Treasured Moments - Tuesday to Tuesday

A lot of pictures have been accumulating during the past week. It's time to post them before the remaining Christmas activities get underway.

These are the last of the pictures of Deven playing basketball this season. That's him playing great defense - #23.




The triplets and I had a quiet, 'pajama day' last Tuesday. We stayed indoors and read books, played 'house', and did homework. Bill picked up Tori and she joined the rest of us for supper before the kids' school Christmas program that evening.

Abby's "Thank you" in Spanish
(notice the high-fives from Noah and Sophie when she returns to the risers :)
More pictures on Anna's blog

Sophie's duet - Away in a Manger

Byron Christian had a special Christmas chapel on Wednesday. Deven is in the blue shirt and tie - second row from the top on the left.

A closer up view - thanks to a zoom lens

Brookcrest had a wonderful Christmas party for the residents on Wednesday. Mom was given a beautiful scarf and pin from Mel, one of her friends who lives down the hall.

Mom Z. and Rich came up from Florida for our family Christmas party. Most of us were able to meet for dinner on Thursday evening.

Marva, Dave, Beckie, Rick

Bill and me

Fun picture :)

I had lunch with my special friend Laura on Friday. She's a GEM and I love our times together!

Ron and Rose drove up from Tennessee for our Christmas party. It was wonderful to have them here!!

My family got together for breakfast at our home on Saturday.

Our family Christmas party was Saturday afternoon. There were about 75 of us together for supper, games, and gifts. (Someone 'borrowed' my camera at the party...you'll see a few special shots in the slides :)

After the party, Bill and I caught the end of our friend Cal's 70th birthday party. It was a wonderful evening for him and we were honored to be part of it.

Ann and Cal

Sunday brunch with friends :)

Sunday afternoon chat with Laura and Amelia :)

Gary & Shirley are home for the holidays! We were able to meet them and Curt for supper tonight (Tuesday) and we have plans for next week again before they return to Florida :)

And finally, it's precious Amelia's first birthday today! She is a delight in every way and we love her SO very much. What an incredible gift she is!

She was having great fun with her birthday balloon :)

Merry CHRISTmas
and best wishes for God's best blessings
in 2010!

Miscellaneous Moments

Bill was gone on his annual golf trip last weekend, so I accepted an impromptu invitation to some friends' home for dinner after church. Thanks, Kevin and Carmen - it's always great to spend time with you and your kids!

Mariah and Carmen

Nolan and Anjali

Sunday evening Advent worship at church last week....


Blurry picture of Deven at his game last Monday....that's how fast he is on the b-ball court :)


Abby, Sophie, and Noah played outdoors in the snow for an hour after getting off the school bus last Monday. We then had a pajama and dress-up afternoon that was full of singing, dance, and giggles....

Noah

Abby's flowers that she made in Spanish class

Sophie has two new teeth coming in!

The kids made chocolates over the weekend - I'm quite sure Grandma Nancy had something to do with that. She's amazing!

Yummy candy!

Wednesday highlights - lunch with Beckie and Rick....

...and supper with friends Tom and Kathy :)


I took some pictures of Mom B. opening the box of candy Tom & Anna's kids made for her, but none of them were very flattering....too bad - she LOVES the chocolates!


Saturday was another fun day! In the morning Bill and I had breakfast w/ Beckie and Rick...

...and in the afternoon we went to Mike's 40th birthday party. He's been our friend since he was a high school kid and Bill & I were youth leaders. He's still got his tender heart and great sense of humor :)

Then we met up with our small group who had dinner while we were at Mike's party. Many thanks to Steve & Carrie for their hospitality and to Carrie and Carrie S. the terrific beverages and desserts!



Tori's Christmas program at church was last night. It was a wonderful program and she did a great job with the songs, her lines, and helping the pre-schooler she was in charge of. She's a natural on stage and with young kids!

That's Tori in the purple and black dress in the center.

We got pummeled with snow last week and it was beautiful! This picture was taken in front of Brookcrest where Mom B. lives.

May your life be blanketed
with beauty and blessings!

