Days of Christmas ~ 16

For the past years or so we have hosted a "Christmas at the Parsonage" as our gift to our church people. It is a night we really look forward to and enjoy! This year was no exception! We had around 35 or so people who were able to come. There was enough food to have fed about twice that many....:) I'm paranoid about not having enough so I always do way to much, but, hey we have lots of leftovers!! We have the best group of people in the world!! They make pastoring a very lovely thing!! Now I can set back and relax...all I have left to do before Christmas is:
1. Finish my shopping
2. Wrap about 50 gifts
3. Address 100 Christmas cards
4. Decide if I will write a letter to go in those cards
5. If I decide to include a letter then I'll have to write it
6. Get those cards mailed
7. Bake sugar cookies and decorate them
I think I'll just stop there cause I'm already exhausted just typing the list!! :)



Some of the ladies getting ready to dive in...


John and Nancy Fields hanging out with Troy

One of the counters filled with food.....

Dessert.....aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!

I'm really feeling good about today since I'm getting my post done 15 minutes before midnight!!

Days of Christmas ~ 14 & 15

Baking, Dipping, Eating........ :) We had a girls baking night tonight at my house! 3 of our friends, Lauren, Andrea, and I had a great time seeing what all we could create! I almost burned the house down trying to cook some pizza....that is another story altogether!! :0 Thankfully Troy came to our rescue and saved the day....the main concern is that our house was filled and I mean FILLED with smoke and the fire alarms never went off!!! Now that isn't a very comforting thought! We will have to see what we can do about that problem very soon!! We did get about 3000 pretzels ( ministerially speaking ) dipped and decorated.....I don't ever want to see another pretzel!! :) Going to be cooking all day tomorrow getting ready for "Christmas at the Parsonage" !! I better get to bed!!

Days of Christmas ~ 11,12, & 13

Sorry I have been MIA for the last 3 "Days of Christmas"! This is what we have been getting ready for.....our Christmas Program!! After all the stress and worrying if it would turn out.....it turned out! We had 102 people in attendance which was very exciting!! The simple Christmas story never fails to touch my heart every year!! All 34 kids did great and we can now breath a huge sigh of relief!!!


One of the 14 shepherds!!!

Caleb Boardman and Andrea.....Andrea was estatic that she got to be Mary! She has looked forward to tonight for weeks now!!

The " wise guys" !

They all look so sweet here...folding their hands for the closing prayer

We closed with the kids singing "Happy Birthday Jesus" ~ He is the reason for this season!!!

Days of Christmas ~ 10

This evening was our kids piano recital. This was a first for Travis and Andrea and who know what number for Lauren. Andrea has been asking me for days, "how many more days until I get to play at the recital!" She surely didn't get this from me!! I always dreaded those things!! They all did great and we had a fun evening together!

Tyler is starting up piano in January and Luke is starting guitar lessons at the same time. I guess we will be a musical house. :)

Days of Christmas ~ 9

This Christmas at our church is EXTRA special since we FINALLY have our own church!! We celebrated the first Sunday of December with a dedication service. Our sanctuary is newly remodeled and is beautiful!!! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Days of Christmas ~ 8

Christmas is all about friends.....these two are definitely best buds!! Lauren was so glad to have Katie here for last weekend. Now they are counting the days until they see each other in February!! :)

Days of Christmas ~ 7

Alex has recently discovered the joys of "licking the bow clean" ! He was really enjoying this bowl!!