WEEK OF CHRISTMAS FAVES

 Here we are at Friday again and time to share FIVE of our FAVE blessings from the week. As you're reading this, I'm most likely in my husband's car heading east towards Boston where we are spending a few days for a much needed getaway. My faves mainly center around the Christmas holiday.......and I'm joining in with other bloggers who all link up over at Susanne's blog. Go on over and check out how to participate!

Dave, Faith, Courtney
in our Christmas Choir best

The new main  entrance of our church.....
to the far right of the pic stands a large pine tree all lit up for xmas

holiday lights for the season! 

• CHRISTMAS EVE!  Dave, Courtney, and I had to be at the church by 11:45 AM on Christmas Eve day as we had auditioned for, and made, the Christmas Choir. Our young friend Hannah, a local music teacher, was the director and our worship leader/director and his wife led us in 3 traditional Christmas carols which the congregation seemed to love plus a more modern Christmas contemporary Christian song. Some of you had asked me for the link and so here is the recorded 3:30 pm service.  We also sang at the 2 pm and 5 pm services. I'm thankful that at each service the sanctuary was packed to overflowing. In fact, at the first service, the hospitality team had to set up more chairs in our overflow room which serves as a gym during the week. I'm so thankful that although it was a long day and we didn't get home until close to 6:30 pm that everything went well.  Claire had to watch it live online at 5 as she didn't get out of work until close to 4. Then we all gathered at home to have  a late supper and watch White Christmas, our fave Christmas musical movie. I'm thankful that this Christmas Eve was special and that we had the  chance to be a part of the worship team. 

our youngest daughter Claire
holding up the cookbook I made for her
it has all of our fave vegan meals/desserts

Our oldest daughter Courtney 
dressed in her crazy Christmas clothes!

• CHRISTMAS!! It's nice to have the girls linger  in their own apartments as it gave Dave and I some time alone together to just drink coffee, eat some breakfast (I had a huge fruit platter, cheese and some naan available).  Once they arrived around 10 AM, we exchanged our gifts to each other and then sat down for a delicious dinner of veggies, fruit, stuffing, squash, assorted deli meats, assorted crackers and cheeses.  We did dessert later in the day after taking a walk and (Christmas cookies and my chocolate orange fudge).  Dave helped Claire get our living room sofa out of the house and down to her apartment (because he gifted me with an IKEA chair for the living room and we needed to make room for it and since claire needed a full size couch, it was perfect timing!).  While they were gone, Courtney and I played a new board game one of my sisters gave me.  We had fun.  I'm thankful we had a nice, relaxing Christmas although once again, it was a green one here in eastern NYS. 

• NEW LIGHTS!  Dave surprised me with under-the-counter lights.  With the touch of a finger, these come on and stay on for 15 minutes then shut off.  I wanted them for the evening when the overhead is too bright, especially when we have friends over or my book group.  I like softer lighting than what the ceiling light offers and this way it gives my friends just enough light and time to grab a tea or coffee and make their way into the family room for our discussion.  I do have a light over the stove of course and a recessed light over the sink but now with these new ones for the counter, I can see to get some evening tea. I'm thankful for this gift as it was a total surprise.  

• CARDS!  I'm super thankful that so many family and far away friends sent us cards this year.  I especially love the ones that had a personal message inside.  I only sent out about 25 cards my self this year plus several birthday cards as I have a lot of birthdays this month between family and close friends. I'm always thankful for the friends and family who keep in touch. 

• BRUNCH!  My dear friend and sister in Christ (and fellow hiker!), Cindy, and I met at this fave cafe for brunch on Wednesday morning. We hadn't seen each other in person since we hiked together over Memorial Day weekend this past spring. We keep in touch weekly via texting or emails and sometimes on Facebook and we're prayer partners for a number of issues. It was so good to connect with her and just enjoy coffee, good food, and conversation without rushing anywhere. We loved where the hostess seated us.  We  got the one window seat which is a little alcove away from the main part of the cafe and it was decorated so nicely with retro Christmas items.  So fun!I'm thankful for my good friends! 

That wraps up my week.  Just a few things that really made me smile and say "thank You, God".  As Believers, we are to give thanks daily for the blessings God brings to us. .....sometimes they're big, exciting things like Christmas Eve and special gifts.  Other times they're special moments like brunch with a friend. Sometimes it's even more simple like the call of a cardinal or the sunrise over a pristine lake. Whatever your weekend holds, I hope you find the beauty in creation and that you count your blessings going forward into 2024.