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.