EARLY DECEMBER FAVES

It's December!  I love the month of December because we have several family members with birthdays (including mine and our youngest daughter) and there's Christmas and New Year's Eve!  Plus Advent and special concerts and Christmas festivals.  So much to do around here in the month of December.

For now, I'm pausing to share FIVE of my FAVE moments from the last week.  I missed last week due to being in Massachusetts (without my laptop) for Thanksgiving break.  Some of my faves will include Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for this week?  Leave a comment or link up at Susanne's who hosts this each week.

FIVE FAVES

Photo courtesy of the UNH Ballet Company

• BALLET PHOTOS!  Claire finally texted me last week with the photos for the Ballet Company. They came out beautiful! Autumn in New Hampshire is just stunning, isn't it? Actually, anywhere in the Northeast, autumn is gorgeous! This is her third year in the Company.  We're excited for the upcoming Spring show.  I'm thankful she continues to love ballet.

Hanna and Claire help prepare the feast.

• THANKSGIVING!  This year it was Dave's oldest sister's turn to cook.  She flew in from CA to join her daughter from Scotland and they stayed at the same hotel we did!  Our youngest daughter stayed with Dave's brother and wife and their son who drove all the way from New Mexico.  Actually, the entire T---Clan was there minus one niece who had to be on call (she's in her last year of vet residency) in VA.  After a great Thanksgiving day full of food and fun, some of us went out Friday evening to see the new Mr Rogers movie (It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood). Tom Hanks was amazing.  Every American parent should see this movie, in my opinion. The way he is portrayed speaking to the other main character in the story, is the way I speak with some of the more behaviorally and emotionally challenged children I work with.  It was such a great flick. I highly recommend it. We all dispersed between Saturday and Sunday to go back home before the biggest snowstorm Albany, NY (I live just a few miles north of the city) hit us Sunday afternoon into Tuesday morning. Our last afternoon in my husband's hometown was spent with my daughters in the town park.  I'm thankful we all had a wonderful family Thanksgiving and that everyone made it back to their colleges and homes safely.

Claire and Courtney reunited!
War Memorial Town Park
West Bridgewater, MA
Claire comes home for Xmas in 2 more weeks!!

• TWO SNOW DAYS!  oh my. Here in eastern NY we received a whopper of an early snowstorm.  It's still autumn, remember!  It's the earliest in December we've ever had such a storm.  And here in my town the last report I heard was that we got about 21 inches of the white stuff. Dave was able to work from home on Monday and Courtney went in late.  Tuesday they both went in their normal time, but I had an added bonus of a 2nd day because the roads across the Hudson River (the east side) were still not plowed and they actually had more snow into the night.  So the school where I teach had to close.  It gave me extra time to finish up most of the Christmas shopping, and I did some baking, cleaning, decorated the house,  and  ran errands. I even had time to get in my hair appointment a couple hours earlier than scheduled.  I'm so thankful for snow blowers, shovels, and good neighbors who help each other.

My front yard and part of our porch
2 December 2019

our family room

• LAST SMALL GROUP:  Wednesday evening I wrapped up leading this study.  Sadly, two of the women had to miss the last meeting.  But we have plans to get together for brunch in January before the next semester study group begins.  This was a great study.....better than I was anticipating.  The book is excellent, the DVD is ok. Personally, you could do the study without watching the DVD.  I'm thankful for meeting new ladies....this semester I had three new ladies in group.  So far, two of them plan on joining the next study which will be a Women of Faith studybook.  I'm thankful for the positive feedback I received and for all the great discussions we had during the meetings.  

• EVENING OF GIVING!  Last evening, from 4-8 pm, we had the annual evening of giving at one of our local malls.  The agency where I teach  was one of the non-profits participating.  There were 16 agencies or organizations this year.  Some were The American Heart Association, other private schools that service children or adults with special needs, the Make a Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, etc.  I went with my friend Darlene because we had been trying to get together ever since autumn began and something always came up!  Finally we both had a free evening so I invited her to this event.  We did some Xmas shopping and  also sampled some of the free food that our ticket entitled us to.  We got discounts on everything we bought!  I also got to introduce her to some of the people I work with as well as a couple of the children I teach as they were there with their families.  It was so much fun! I'm thankful I could go to support my school and also spend some time with my friend.

Those were the highlights of my week.  I'm also thankful for the upcoming weekend.  We have a fun Christmas event to attend on Saturday up in the mountains!

What are you most thankful for this week?  What made you smile?  please do share!