MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We've been busy preparing for Christmas. We had a great time at our field trip to the assisted living. We hope we blessed the residents as much as we were blessed. It was cute seeing some of the ladies wearing the ornaments that Anna Gracen and I made as bracelets.

The kids did a great job finishing up school and helping out around the house. They are excellent cookie bakers and tasters.

We had a family get together on Saturday and oh, yeah, the girls won!!!!! Finally the sweet smell of victory. The past 2 years the guys have beat us at 80's Trivia. This year we switched games - Outburst Revamped proved to be our game. I think it's because we never shut up. We were constantly yelling out answers even if they were the same ones we had already yelled out. It was a great afternoon filled with loads of fun and FOOD! Boy, did we have some yummy food - bacon wrapped tenderloin; Oreo truffles; meatballs; con queso dip & chips; spinach dip; cookies, candy; tenderloin and ham biscuits; cheese bread; brownie trifle; gingerbread house just to name some.

Yesterday I went shopping in Raleigh (at Crabtree) with my mama and aunt. What fun! There were SO many people. The trip was a success - found some gifts that I couldn't find around here.

Tonight we went over to my aunt and uncle's house for a pre-Christmas dinner. We feasted on pizza, salad, spaghetti and desserts; and then watched the Carolina Hurricanes play. They didn't win, but we still had a good time visiting and catching up with each other. Not to mention watching the kids play together.

I think I'm going to run out in the morning to a store or two to check out some things. No must- haves just some last minute pick up items. Then we'll be celebrating with my dad, stepmother and grandmother (brother and his family) tomorrow afternoon.

We'll be spending time together tomorrow night reflecting on Jesus' birth (and reading one of my favorite books "My Birthday, Jesus' Birthday" that Aunt Lillian gave the kids a few years ago). We're going to have a birthday party for Jesus.

I'll be taking a break from the computer for the next few days to enjoy Christmas with my family. I pray everyone has a blessed Merry Christmas and very prosperous and Happy New Year.

Lord, thank You for the wonderful gift of Jesus that You gave us. May we truly love Him as He loves us. May we celebrate Him every day by honoring Him with our thoughts, words and actions.