It's Here, It's Here!

Christmas is here! The long awaited day! I wait for this day all year. Not because of the gifts, the music, not because of the food, but because of the wonderful memories that are formed with family and friends and because of the time the world pauses to reflect on why Christ came as a baby.

It's our family tradition to open gifts on Christmas Eve, although my dad was pushing to do it on the Eve of Christmas Eve. haha That didn't happen. After I got home from work on Friday at about 4:30, I helped Mom finish up the goodies, which included a shrimp ring, Cheese & Sausage Dip, Artichoke Dip, Chips & Salsa, Popcorn Chicken, Veggies, and much more. YUM! We opened gifts and it was such a fun time! We shook things up this year and let mom and dad open their gifts first. I have never been so excited about their gifts before! It was a lot of fun. This year I had asked for a Kindle and, tada! I got one! It's a very neat little gadget and I like it even more now that I've played with one! I have downloaded 50 (free) books already from Amazon. So fun! If you have any suggestions of books, PLEASE give me ideas. :-)

Dad & Christopher putting together his super cool RC Airplane.

My new Kindle! It's smaller than it looks. About 7-8" long. Love it! I got a cover and a light for it as well.

Josh snuggling up in the faux mink blanket I got him.

This morning was spent at church, celebrating the real reason for Christmas. I sang a solo which didn't start out too great but ended up decently. *sigh* Mornings just don't treat me well for singing! The message was spectular! Bro. G preached on the Gift By Grace. He compared the gift of salvation to gift giving at Christmas time.

After the service we had a couple of families over, one of which couldn't stay long due to having to catch a ferry. We had SUCH a good time eating and playing games. That is probably the most fun I've ever had playing Guestures! Let's just say, it would have been difficult to give a trophy out.

Yesterday was spent at work (as previously mentioned). It was my last day singing for the wagon rides and we also did a photo shoot.

All in all, it was a wonderful day. As I sit here pondering all that has occured I can't help but think of what this time must have been like some 2,000 years ago. Granted, Christ wasn't born on December 25th exactly, but could you imagine actually being there at Christ's birth?? And why did He even come? It was for ME! That is an amazing thought. It's one of those things that we know in our heads, but it's different to know it in ours hearts. I hope that each of you had a wonderful, Christ-filled Christmas.

Handel's Messiah

Yesterday we had our annual SPG (Singles Pleasing God) activity: going to Seattle to see Handel's Messiah at Benaroya Hall. YAY!! This was our second year going and it was fabulous! I've been looking forward to it all year and I was not disappointed. There were different soloists this year and that changed it up a bit. Of course I had my favorite soloist (and my not so favorite). :-)

This year the choir was spectacular and the orchestra amazing! Gerard Schwartz definitely knows what he's doing.

Last year we all dressed very formally. The girls all wore fancy dresses and the guys wore bowties. While we may have dressed down compared to last year, we still decided to stay on the dressy side. For myself, I don't have many occasions to dress up so I like to do so when I can. I don't have an all inclusive group photo. But I do have a photo of everyone in the "Fun V." LOL All of us who work at the Holly Farm were picked up on the way out, so this is our group. We all met at Claim Jumper for dinner then scrambled to get to the concert by 8:00.

It was a great memory and now I am even more excited to see Lang Lang at Benaroya Hall in January!

The Eagle Has Landed!

After much anticipation, Dad is now home. After so many times of engines breaking, oil slicks, propellers breaking, etc. he's finally made it back six days after the expected time. However, God's timing is perfect and He had a reason for it. We are just glad he's back at home safe and sound. His plane got in an hour and a half early today and we were very grateful for that! It enabled us to make it to church tonight, for which I was greatly relieved! Thank you all for praying while he was gone, and also for his safe return.

Waiting for his plane to taxi over.

There he is! Just waiting for them to stop and let them out.

A happy reunion.

Cookie Exchange

Tonight was the Ladies Bible Fellowship for the month of December.  It was wonderful to be able to fellowship with other ladies, and even meet some new ladies!  Every December we do a cookie exchange, and there are usually so many goodies the plates are overflowing!  This year I tried a new recipe, Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookies.  MMMMM!!!!! They were so delicious!

Tonight, Mrs. S. brought the devotion, and it was just what I needed! Isn't it wonderful when the Lord gives you exactly what you need WHEN you need it?? The devotion was on Deborah (Judges 4-5) and her example as a judge in the Bible.  She was a woman, and most people misinterpret her life as one of usurping the man's authority.  However, she was NOT in a leadership position.  Her ministry was as an encourager to Barak.  She never scolded or criticized him, even though he was weak and timid.  However, she encouraged him to follow the Lord's leading and reminded him of the Lord's promises.  She is the perfect example of a woman's role in leadership! 

On another note, it feels so much later in the month!  Even though Christmas IS right around the corner, it feels like it should be this weekend. Maybe it's because Christmas comes so early at the Holly Farm.  I am hoping to take some pictures and videos of us singing this weekend in our caroling costumes. 

Still no news with my dad.  They were able to take off but after three hours had to return due to plane issues.  Please pray that there will be no more issues and that he'll be able to return home swiftly!

