'Twas the Day After Christmas

and all through the house, there are boxes and paper, and dirty dishes, and enough goodies from my stocking to add five more pounds!  And I couldn't be happier!  Charleigh-Girl and I got to sleep as late as we pleased this morning for the first time in a month, I think.  It wasn't too late, however, as we had fallen into bed exhausted before 10:00 last night!  Yes, she was exhausted, too. 

I had six parties this year.  (I think I'm one shy of last year.)  The first was my Bible Study Fellowship group on December 5th.  We had 13 here for a blessed day.

The next was my Sunday School class.  We had lots of food to share, and we filled boxes with cookies and candy for the block we have adopted in E. Arlington, where our church is beginning a new campus.  There were 20 of us here for that party.  The first pic features our beloved teacher, Debra Permenter.

The "organization" of our assembling was similar to that of the Keystone Cops!  But we got it done!

Here's the only picture I took of us delivering the boxes and caroling on December 19th.  It was perhaps more of a blessing to us than to the recipients.

Then I invited my FOLS (that's friends of longest standing in lieu of old) for lunch.  We usually have lunch at the Rose Garden Tearoom once a month, but instead it was at Linda's Sunroom!  We aren't that crazy about having our picture taken, but here's the table:

Next party was sooo much fun!  I invited Susannah and seven of her show choir, etc. buddies (plus Madeline) to come to Mimi's for their lunch break from school.  I had to have their lunch on the table because they only have a short time.  Here they are: 

And their dessert--chocolate brownies and vanilla petit fors:

And onward we go!  Thursday, the 20th, was bridge club day at my house with seven very dear friends.  Then Friday night is couples' bridge night.  I didn't take any pictures, but I think a great time was had by all! 

My final party of 2012 was for my wonderful family.  After breakfast at the Metzgers, we all gathered here at 3:00.  It is always great when Jay and Terri are here for Christmas, and this was the year.  We had wonderful appetizers (including a smoked chicken spread and a garlic cheese roll made by Terri), then we exchanged some pretty special gifts.  And then we ate again.  Yes, that's how we roll!  I didn't take any pictures, but there are some marvelous ones from Susan's Facebook page.

And it snowed!  How amazing is that?  Huge flakes. 

The perfect end to a perfectly wonder season.  "Praise be to God for His inexpressible gift." II Corinthians 9:15...at Christmastime, at Christmastime.

A Heart Wrenching Story

One of the stories I read about the Sandy Hook tragedy was told by a little survivor.  He was in music class, and his wonderful young teacher hid the children in a closet after locking the door to the classroom.  The killer came to the door and beat on it shouting, "LET ME IN!"  "LET ME IN!"  The children remained perfectly silent, some holding their musical instruments so as to keep them from making a sound. 

And then they prayed.

The killer left.  This was his last stop before killing himself.

When I read this, I immediately thought of the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:20.  "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."  

"But, Jesus, sorry you're not allowed to come in to our classrooms.  And that prayer was a no-no, too."

If He's standing at your door, LET HIM IN.  He is the Light in this horribly dark world.  He is our ONLY hope and salvation.  

Oh, and I think we best let Him back into our schools, too.