Happy Chanukka to one and all. Check out Chanuka.com for some great songs and other stuff.
I have to buy my candles today. I have been a bit remiss but we get it together. My menorah is up and it is ready to receive those special colorful candles. Celebrating God's faithfulness.
Back to yesterday. Just wanted to complete the day for you. Note: that it is a challenge at times for one who has not grown up having any Christmas at all to try to create a Norman Rockwell Christmas for those in her family and around her.
Alexandra started stirring at about 9:30 am. I made her special French toast for breakfast. Then we were off to the Christmas Service at Steele Creek in Charlotte. Great multicultural experience, very young, very dynamic, very God! Even had communion to boot which is a blessing. We got back home, had a light lunch and continued opening up our presents. Having started opening them up at 10: 00 am. we weren't finished at 11:00 so, we had to continue the festivities. That's what is good about the treasure hunt. We had 3 clues each before we left and 4 clues when we returned. It stretches out Christmas and gives the kids something to keep them excited about. So, the treasure hunt continued and opening more presents feeling loved and snapping photo's to keep as precious memories. It was all good.
We were off to the Handy's my spiritual family in Greensboro at 2:00 pm. I made a greenbean casserole and salad for our contibution to the Christmas dinner. Alexandra and I made some homemade chocolate macaroons that were to die for as presents. We put them in gorgeous presentation boxes with green and gold tissue paper dividing each level of cookies. Very Martha Stewart, very pretty for the people who have everything. I actually think we should only be able to make presents for each other. That would reduce the stress by a great margin right there. Everything was finished. James took his car and drove with his Dad to Greensboro, Alexandra drove Jan's car with me and we were off. We both took a detour off of 85N which means we got lost but arrive at the same time. James and Alexandra left about 5 minutes apart. We got there and the house looked like something out of Southern Living. It was beautifully decorated. Laura has 4 small children under 6 years old. She hadn't slept the night before for she was preparing special things for the day. It was great seeing Mary Lewis, Andrew, Weston, and the Handy's. It was nice being part of an extended family. For we don't have an extended family and Christmas seems like it was made for people to be together. We had a lovely dinner and after dinner we played an abbreviated version of the spiritual treasure hunt. With the winning team making a contribution to their charity of choice. For when God richly blesses you with all that you want what gift can you get but the gift of giving. Team Handy (Thom, Michael, and Banks) decided to give their gift to the orphans. Good going guys.
We got home safe and sound and I felt like I had had a wonderful Christmas Day. Thank you!