Saturday after Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Our Christmas Eve Open House was so enjoyable. We didn't have nearly the number of guests we have had in years past, but the advantage of this year - with almost exactly 3 "shifts" is that we had the opportunity to speak to each person--actually engage in conversation. So often we are busy moving from guest to guest, greeting others, saying goodbye to still others that we don't always feel we have been good hosts!

Our children were here with us and that was all we really cared about this year:-) We exchanged modest, but meaningful gifts and enjoyed each others' company immensely. My daughter and son-in-law headed home this afternoon and called a while ago to say they had made it safely.

My 20-year old has been on his phone all day, friends calling to see what he got, what he's doing, etc. He's off to the movies tonight so hubby and I will have a chance to just breathe for a couple of hours:-)Maybe we can even have an actual conversation!

Tomorrow I will be portraying the fictional "Rhoda", wife of Joseph's cousin (based on the innkeeper in the nativity story) in Bethlehem. My son will be the narrator and my husband has indicated he wants to come along just to see and hear us perform. I will be relating the story of Mary and Joseph from the time the angel visited Mary through the visit of the Wise Men as remembered/portrayed by this woman who heard it all "first hand."

I'm pretty excited to have my son doing this with me. He took drama classes in high school and participated in Center Stage through Henrico County in the summers. He loved it and he is very articulate and well-spoken.

I asked him tonight if he thought he would like to get involved in storytelling with the group I'm going to join here in Richmond. He seems enthused about it so I'm hoping it will work out.

Since he has Asperger's Syndrome, we are constantly searching for areas where he can do well and succeed to help keep him motivated and encouraged. He is a natural and I think this may be a great outlet for him--either separately or as part of a team with me.

Back to my babies on Monday - Wednesday, then off for Friday-Sunday next week. I'm planning on getting a lot of writing and planning done in the next week. I'm pretty psyched about what 2009 will hold for us -- and looking so forward to all that God has planned for our lives.


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
[Jeremiah 29:11 NIV]

Fabulous Friday!

Yes, it really was a rather fabulous day overall! This morning I worked with the twins and their sister to make Christmas gifts for their parents. Yep, I really did - even at 2, 2 and 4 they did a beautiful job! I'm not going to say what it was in case mom reads this, though:-) Then we watched a couple of Christmas shows (Dora and Go, Diego, Go--or Go, go, go as the boys call it!).

At some point today the Spirit inspired me about the character I will portray when I go the nursing home on December 28th. As a Certified Lay Speaker I volunteer at area assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and sometimes fill the pulpit at area churches if needed. The last time I visited Elmcroft, where I will be on the 28th I gave a short sermon and then portrayed the Samaritan Woman at the Well. I had taken a Storytelling course as part of my Lay Speaker certification training earlier in the year and I was quite excited to have a chance to put what I had learned into practice.

The residents enjoyed the storytelling and asked me to come back, so when I go in a couple of weeks, I'll give a brief intro to the story and then get into character. I've given the details at Godly Graffiti, if you're interested.

(CHRISTMAS 2007)
Tonight my son put up our Christmas tree. I know it's late -- really late for us -- but it's done and I'm really enjoying putting on the decorations. Last year I used the bows and ribbon from my daughter's wedding on the tree. They added such a beautiful touch and have decided to do it again this year. I've got them on and have added all 21 angels from the Hallmark collection we started for our son when he was born.

We don't have my daughter's on the tree this year because we packed them up last year for her and her husband to use. They don't have a big enough tree this year, and they've been and will continue to be on the road, so the ornaments are in a box waiting for them. We've got plenty of others though, and each one has a story behind it. We are so grateful our daughter and son-in-law (and our grand dogs) will be with us for Christmas though.


It's been a very odd year for us and very challenging at times. We feel blessed though that we have been able to work, to keep our home, that our children are doing well and making a future for themselves and for the countless friends and loved ones in our lives.

We are looking forward to our annual Christmas Eve Open House. It has become a tradition for many neighbors and friends of all ages to stop by our home on Christmas Eve. Our holiday would not be complete without the hugs, laughter, good food and good company we enjoy each year.

Well, I've almost got my second wind, so I may go add a few more ornaments to the tree. We're really scaling back this year, but my husband was off today and he did put the candles in the windows. I'll hang stockings, but I don't think we'll display the nutcracker collection or the Santas this year. We're going with understated and low stress as our theme:-) I kind of like it!