Mimi's Korner: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to our family and friends from the Pacific Northwest. My sweetie had a really bad head cold when we arrived but is now over it and I now have it. None the less we are really enjoying ourselves with the kids. On our drive up last Tuesday we stopped in Redding and spent the evening with my BFF Patty. She is always a gracious hostess and we so enjoy the time we get to be with her.

We left Patty's place Wednesday morning and was a beautiful drive to the kids place in Vancouver. The roads were clear and we traveled along listening to and singing Christmas Carols all the way. Our beautiful daughter had her Dad's favorite dinner, Spaghetti of course, prepared for us and we had an enjoyable evening catching up and enjoying each other's company.

Thursday Marianne and Stephen both had to work and Papa was still not feeling well so Awbrey and I headed out for our traditional day of shopping. This is something we do every year as it gives her the opportunity to shop for her Mom and Dad. We have such a fun time together shopping, lunch, more shopping, on our way stopped by the grocery store and picked up things for homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, and then to Starbucks for a well deserved Skinny Hazelnut Latte and Peppermint Hot Chocolate, got Papa a Cafe Mocha too!

Today, Friday, Marianne is on vacation and it also a very busy day as she is hosting her Bunco group's Christmas Party. So it is a morning of shopping picking up everything needed for the party, Christmas Dinner, general grocery shopping and the last of her Christmas shopping. Then it was home to start preparing for the party. Her menu consisted of Autumn Glazed Ham, Holiday Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Pear Salad with White Balsamic Dressing, Red Velvet Cake, Santatini and North Pole Drinks, and appetizers consisting of a Broccoli Christmas Tree with veggies and dip, and Hot Brie Cheese with apricot and pecans and crispy bagget bread. Everything looked absolutely delicious and the ladies really enjoyed themselves.

As for mine, Gary, Awbrey and Stephen's dinner I picked up Panda Express for us and we had a picnic upstairs hanging out together while the party went on.

Saturday was a down day for everyone but Stephen as he had to work. So the rest of us slept in , had scrambled eggs with ham for breakfast, and spent the rest of the day in our pajamas watching Christmas movies.

Awbrey and I also completed a couple of Christmas gifts she had int the works. That evening Marianne and I had a wrapping party and spent the evening hanging out together. I, of course, sat to close to the Christmas tree and had to take an allergy pill before going to bed.

Sunday is the Lord's day and we were all up early to get ready for church. Stephen and Awbrey were up first as they are part of the Levitical Team at their church and had to be there by 7:30 AM to set up for morning worship. Me, I woke up with a really bad head cold and have been on medication ever since but being sick was not going to keep me away from worship service so Marianne, Gary and I got ready and headed for church. Worship service was great! Children's Church presented their rendition of Joy to the World, complete with sign language, and it was absolutely great. The worship team had picked some great music for the Sunday before Christmas and Pastor Steve presented a fantastic sermon "He Came As A Child" with the 5 reasons. We spent the rest of the day relaxing, watching Christmas movies and hanging out together.

Today is Christmas Eve and it is a family day. We started the day off with a really fantastic breakfast. Marianne prepared Fritters and I scrambled up some eggs with diced ham. The recipe for the Fritters is Stephen's Mom. They are absolutely delicious with warmed syrup and homemade strawberry jam. After breakfast we got the kitchen cleaned up and are now relaxing watching movies. Tonight we are attending the Christmas Eve service at their church. After the church service we will head home for some Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. After everyone has their fill of soup and sandwiches we are going to go on a drive and take in all the Christmas lights.

To me, Christmas is a time to stop and thank my Heavenly Father for the greatest gift I will ever received and that is the gift of His Son. His Son who so willingly came to earth, to give His life so that I may have eternal life with Him. So tomorrow morning as you open your gifts remember to stop and thank our Heavenly Father for His gift to us.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas from the Richards and Burgess Family to all our family and friends.