Friday Faves 5 & Saturday 9

Thanks for all the prayers for my son and he appreciates it. (see previous entry) There is always so much to be thankful for, and I am joining Joyce for a recap of my weekly blessings.

1. Thankful that we were able to go watch our grands perform at their school's performance. There were continuous music performances. Then there were groups that were taken on a tour of the living Nativity.

My grandson played the part of Elijah talking about Isaiah 9:6. My granddaughter played the keyboard and guitar and helped with staging. My son Daniel and Melinda were able to come and visit before they headed to Christmas parties. Daughter Renee and granddaughter helped pass out presents at their church. Grandson was working and bought gifts for everyone with his first check. They also had a bake sale fundraiser with lots of goodies.

2. Thankful to be able to go to a satellite church to hear our granddaughter sing. Thankful that my family all showed their support for Daniel, both at the hospital and during the week. We decided to have Christmas dinner at our favorite Chinese food place. The boys liked watching the Christmas Story and always suggested we go have Chinese food so that we could relax more after Christmas.

3. Thankful for being able to get all my shopping done and by Tuesday. We went to Andrew's house and I was able to take my December study with me. My granddaughter was busy painting her Christmas gifts. We did the last of our grocery shopping afterwards for our part in the big breakfast.

4. Thankful to be able to have time to wrap last minutes gifts and get the table ready for breakfast.

Got all the stocking filled and the house ready for Christmas. I enjoyed watching Christmas movies and remembering my parents. I was not able to go to the Christmas eve service because of the rain and I don't drive at night because of cataracts. 

5. Thankful for a wonderful Christmas! Daniel was very sore so we had him sit and it was nice to see all the family carefully give him hugs. I was happy seeing the family love. I could tell Daniel was in pain, but he said he would not miss it. Thankful for his caring wife. 

My grandson Eddie said a wonderful prayer before we ate. We took pictures and then opened presents. We normally start with the stockings, but we decided that we would do it after dinner. Daniel and Melinda made everyone laugh with the last present, giant 6-7 balloons. Then they retired to our guest room and all left. Later we went to Hiong Kongs that was so busy. We hate to wait for seating and the place was so busy. The food is so good there and worth the wait. We came home, opened up stocking and places Left, Right, Center. We had Mexican hot chocolate and dessert. After everyone left, I was able to watch the Christmas Call the Midwife special. Thank You Lord!

Dinner at our favorite Chinese food place-Hong Kongs, Cantonese style fresh fiood.

Saturday 9: Bye Bye Bye (2000)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, a man predicts his lover will start an argument. Is there anyone in your life who can be quarrelsome? Yes

2) He says he's had it, he's checking out and signing off. Can you think of a time you were glad you walked away from something? Yes

3) This week's song was performed by the band NSYNC. The group was formed in Orlando, FL, which is world famous as home to Walt Disney World. Today there are 12 Disney theme parks located around the globe. Have you ever visited one of these Magic Kingdoms? Yes, the original Disneyland. I am as old as this park being born a few weeks after it opened in July 1955. I have gone over the years and seen many changes. I am happy to have my pass again!

4) They made a celebrity appearance on The Simpsons. What's your all-time favorite cartoon show?

The Looney Tunes was fun when I was a child.

5) In 2000, the year "Bye Bye Bye" was popular, Brad Pitt was named People's Sexiest Man Alive. Are you crushing on anyone right now? I think a few actors have aged well like George Clooney.

Let's look back on 2025 ...

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2025? We went on a Mexican Riviera cruise in January and we were 1511 miles away from home. That is based on land, so might be a little more than that.

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2025? Air conditioner system.

8) What was your favorite book of 2025? The Bible, I will have completed reading through the Bible at the end of the year with the Bible Recap Girl program. I plan to re read the Left Behind series again.

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2026? A possible trip to Israel with my church.