Chicago with my Sistas!

I had the most wonderful weekend with my sisters in Chicago! Friday afternoon we drove to Michigan City where we hopped on a train to the city. We walked a few blocks to the beautiful, classic Palmer House - one of my all-time favorite hotels. We had a terrific room and, after settling in, we went for dinner before taking the subway to see the play Miracle on 34th Street. Later we headed over to see the Bean at Millennium Park where the reflections of the city lights were beautiful.

After breakfast on Saturday, we walked to the busy, outdoor German Christmas Market. We enjoyed a mug of gluhwein and an authentic German lunch of bratwurst. After browsing through the shops and picking out a few special gifts, we went back to Millennium Park to take pictures of our reflections in the Bean and watch the ice skaters on the rink at the park. We talked a lot about our friends in Germany and hope that some December they can join us for a weekend in Chicago to celebrate the Christmas season. Meike and Ute will recognize the shots of the Bean :)

It was a marvelous weekend and I'm so thankful that my sisters joined me for a much-needed and perfect getaway. Next year, hopefully Beckie and Rose can join us - we missed them!

Enjoy the pics....

In the middle of all the beautiful lights around the city, there was a parking lot booth with some simple decorations......

May you brighten your own
little corner of the world!

Look Who Was at My House Today!

Some of my favorite people came for brunch today! These are my friends from Joy Club and they bless me in so many ways. There were 22 of us and we spoke often about Millie, one of our members who died over the weekend. We sure missed her...and several others who were unable to join us, but we had a wonderful time celebrating the Christmas season. We reminisced, sang Christmas carols, and told some silly jokes. Several, including Mom B., shared their testimony of God's faithfulness to them during the past year. She whispered her words to me and I told the others - what a special moment that was! Mom was able to be with us, thanks to a friend who helped with transportation - it was the first time in a year that she was able to be with the group.

These folks inspire and encourage me and I love them all!

The pictures aren't very clear - should have checked the settings on my camera....

Mom B., Hilda, Marian, Mil, Jennie, Gert

Lorraine, Kaye, Angie, Pastor Bob, Mom

Grady, Gerry, Marilyn, Bob, Lois

Ruby and Al

Jennie and Helen (our oldest member at 93 !)

The folks cheerfully decorated stars for our Advent series at church - such willing servants!

Gerry, Marilyn, Bob

Hilda

Lorraine, Lyda, Al, Kaye, Ruby, Ruth

Lucy, Bob, Marilyn, Mom, Pastor Bob

This picture was taken at the farmers' market in Pasadena...

May you be blessed with wonderful friends to 'hang' with :)

Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for! This Thanksgiving Day was especially nice because Bill's mom was able to be with us for dinner. We borrowed a wheelchair accessible van from a friend and brought Mom to our house for the first time in a year! She has been anticipating this day for over a week when we first mentioned it to her. December 1 is the one-year anniversary of her stroke and other than several trips to the hospital and two rides across the street for football games, she has been confined to the nursing home. So this post is in reverse, starting with today and working back to last Saturday.

In the slideshow you will see Ty and Deven with their first pop since July when I made a bet with them. They won by not having any pop until I poured them a glassful today. They proved they can do whatever they set their minds to!

Laura, Ben, and Amelia - we missed you!

Tori did not have school yesterday, so I was able to spend the day with her. We made pies together and ran some errands to several stores and the post office. She also wrapped several Christmas gifts and dusted for me - what a great help she was!

Deven had a basketball game on Tuesday. Here are a couple of pics from that game....

Deven shooting

Beckie and I had coffee on Tuesday morning. Love her license plate and love her!


This picture was taken after lunch with friends Cal and Ann.


Bill and I spent a wonderful evening with John and Jo last Saturday. Holland was festive and beautiful, the crowds were huge, and the friendship was (is) cherished. As usual, our conversation was largely about the family we share :)

The guys waiting for us s-l-o-w shoppers....

Jo looks as good as the 'models' in the window :)

Carolers in Holland

"Sing praise to God
for good is He!"