Happy New Year

Kid's Christmas Table

Our Bible Fellowship Group came for dinner last Saturday.

Several of their kids were here.

I had the privilege of eating with them at the

"kids table" in front of the tree.

We had our snowmen dishes, snow figures, etc...

on the coffee table,

plus, I borrowed 6 of the oldest

little brown chairs

from ESBC.

It was so cozy! We had lots of fun!

~***~

Tom and I shopped again this evening.

The grandkids gifts are done!

I'm taking my mom to shop for them in the morning.

I have a few grocery items to pick up,

then cleaning to do. Also wrap presents.

Relaxing a little sounds good. :)

~***~

Very productive meeting in Plano this

morning for the prison ministry.

I can just sense that the

Monarch House

is going to be a reality before we know it!!

~***~

SHOEPEG CORN CASSEROLE

melt 2 sticks butter in sauce pan

add 2 pkg cream cheese and blend till smooth

add chopped jalapenos with juice as desired

pour over 4 squatty cans of shoepeg corn in 9X9 dish (drain 3)

bake at 350 degrees covered for 30 minutes or so

YUM YUM!!!

~***~

Choir sings in all three services Sunday with

Adam Paul Williams

as the featured soloist.

He has played "JESUS" in the passion play

at Glenrose, TX.

Grayson Girls

Our ladies small group had a

wonderful time at our

Christmas Dinner recently.

We feel so comfortable together

even though we have only met 4 times.

Some could not attend,

others came for the first time.

I believe we have

13 all together.

~***~

Yesterday was my

last day to work till

January 2nd.

It will come all too soon!

~***~

Tomorrow morning early

I will be in Plano

with Elaine

(prison ministry)

as she shares the vision of the

Monarch House with

a company that is interested in

providing financial support

for the house and

supplying volunteer

manpower for vital roles.

~***~

Sunday we have our meal

with my kids,

my parents and Tom's mother.

Jenn will host the occasion.

~***~

Julie and Rob will arrive

late that evening.

Old Friends

Old friends

after all of these years,

just old friends

through the laughter and tears,

old friends,

what a find, what a priceless treasure.

Old friends

like a rare piece of gold,

my old friends

brought me in from the cold,

old friends,

through it all I will hold to

old friends!

(Angie,wish you had been with us!)

An Evening With Michael W Smith

What a privilege it was to hear

"my American idol"

Melinda Doolittle

Wednesday at the Meyerson

(Dallas Symphony Orchestra)!

Michael W was great, as well as the Katinas,

but hearing Melinda was the fulfillment of

one of the "desires of my heart!!"

Her humility is so refreshing!!

And what talent!!

Thank you, Lord!

~***~

We have experienced such

Christmas excitement

the last 3 Sundays at church.

"Deck the Halls" was so fun, then last Sunday

the choir had the chance to sing

at one of our

satellite locations.

Today the theme was "swing."

So neat!!

We still have a

gospel theme and a more

traditional service to look forward to plus 6

Christmas Eve services

to choose from.

~***~

Tom nor I participated in

THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY

(17 outdoor scenes dramatized with full sets, etc...),

but 700 of our church family did.

10,000+ people witnesses the event this week

on one of the 4 nights.

~***~

I completed training yesterday

at the Bonham jail

with the

Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

I am now able to enter

any state prison to minister.

I will also make contact this week

with the chaplain

for the Grayson County Jail.

Each county has its

own training

and/or requirements.

~***~

Our GRAYSON GIRLS

(ladies small group)

meet tomorrow night for

Christmas dinner.

And Tuesday evening I'm having dinner

with 4 of my dearest,

longtime friends. I have been

truly blessed in my life to know some of the

greatest women on the planet.

God is good!!

Christmas Spirit!

I'm stalling!

I'm suppose to be putting the tree up today,

but I've managed to piddle for hours.

Oops...

So, I decided if I pulled out some

photos from last Christmas

they might inspire me!

Ah, yes, the little felt bird in the picture above

was the first ornament to be placed on our

tree besides the old balls everyone use to hang.

Tom's oldest brother married one month after we did in 1974.

That first Christmas his wife made

these little birds for our trees.

A treasure!!

Through the years we have played

Chinese Christmas with ornaments at

various Sunday School parties.

The result is that

I am in tears with each

ornament I hang.

Such wonderful memories!!

Now...I am ready...wish you were here

to experience the day with me!!