I just can't believe we are into the teens. As in 19 days until Christmas. As in two weeks from today is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday. As in I don't have any shopping done yet. Or dinner planned. Or.... Aaugh, indeed. At least the tree is up...and it's not such a bad little tree.
The ladies' group from church had its Christmas party last night. We had a buffet at a local Italian restaurant. Fabulous food and it was decorated so beautifully....partly by the restaurant and partly by one of the ladies who made all the table decorations that were given as door prizes at the end of the evening. A local girl with a lot of talent provided Christmas music.
Our pastor (who is female) made up gift bags for each lady present. They were all different. We got them by drawing a number and then a card with either a "truth" or a "consequence" on it that we had to answer or do. I pulled a consequence card and had to go to someone I hadn't met before and tell them I was glad they were there and that God loves them. I threw a hug in for good measure. My bag had a Rachel Ray cookbook and a PartyLite candle in it. My mom also went and for telling the truth about her favorite holiday tradition, she received a Thomas Kinkade clock that plays Christmas carols and sented hand soap.
At the end of the night we used the same numbers to pick a gift in the ornament exchange. I got a very pretty glass ball with a spun glass angel inside...the angel lights up, either white or color changing. We collected angel ornaments for Megan when she was growing up so I gave it to her.
Mom had a good time so I hope she will think about coming to church on Christmas Eve. We have the service, but also a huge dinner and time of fellowship afterward for those who don't have other plans. It's a lot of fun. I'm going to make a ton of peel and eat shrimp and our friend Bennie is going to (finally) make his to die for egg rolls. Yum!
Our pastor (who is female) made up gift bags for each lady present. They were all different. We got them by drawing a number and then a card with either a "truth" or a "consequence" on it that we had to answer or do. I pulled a consequence card and had to go to someone I hadn't met before and tell them I was glad they were there and that God loves them. I threw a hug in for good measure. My bag had a Rachel Ray cookbook and a PartyLite candle in it. My mom also went and for telling the truth about her favorite holiday tradition, she received a Thomas Kinkade clock that plays Christmas carols and sented hand soap.
At the end of the night we used the same numbers to pick a gift in the ornament exchange. I got a very pretty glass ball with a spun glass angel inside...the angel lights up, either white or color changing. We collected angel ornaments for Megan when she was growing up so I gave it to her.
Mom had a good time so I hope she will think about coming to church on Christmas Eve. We have the service, but also a huge dinner and time of fellowship afterward for those who don't have other plans. It's a lot of fun. I'm going to make a ton of peel and eat shrimp and our friend Bennie is going to (finally) make his to die for egg rolls. Yum!
I am looking forward to next week. Well, I'm hoping it's worth looking forward to, anyway. Tim has been working ridiculous hours the last few weeks (90+ last week) and I see him for a few minutes in the morning and few minutes at night before he crawls into bed. The building he is doing now is supposed to be completed and turned over on Monday or the company will be looking at a $10K per day fine! Yikes, no pressure there! Anyway, he is not sure now that it will happen on time because the electrical sub is.....well, a total screw up and nothing seems to be getting him on the same page as everyone else or lighting a fire under him. Tim is beyond frustrated with him. He has actually caused damage to things already done and undone other work. He's lied about a few things being done, too. Nice. I'm wondering how he will react if the fine takes affect because the company won't eat the cost when it wasn't their fault, they will pass it on to the electrician one way or another....maybe withhold his check? I'm not sure how that works.
My class celebrated its 30-year reunion over the Thanksgiving weekend. I suppose on the whole, it wasn't much of a celebration. Out of a class of 350 or so there were only about 30 signed up for the dinner Saturday evening with spouses/significant others invited (that number included those guests). There were even less for the classmates only gathering Friday evening.
I had never been to one of our reunions before and in all honesty didn't have a whole lot of desire to attend this one, but......enter Facebook. So many of us have gotten in touch on there. Old boundaries have blurred or disappeared and most of those I talk to on a regular (or even daily) basis are not people who were among my friends in school. So, when the talk began and the planning got started for this reunion I thought "what the heck" and jumped on board. I ended up only being able to attend on Friday because of family commitments but it was good to see everyone and find out what they've been up to.
The reunion committee had tables set up with displays of our yearbooks and high school newspapers that we all enjoyed looking at. They also had a memorial table set up with pictures of all those we've lost. Quite a few and all so young. Even one who'd planned to join us but was lost to cancer just days before the reunion.
That memorial table has sparked an on-going discussion among all of us on Facebook. You see, when we were freshmen, just innocent 14-year-olds....our world changed in an instant when a helicopter that was dropping prize balls crashed into the crowd at a church festival. Many people were injured. Several died...including two of our classmates and one of our teachers. It was a Sunday afternoon. On Monday we were the walking wounded, haunting the hallways of the school, not knowing what to do or how to handle our grief. During the morning announcements the principal said something and a priest or minister, maybe both, said a prayer and there was a moment of silence. That was it. There were no grief counselors back then. So, this is, I believe a first...all of us talking as adults about the pain of that long ago day and finding out that one among us was standing right beside the ones we lost and has been in counseling trying to get over it for all these years. We never knew. Maybe, just maybe, we'll find some closure through this mixed blessing of Facebook.
Today is Pearl Harbor Day. May we never forget.
1. ___in the ___ is the ___
2. __is my____
3. I like to think ____; but I know _____.
4. If I just ______, then I could ______.
11 comments:
My 40th hs reunion was this past July. I don't know how all of THEM are 40 years older when I certainly am not.
;-)
I'm with you on #1, though I must admit my e-reader is a huge blessing. Have a blessed week.
At least your tree is up Stacy gosh when you post about the teens I panic-ed aghh is right I haven't a thing yet even remotely Christmas related done arghhh!! Good luck on the de-clutter project.
Happy Friday loved your cute decorations on the blog Janice
Love your #3!
Keetha...isn't that the truth! LOL
Arlene...Yes, I have quite a few books in my Nook, but have to admit I still prefer to hold a real book in my hands. :/
Hey J...Decorated,we are. I always get that done during Thanksgiving break or I know it may never happen. On the rest, though, I'm panicking right along with you.
Hilary...Thanks. I think. LOL
Hi My Friend!
I loved reading this post! You are so busy. ;) Hey the big house thing and clutter- that is a myth. We had a big house and it was cluttered, now a small house...still cluttered! AUUGH!
ANyway the night out with the ladies sounds great. I love the consequence details and it all sounds like a fun thing to do!
Also how dare you remind me how little time left before Christmas...lol- I have not gone Christmas shopping yet. I always am out last minute. Started Christmas cards though! And our tree is up. Let's see a pic of your little tree!
Enjoy the season, Stacy!
If we lived closer we could lament over coffee at a coffee shop...;)
Dawn...I would love to lament with you, but I'm not drinking coffee. It's going to have to be tea, hot chocolate, or cola for me. :)
I do realize it's a myth somewhere in my mind. All my life when I've driven past large houses I've been like "Ooo..it would hold all my stuff. And there'd be room for MORE stuff." I believe I am doomed to clutter.
I've never been to any of my reunions. Too self-conscious, I guess.
Bee...probably why I never went to any of mine before.
But you did it this time, so that's great!
Our next reunion will be our 45th. I haven't been to a one yet ... my high school years weren't the best (our class was defined by groups/cliques, and I wasn't a part of any). But like you, I've connected with some on Facebook ... and I've noticed that people who wouldn't have anything to do with me at the time have reached out. Not as much as your classmates have, but enough that I might consider attending the next reunion. ;-)
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