CHRISTMAS WEEK FAVES

 Christmas has come and gone and we are prepping the house for an extended family and friends Open House on Sunday.  I've been busy but took some time to sit and pause to share FIVE of my FAVE blessings from the past week. 

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story is our host for this gratitude meme each week. Click here to learn more about this.  

Part of the church lobby
to the left of the main doors

our church lobby with the fireside room 
in center back and side entrance on right. 

church lobby looking towards the cafe
(back left)
and the entrance to Kidventure
(our children's birth-grade 5 area). 
the general public is not allowed past that point
for security reasons unless they have a child
enrolled in KidVenture and the ID number matches the child

One of our lobby's sitting areas....
this is where I interview potential SoulSteps members

Info desk directly across from main doors with entrances 
to the sanctuary on both side...this is where you can tell people to meet you
or find you and it includes a lost and found box, general church info
and sometimes special handouts like for missionary purposes
or Grace in Action Volunteer events, Family events, etc 
each week a paid staff member and one volunteer work the desk
before and after each service 

• SUNDAY EVENING:  Late Sunday afternoon, due to the extreme single digit temps we were having in the Albany, NY area, our choir director cancelled our outdoor Christmas caroling event and instead, we gathered inside the sanctuary for a time of prayer for the upcoming Christmas Eve service and do just sing the carols together.  There were only 10 of us who showed up, my husband and oldest daughter included. two people brought cookies to pass around afterwards. What makes my fave list though, besides singing with some awesome choir members, was how the church lobby looked with no one there.  The security guard and cleaning person were still there of course but other than them, the entire site was empty except for us. Just the trees and other decor were lit. It was so beautiful. I'm so thankful for our church and its leadership who believe in doing all things excellently. I'm also thankful we had a special Sunday evening with some members of our church family. It was truly special. 
   

Our youngest daughter, Claire
22 December 

• BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION:  Earlier on Sunday, after church, our daughters came to Claire's birthday celebration dinner. Her actual birthday is Winter Solstice Day (the 21st) but she had plans with a friend that evening. So she saved Sunday for us.  After dinner, we had her open her gifts (a high end pet carrier for her kitty, Karma; a pillow from this place (highly recommend!); and a T*ylor Sw*ft Journal from her sister Courtney).  She wasn't feeling great as was in the midst of a wicked head cold but she enjoyed her gifts and the home cooked food.  She then chose to watch one of her fave Christmas movie classics and wanted us to join her so we put on Christmas in Connecticut and enjoyed dessert and drinks before she went back to her place and we headed back to church. I'm so thankful for the time with our youngest. 

Winter leg warmers 

• FUN GIFT!  My oldest friend from my childhood hometown....we've been besties since 1967 when we walked to 2nd grade together... sent me these fun, extremely cozy leg warmers for Christmas, along with a really nice "Tree of life" ornament. She also bought herself these leg warmers and another friend of hers. They are SO warm. They even have a flap to keep your toes free if you want to wear them outdoors over regular leggings or hiking pants.  They are the perfect winter gift. I'm thankful for friends who love to exchange gifts and choose fun thoughtful items. 

Dave, myself, Courtney 
24 December 2024
Grace Fellowship Church

• CHRISTMAS EVE:  I love Christmas Eve.  After a morning of prepping various Christmas lunch goodies and a homemade soup for after the candlelight service, I had a little bit of time to relax and finish up an Advent devotional, read from a library book I've been enjoying, and do some last minute things to tidy up the house for that evening. Claire called and said she still didn't feel great at all and didn't want to go out to the church service or even hang with us afterwards..she said she needed to sleep (A horrible chest cold but thankfully the covid test was negative).  So Dave, Courtney and I attended our last (5 pm) Xmas Eve service and ran into the guy (Tyler) who took Courtney to her junior prom!  She hadn't seen him in a few years! It was so much fun.  I also ran into a new friend from the hiking group and got to meet one of her sons and her husband. The service was excellent with music, the sermon and then the candlelight while we all sang Silent Night.  It's truly magical and powerful.   After chatting with Pastor Rex, we had our photo taken by one of Courtney's friends (a different Tyler). Finally, the three of us headed home to have some Tuscan Bean soup, French Bread, Cinnamon Chai cookies and curl up under warm blankets in the family room to watch our absolute fave Christmas movie musical White Christmas. I'm so thankful for family time and the glorious message of Christ's birth and life here on earth that we heard from our pastor for whom we are most thankful for! 

Courtney  crocheted Dave a winter hat!

A White Christmas!

• CHRISTMAS DAY:  We actually had 3 inches of fresh fallen snow for Christmas Day and everyone was so happy and thankful.  There is nothing like Christmas/ Winter in the Northeast....it's a gorgeous time of year even though a frosty one. We just love living where we have 4 distinct seasons. The girls both arrived to our home, their arms laden with gifts, mid-morning, and praise God,  Claire was feeling much better. She made mimosas and I made a pot of coffee and she had brought over some home baked muffins. Dinner was to be at 2 pm. We spent the morning talking and unwrapping gifts. We are very blessed. We also all sat together after dinner to watch this version of A Christmas Carol and I was happy to share some knowledge with the family I had learned about certain aspects of what Dickens was trying to convey because I had just finished an online course about Christmas Carol with this college. After that movie, we had cookies, fudge and coffee and then watched a movie Courtney had received that none of us but her had watched.  She first discovered Wes Anderson films in Film Crit a class she took as a senior in high school. It was an odd movie but we enjoyed it. Both girls went back to their apartments, Dave fell asleep on the bed and I spent the evening watching  a show on Netflix and reading. I'm thankful we all had a nice Christmas and that I finished the course before the holiday!

I hope you all had a very nice Christmas with loved ones.  It is actually warmer here as I write this and we've had some wonderful sunny days with pretty blue skies. 

I also pray your Christmas left you with special memories and things to treasure in your heart. 

ps Comments are always welcomed but ones signed by "Anonymous" will be deleted. Please use your blog or first name or some other identifying marker. thanks so much!