50th Post!

I can't believe this is my 50th post! I wanted to do something fun and I was inspired by my friend, Maggie, to write 50 things about myself. I've definitely got it easier because she's doing 100! WHEW! So here it goes...

1. I have a been a church pianist for almost 3 years now! (3 years in January)

2. I will be starting college in January.

3. I will be majoring in music (not sure if that counts as separate. :-) )

4. I play guitar....sorta. I am learning.

5. I work at a Holly and Lavender Farm.

6. I listen to Christmas music all year. :-)

7. I eat Mashed Potatoes with a spoon. (That's for you Maggie!)

8. I have a twin brother.

9. I play the flute in our church orchestra.

10. I love playing practical jokes, but can never seem to keep a straight face.

11. Most of my favorite movies are musicals.

12. I absolutely LOVE to read! Mostly the classics

13. I think I am addicted to Chapstick.

14. I love playing Moonlight Sonata late at night before I go to bed.

15. I prefer food scents over floral scents.

16. I have only ever had two mangos in my entire life. (that's for you, Janell. hehe)

17. I love to decorate cakes, even though I haven't done one in a while. Miss you, Kali!!

18. I have two bookshelves crammed full of a variety of books.

19. I become competitive when I play certain sports, namely Wallyball.

20. I am a piano teacher.

21. I love to garden, and find it intriguing how certain flowers grow.

22. I prefer baking over cooking, but I do both.

23. I've recently acquired a love for scarves.

24. I find joy in the little individual lemonades you put in your water bottle.

25. I am running out of things to say about myself!

26. I can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the violin....barely and very poorly.

27. I've lived in five different states plus one foreign country.

28. My favorite composer is Mozart!

29. I love coffee!! coffee, coffee, coffee

30. I was saved when I was 12.

31. I like fuzzy pajama pants.

32. I've played the piano at more funerals than I have weddings.

33. I am recently finding joy in decorating. ie. the church auditorium, the Sweetheart's Banquet, etc.

34. My favorite book of the Bible is James

35. I like monotonous jobs that allow me to think while I am working.

36. I've taken a year of voice lessons, but could certainly use more! :-)

37. I graduated Highscool from A Beka Academy DVD homeschool.

38. I like to shovel snow.

39. I enjoy singing acappella.

40. I like windy/rainy days. As long as I don't have to work in it.

41. I wash my hands too much. But I am not as bad as I used to be!

42. I like to listen to Gospel Bluegrass.

43. I actually like quite a variety of styles of music: Bluegrass, Classical, sacred, celtic, and more.

44. Sometimes I become a texting maniac. :-) But not as much as others I know.

45. One of my favorite things to do is go to coffee with friends.

46. I played recreational baseball for two years, softball for one, and soccer for one, but never got any team pictures.

47. I wear glasses but prefer my contacts.

48. My favorite color is Teal.

49. I can't stand the noise of crinkly candy wrappers. *shiver*

50. God has blessed me with SO many friends!

Fun With Pranks

First, a little history. This week at Bible Training Institute, my friend Joel enlisted my friend Linnea to steal my keys from my purse. Why you ask? Because a while back he had said he could do things to my car and I denied it. Being the competitive person that he is, he had to prove me wrong. :-) So he got my keys, and moved my car ALLLL the way across the parking lot. I had a great laugh over that one. After he did it he gave Anna my keys. The little stinker! There I was, shaking my purse, SURE that I had my keys. And the whole time they were in her pocket.

Well this meant war. Anna, of course was willing to be in on helping me get Joel back. All fun for her, but no repurcussions. So, with her help, after work yesterday we some sparkly glitter and "Decorated" the drivers seat of his car. His first words when I saw him were "Game on!!". hahaha it was great!

I decided to steer Joel's urge for revenge in another direction. After all, she HAD helped both of us get each other, yet she had no consequences. This must be fixed. We concocted a plan. An evil, yet brilliant plan! After work Anna's younger brother succeeded in getting her keys from her. She had them in her pocket....she was definitely paranoid! haha So while Anna was down at the house doing some things, Joel and Andy drove her car to the back of the property and into the woods. As they were doing that, I was running around afixing the "clues" that would lead her to her car. teehee. When we were all situated we all got into the hidden car and sent off the first text. From me: "Play the game, find your car. Your first clue is on its way." From Joel to Anna: "Sign in, sign out." Off she went to the sign in sheet to find her first clue. It then led her to a display in the shop, out to the boatport, out to the horse trailer, then to the gardens, then to the Christmas tree lot, then to her car. It was very amusing to see her finding her way around the property. We all got such a good laugh out of it!! Sorry, Anna. I was a traitor. But it definitely was fun!! :-) Until the next prank...

Delays and Frustrations

My dad has been gone on deployment now for several months. He was supposed to come home this past Thursday, but alas, the plane broke. This is no surprise because that type of plane is notorious for breaking. However, each day it gets delayed even longer as the plane still has difficulties. So right now, we are sitting on the edge of our seats, waiting for news that the plane has been fixed. Very frustrating! Gotta love the NAVY.....