I'm a Survivor! Oh, Yes, I Am!

This has been a very busy week, and I'm really tired, but at least I'm not ailing too much this year! I am a survivor, but some rest would be very nice!

I delivered "Faith, Hope, and Love" to my friend Dec. 4, and as someone mentioned, she did cry, and she said, "Boy, I needed that TODAY!" I told her I knew she did, and I wanted her to wrap up in it in her recliner and get some rest. She does love it!

From that point, I don't think I've sat down except to eat a sandwich and/or check e-mail and read blogs. I did finally get the house decorated inside (shhhhh---with very little cleaning)! Monday, Dec. 12, I cooked a turkey for my Sunday School class party, and I've been making candy ever since it seems!

My annual party for my school friends was Thursday, Dec. 15, with 22 here for an evening of fun and fellowship. They brought most of the food, which was delicious and in abundance! As they were leaving, I gave each one a candy can and turned them loose to my candies. I've learned it's best to let them choose what they want rather than my trying to pack it for them. Some want only divinity, some want only fudge or pralines or orange/coconut balls, and some will almost kill for the peanut butter balls. If they don't get what they want, it's not my fault! *wink*

This year we had a party crasher from an older class who came with one of the gals in our class. Some of us had re-connected with him earlier this year, and I had been telling him by e-mail about the party, but had not invited him because I didn't think he would want to put up with all our foolishness. We were just brats to his class! I was unaware he was seeing my classmate, so it really surprised me and the others when he showed up with her. He turned out to add a lot to the life of the party, and we were all glad he came. It's always nice to see "Old" friends from back when! Because it was a nasty, rainy night, 3-4 of the regulars who had just had surgery or other illness were unable to come, and we missed them.

While I was preparing for that party, I got to thinking about the SS class I used to be in. They had invited me to join them at the church today (Saturday)at 2 PM for their Christmas party. I thought, my house is already ready to party, and I decided to call that SS teacher and invite the ladies to come to my house today rather than meet at the church. They all readily agreed, and today 17 brought goodies, and we pigged out again! And again, as they were leaving, they were given a candy can and told to fill it with their choice of candies. Most of them had never been to my house before and didn't know that's standard procedure at my house in December. They all seemed to have a good time, even the little 87-yr. old, and in fact, the much younger ones too! I certainly enjoyed the afternoon with them.

I now have everything cleaned and back in place, and I'm about ready to hit the sack! I do love to party, but when it's over, I'm ready to collapse!

I still have candy left, and probably will have more friends over at some point tomorrow if they have any free time; not sure about that yet. Then Monday, no, make that Tuesday, I MUST do some Christmas shopping for the family! They will be here for supper and our gift exchange on Christmas Eve night. I hope to kick back a few times before then and rest my wearies! At least the hardest part of Christmas is over for me! ----until time to dismantle and store everything again!! "Oh, my aching back" at that point! I hope the GS will come back and help me!

Can you believe I haven't taken a single picture, not of food, people, or decorations! For the decorations, you can look back to last year's blogs; everything is in almost the same place!

One more thing --- my Walmart friend is coming Monday I think. She is back in Texas for a Christmas visit with her kids in a nearby town. While here from Missouri, she wants to spend a little time with me; that will be fun.

Think I'll add a few comments to some blogs, and then go to bed. A good night's sleep should help my feelings a lot!

Hope all of you are having a busy but wonderful time during this time, and I wish everyone of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

---"Love"

Faith, Hope and Love and Christmas Lights

I wanted to title this "Faith, Hope and Love Completed", but somehow that didn't sound right! tee hee! Those three are never finished, right?

The full picture is not the best; the quilt really does lay flat and straight, but I didn't get it hung straight! Someone mentioned the words couldn't be read on the first post. Hope these pictures will help; also the quilting in the pink shows now, but the stitch in the ditch doesn't much, except where I missed the ditch, of course!

I got the front porch lights up yesterday before the nasty wet weather hit today; well, all except the GS's weren't here to wrap the big tree. That may not happen this year since it looks like we are in for several days of wet weather. My big party for my school friends is Dec. 15, and if we don't get it wrapped by then, it's not going to happen. But we will live!

My next door neighbor is such a special person, and every year she give me something wonderful that she is discarding from her Christmas things. She left this on my front porch for me yesterday! Isn't he beautiful?! He will be checking his list from the organ when people come in my front door!

Now I've got to get busy cleaning and decorating inside this messy house! Two weeks from this morning, and it will all be over except putting party things away! Of course, the family will be here Christmas, but that's a very small group. Not sure who else may show up in the meantime; I certainly hope Santa does!

---"Love"