for 2012?  I've already been evaluating those from 2011 and refocusing on the new.  I'll be sharing.

Precious Memories

One of my favorite things about Christmas is putting up our tree and walking down memory lane with the ornaments. I told you a few days ago about my ornament obsession, especially with those my children made in elementary school. I am forever thankful for those teachers and assistants who gave of their time and creativity to make these ornaments that I now find so precious. I have probably close to 400 ornaments but none more special than these:

My girl - Kindergarten, 1991.

My boy - First Grade, 1996.

My girl - during Middle School

My boy - Second Grade, 1997. This one is missing some of it's adornments.

Our tree.

The Saga of the Christmas Card

I really hate to admit this but . . . I am totally anal about our family Christmas card. I have driven my family to the brink of insanity on more than one occasion obsessing over the Christmas card photo, card choice and personalized signatures. In our family, photos have always been a point of contention. E and I take pictures of everything on every occasion. One of us, who shall remain nameless, absolutely does not enjoy having his picture taken. He is patient enough for exactly one photo. Heaven forbid, someone has their eyes closed in that first one. After that, all the politeness and good manners his momma taught him fly out the window. You would think by now, he would be used to it. No such luck. But thankfully, he does give me a little bit of a pass when it comes time for Christmas.

So, much to his delight and to alleviate all the stress of the annual Christmas photo shoot this year, I have chosen a photograph that was taken during a summer photo shoot. Let me explain. As an expression of gratitude for D serving as the Georgia Food Industry Chairman the past two years, the organization arranged for us to have a family portrait taken and then presented the portrait during the annual convention in July. Well, if you know me at all, you know there is no greater gift I could be given. To me, pictures of my family are priceless. I was thrilled.

So I was super excited about this session. Let’s just say my excitement didn’t rub off on everybody. But, hey, it was out of my control this time. I could blame this photo shoot on someone else. Yea! So, one very hot June afternoon, we all coordinated our outfits and headed out to a local lakeside park for the adventure. And an adventure it was. We met the photographer there and she proceeded to check and recheck lighting and background details. If you can imagine, we are finally all in place . . . so hoping she takes these photos before we all melt into a puddle of sweat . . . stuck together . . . trying with all our might not to force a smile. Ready . . . set . . . . . wait. We watch in disbelief as this guy, carrying his bright red cooler and his lawn chair plops down right beside us - pops open a cold one and settles in for an afternoon siesta. How in the world could he not have seen what was going on and thought just for one small second that he might be in the picture? Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Also, as a part of the Christmas card experience, I find it very important for each of us to sign the card with our own handwritten signature. Just a weirdness of mine, I guess. So sometime during our Thanksgiving weekend activities, we’ll all gather around the kitchen table and pass the cards around. I call it family bonding time. The boys just call it halftime of the football game.

Well, I have already ordered my cards this year, with E’s help. She worked tirelessly with me half a day last week accomplishing this goal. Thank you, sweetie. Without her, I would not have been introduced to the world of photo card creation on the internet. Names like Winkflash, Snapfish and Shutterfly could have been just some weird breed of mascara, amphibian and annoying insect for all I knew.

We kinda got carried away this year with the card creation. I hope we haven’t gone over the top. I guess you’ll have to let me know when you see it. Until then, consider the importance of staying in touch with your family and friends this Christmas season. It is so much fun getting those cards, photos and letters out of the mailbox during the month of December. Happy writing!