BLOGMAS DAYS 17, 18 & 19 -- COOKIES, CANDLELIGHT, CAROLS AND CHRISTMAS EVE

Hello, friends!  Thanks for hanging in there with me.  Both Joe and I are feeling so much better and ready to get on with our holiday.  So let me catch you up with a couple of days and then we will take it from there.

On Sunday it was my day to bring something to Fellowship Time before church.  I wasn't even sure I could make it through the service because I was still sick, but I gave it a shot and stuck it out.  I have been so lax in making my cookies.  In fact, these are the only ones I have made.  But they turned out so good.  I got a mix that had red and green jimmies in it.  It was early in the morning when I headed to the kitchen to mix them up.  I lit a candle to make it cozy.  It is still dark here at 7:00 a.m.

I bought this small ice cream scoop in Lancaster County this past summer and it is perfect for making cookies.

They baked perfectly and were so delicious!  They were called Christmas funfetti cookies and that was just what they were.

Joe was still not feeling well, so he did not go to the morning service.  I picked up Debbie and Rusty and we headed for church.  The traffic was crazy that day.  And I do mean crazy with people just turning in front of you and all things like that.  Everyone was impatient and honking.  

Part of the way there the low tire pressure light went on.  I told the pastor and after church half the congregation was at my car saying, "This is the tire."  "No, this one." "It's the sensor, there's nothing wrong."  Finally, I left to take Debbie and Rusty home along with a can of Fix-a-Flat from Pastor with me.  Along the way we stopped at 7-11 and Rusty put air in the tire that we were told it was.  It didn't seem to make any difference, though.

This was the fourth Sunday of Advent and Rick and Carole lit the candles and read the scripture.

Sunday night was our candlelight Christmas service.  Only a few people showed up and that was a shame because it was the most beautiful and meaningful service I have attended in a long time.  And the church looked so nice!

Joe had felt better and come with me to the service but now Debbie wasn't well and Rusty had come by himself.  Joe and I drove Rusty home and the light was still on indicating the tire was low.

Knowing I had a couple of long trips in front of me this week, I took the car into the garage first thing on Monday morning.  It turns out there was a nail in the passenger rear tire.  Everyone was telling me it was the front tire and that's what Rusty put the air in.  I had to wait for 2 hours while they fixed it, but it was inexpensive and now safe to drive.  While I was waiting I kept looking at their one and only decoration, a big snowman in the corner.  Well... it was about three feet high.  I just had to take a picture of him.  It was so cute.

Fortunately I got out of there in time to get Joe and Rick and the three of us went to the nursing home for our weekly service.  There weren't a lot of people who showed up, but did they ever enjoy singing "Silent Night."  They weren't even looking at the song sheet -- just loudly singing and smiling.  I have to find some non-Christmas songs that they know just as well.  These people like to sing!

That's days 17 and 18 down.  Now on to today for day 19 -- Christmas Eve.  The day dawned beautiful.  I just wish it dawned earlier!  It doesn't get light until after 7:00 a.m.  But here is a picture of the sun rising over the Commodore Barry Bridge.

It has been a very busy day.  You might even say hectic.  There is so much to do and not nearly enough time.

Here is a picture of the blanket I made for Joe's sister, Mary.  I think it turned out so pretty.  It's hard to believe this is all made of left over yarn.

I gave it to her tonight and she loved it!  She said no one had ever made anything for her before.

We did a lot of running around this afternoon.  We had to go to Shoprite and then headed for Rite Aid.  And if we've forgotten something, well... it's too late now.

We didn't even have time to eat.  We haven't been eating well for over a week now.  Just a quick breakfast, a snack or nothing for lunch, and a grab whatever for dinner.  Hopefully that will stop now.  Tonight we headed over to Joe's nephew's house.  Each year he throws a party for the family on Christmas Eve.  Usually we don't go, but this year we did.

Here is Joe with his nephew, Jerry, who is the son of his older sister.

Christmas Eve is the birthday of the lady of the house, Colleen, Joe's nephew Stephen's wife.  Stephen had bought a cake for her and we all sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

 Then Stephen cut the cake.

I didn't take any cake but everyone was saying it was good.

Joe was so happy his sister, Mary, showed up.  She is his youngest sister and the one I know best.  This is the Mary that I made the blanket for.  I was able to give it to her before we left.

Joe with his nephew, Greg, and his niece Jen's fiancé.

Here's Mary with Joe's niece Jackie.

The best part of the evening was when Jackie brought out gifts for all the kids there and they were allowed to open them.  Oh, the smiles and excitement of these little ones.  Ken, the husband of Joe's niece Chrissie was sitting next to me and he said this was the best seeing the kids.  I agreed!

We stayed only a couple of hours because I still have gifts to wrap.  The cookies are going to wait until tomorrow morning -- if then.  And I still have to pick up the floor and straighten up a bit before we leave for my sister's tomorrow.

And now I must end.  I will probably not be on here tomorrow, but I'll definitely be back after Christmas.  I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families and friends.  I'll end this post with a picture of Stephen and Colleen's house as we were leaving.  Merry Christmas!

Kathy