Rich and full...

It's been a busy, rich and full week.

Sunday at our church we had a Christmas service in the morning and in the evening

 a Christmas dinner/outreach.

It was a great day.

And now I am happy tired, 

the kind of tired that comes when you've done something worthwhile and rewarding, 

even if it was a lot of work.

Christmas day will be relaxing and a bit more quiet than usual this year.

We had our whole family here on Saturday for brunch and gifts since our oldest daughter and her family will be at her in-laws on Christmas this year.

We'll still be with the rest of our family on Christmas, 

but in a condo at the beach instead of at my house.

We may even eat our Christmas dinner off of paper plates!

A relaxing, informal Christmas sounds just perfect to me this year.

*******************

In 2012 I followed the prompts in Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare in counting my thanks.

In 2013 I'm going back to the way I did it in the beginning,

just noticing and recording the many extraordinary blessings in my ordinary life.

And so I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of them via my camera or iPhone)

#4102 - #4126

12-16-13-

-the Hub's help when our Christmas tree fell over in the night

-meeting a local blog friend for coffee, and her sweet daughters!

-a scoop of licorice ice cream, a sweet childhood memory revisited

-a haircut and color 

-a really nice evening with the Hubs

12-17-13-

-how writing a to-do list takes away the fear and intimidation of not being able to handle the busy-ness

-our wild and crazy four year old granddaughter

-the annual dipping of the pretzels with the grandkids

12-18-13-

-little pink cowboy boots that Papa bought for youngest granddaughter

-Isaiah 30:20-21

-going to Peacock Lane with our family and enjoying hot chocolate together afterwards

12-19-13-

-12 days of Christmas celebrated by the Hub's with a surprise each day for me

-a phone call from my oldest sis

-taking time to write

-today's devotional in Jesus Calling

-dressing up and going out to eat with the leaders from our church

12-20-13-

-getting errands done

-getting to squeeze in a partial date day with the Hubs and enjoying a matinee of  Saving Mr. Banks

-baking in the evening while the Hub's lit a fire in the fireplace and we listened to Christmas music

12-21-13-

-Christmas brunch with the whole family

(This photo makes me smile.  My daughter told my grandson to wear something nice to our house and he came out of his room in dress pants and a shirt and tie!)

Someone liked the frosted sugar cookies!

-the Hub's reading the annual blessing that he writes for our children and grandchildren

-things coming together for Sunday's service and dinner

12-22-13-

-Truelife Espanol, (our Spanish speaking church), being with us in our morning service and for the dinner

-our Children and Youth ministries and Truelife Espanol taking part in the morning service

-the great people of Truelife Church who cooked, set-up, served, cooked, cleaned up and made it possible for us to feed hungry families

gratefully yours,

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