Prayers needed & Merry Christmas

I am a little sad right now. My son was assaulted at his work on Sunday by a guy that was probably high on something. He went to the ER and treated, has a concussion and bruising. He is at the Worman's comp doctor now getting a more detailed exam, He is going to be off for at least a week or maybe more. The union is going to see if he can be moved to another store since the assaulter has been in the store before and they guy threatened him. The guy was taken into police custody and there are lots of witnesses. 2 coworkers had to help my son keep the guy down. The guy had verbally abused the checker and woman manager too, So I ask for prayers because this is going to be a long journey. My son just paid for his trip to Japan in the spring to celebrate their 10th anniversary. I pray he be well enough to go.

This is my Christmas site with over 30 inspirational pages, Gingerbread Cottage and interactive fun

Fridays Fave Five & Saturday 9

1.Thankful for family Last Saturday, I met with my sibling for lunch. Later we went to my cousin's house We shared a lot of memories. We are here with her aunt who turned 85 on the 15th.

Sister Terry, BIL Ernie, sister Ann, Aunt Evelyn, me, SIL Cindy and brother Scott. Hubby did not go. 

2. Thankful for all the things our church does for the Christmas season. During the day you could take a picture with Santa. Santa brings gifts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I love the teaching on Advent we are going through. This weeks reading was from the book of Luke. If you ever watched the Peanuts Christmas, you have heard Linus reciting the verses. Also thankful for the fun time at the Senior Christmas party. 

That evening, I lit the pink, third candle of lent for Joy. I also lit the first candle of Hannukah. I use battery operated candles since I can't use real candles because of my allergies.

3. Thankful that I was able to make over 80 gingerbread cookies on Monday for the cookie exchange on Tuesday. It was a lot of work, but I learned some new things. They came out pretty good too. I used a Betty Crocker cookie mix that I found at Target. I am not a baker, but I started baking cookies with my grands and it has become a tradition.  Thankful for the fun cookie exchange with friends from church. We each brought 6 cookies for each girl and 6 for the cookie trays to go along with the potluck food we brought. I made tuna sandwiches. Afterwards, I went to Hobby Lobby and got cards and wrap for next year. I also stopped at the Post office.

4. Thankful for a day of rest. I finally got caught up on my sleep. I worked on cards and hubby and I caught up on Christmas movies. The grands had their last finals and now are on a 3 week winter break.

5. Thankful for how my visit went with the ophthalmologist on Friday. The nurse loved my purse as she is a Disney enthusiast like me. I loved the doctor! He was so friendly and couldn't understand how his nurse or I could go do Disney by ourselves. He looked at my eye and said I have SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS. It is a non-cancerous growth that occurs in people usually older than  50. I need to apply warm compresses or a teabag to soften it and sometimes that will remove it. But the doctor made an appointment to remove it if it is still there in a few weeks. We made an appointment for the end of January, after my next visit to Disneyland for my son's birthday. 

1. As you can see, when Sam Winters was a little girl, she loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be? Kindness for all people and to know Jesus, the reason for the season.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? I will say nice.

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train? I am not traveling.

4. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If yes, which one traveled the farthest? I did not ship any gifts. I have sent out a few cards for card exchanges. I also sent out a small box for a homemade ornament exchange to WV. I have one more exchange to send out and a few cards.

5. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? I bought several ornaments, mostly Disney for my Disney tree. I also go a purse. I found a great deal the day after Thanksgiving online.  

6. Which do you prefer: candy canes or gingerbread? Gingerbread. I baked six dozen gingerbread cookies for an exchange and to pass out.

7. Can you see any holiday decorations from where you're sitting now? Yes! I am in the family room watching tv and I can see many decorations; I change the mantle every year. It is Disney this year and last year it was Snoopy. The year before it had one of my Nativity sets on it. I can see the 4 smaller trees. My seasonal tree has Nativity and angels. The next one is the Peanuts Gang. The other side of the fireplace has a family ornament tree and a pet tree. The baby grand has my Willow Tree Nativity set. 

 

 

The Nativity in on the piano that is left of the fireplace.

8. What's your favorite winter beverage? Mexican hot chocolate. Click on the girl for the recipe.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas. There are two that stand out. I taught the women in my Bible journaling group about Hanukkah. I set a table up and had some food to share and lights on the table.

We worked on a Hanukkah bookmark and a Clothespin Nativity. My whole family got together last Christmas season, but since we all were together in August for my 70th, just my siblings and I got together.