Closing the Door on 2024

Over the holiday we were talking about how fast this year went by and how Adelaide (our two yr old granddaughter) will graduate high school in 2040. Pretty soon when we talk about "the 20's" it won't be the 20's people my age think about!

I think 2024 has been a year of rebuilding - friendships, trust, confidence. And I feel like we're headed into a year of peace, and prosperity. Not necessarily financial but more mentally, physically and emotionally. I don't know why I feel this way - can't really put my finger on it, I just do. I pray it happens for all of us.

We had a fun Christmas, quiet and not rushed. Sharaya and Ally came over Christmas Eve morning and we video chatted with Diana, Peter and Adelaide. Adelaide and Ally opened their Christmas eve pajamas from us, then we exchanged a few other gifts.

Adelaide trying on her new bathrobe

Christmas morning we all stayed home and had our own family Christmas. Chuck played Santa for me and Beth this year. Do you have someone hand out the gifts at your house?

Among other things, Beth got a new blanket for her recliner, and a tin full of cash. (I think that one was her favorite!) Her back was hurting when she woke up so she sat in a kitchen chair while she opened her presents.

I got Chuck a new speaker for his phone.

Sharaya and Ally came over around 1:00 and we opened a few more gifts, ate lunch and played some games. And of course, we had to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol. It's a tradition in our family!

Today, Sunday, we had just one church service, then Chuck, Beth and I went out for brunch, and headed downtown to see a gingerbread house display. Except these were cities, not just houses. It's put on at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle. The displays used to fill up a huge room but it all had to shut down during covid. They just started it up again a couple years ago. It was small, but impressive! Can you guess the cities? I had to read the sign to know the first one - 

And the details! The displays were very impressive.

And it's all edible!

The bridge opened and closed!

(The cities were India, London, Australia and Paris.) Beth and I have a new appreciation for them since we made our very first gingerbread house this year.

Now we're looking toward 2025. Only the Lord knows our path but I trust Him completely. He only has good things planned for each of us. We just have to pray and trust His answers.

I hope you all have a very happy New Year celebration!

Thanksgiving, Double Digits and Julie Andrews

Thanksgiving kicked my butt this year. 

These are pictures from last year (I didn't have time to take many this year) to give you an idea of what the Thanksgiving Outreach at our church looks like.

This is our gym, we call it The Commons, ready for our guests

 The first seating. 
When they're done we clean and re-set the tables and do it again. And then again.

In years past I've lead the Buser and Server teams, overseeing the Commons. Or the Condiment team, putting the rolls, black olives and pickles on all the tables then bringing out the pumpkin pie after dinner. But now that I'm the Custodial Supervisor at church, I lead the Custodial team this year.

I went into it thinking, "So we empty trash for a few hours. How hard can this be?" Oh my word, I had no idea just how MUCH trash we'd need to empty. And if we didn't get to it soon enough how heavy it would be to lift out of the can. And how much heavier it would get as we carried it out of the building and out to the parking lot. And how it would be even heavier as we tried to toss it up and into the dumpster! (I eventually got smart and went downstairs to grab our big rolling trash bin so we could fill it and didn't have to carry them out of the building.)

And the trash in the Commons would fill up within seconds. Not exaggerating!! Plus there were trash cans in the Reception area at the other end of the building. And in the childcare area downstairs. Plus cleaning and restocking the bathrooms. I'd clean one sink, move to another and someone would come in and immediately use the sink I just cleaned. I can't tell you how many times I'd be in the middle of cleaning and 15 people would walk in.

I had a few volunteers help in the morning but for the most part it was just me and Beth. She would go into our Women's Cry Room whenever there would be a break and it didn't take her long to fall asleep! It was a very long and exhausting day!

  

 

And when we got home... no wonder my feet hurt!

Last month I ended up buying Julie Andrews new book and I'm loving it! It's funny and surprising... I'm only about a third of the way through it but I highly recommend it!

Today we celebrated Allie's 10th birthday! Sharaya always does a phenomenal job on decorating and themes... she's really gifted in this area! It was a Winter Wonderland theme and there were so many fun elements to it. All the kids got to make gingerbread houses, there were snowflakes and snow and nutcrackers, it was amazing!

And look at this cake! Her friend Jen from Tasty Spoons Bakery made it and all of her cakes are stunning!

Happy Birthday Allie!