May God fine-tune your spiritual ears so you hear heaven's song above the chaos and the noise. May you rest in the knowledge that God is in control and will have the last say when it’s all said and done. Though the elements rage and the enemy taunts, God is the One who fights for you and He will win for you. He loves you with power and with passion. May His Kingdom come and His will be done everywhere you place your feet today. Have a powerful day in Him!
And now for a little Monday Mishmash.....
Our son, Joey, left yesterday morning. We were sorry to see him go, but are happy he was able to stay for the whole Thanksgiving weekend. Darlene was still not feeling 100%, but her brother was there with her so we weren't worried about her. Joey will get her to the doctor this week, if she is still fighting the virus. We are making plans to go up their way the week between Christmas and New Years!! It's about time we made it to their new house.
The two Joes....
We took Joey out to breakfast on Saturday morning, to Reececliff Family Diner, then we headed downtown to the Farmer's Market. We drove around and around and around and couldn't find a place to park within a couple of blocks. It was also Small Business Saturday, so downtown was more crowded than usual on Saturday morning. Since we needed to get to Target before we went to church, we just headed here. We had two tags from the Angel Tree and two tags for the family that my women's group adopted, so needed four gifts. We found what we needed (StarWars, Avengers, toy computer and an outfit for a toddler) and were able to turn everything in before the 4:00 Mass. Next weekend, we will get a grocery bag to fill with Christmas dinner items for a needy family. I'm sure all the churches do similar things and isn't it wonderful when people help people without government intervention!
The leftovers are almost gone. Saturday, I made Williamsburg Turkey Soup. I make it every year with the leftover dark turkey meat (and sometimes with chicken at other times of the year). It is SO delicious. Here is a link for the recipe: Williamsburg Turkey Soup
I must tell you that I don't use the turkey carcass. I use three quarts of chicken broth. I also don't use long-grain rice. I use Minute Rice instead. Other than those two changes, I follow the recipe exactly. Joey had three bowls of it for dinner!
After Joey left, Joe and I were going to start decorating for Christmas. Neither one of us felt like doing it, so we just put Thanksgiving/Fall decorations away and put up a few things that aren't packed away in boxes, up in the attic. We put out the Advent Wreath, put Christmas wreaths on the front doors and I hung the beautiful wall hanging my BFF Elaine made for me.
I'm not sure we will even put up a tree this year. It is so much work and we won't be here for Christmas Eve or Day. It's not that we aren't excited for the season (and the real reason for the season), we are just tired and would rather not mess with all the fuss this year. Is that awful of us? Maybe by next weekend, our attitudes will have shifted and we'll climb up in the attic and start dragging boxes down. We do have a Nativity Scene to put outside. Joe is working on that.
Back to work today. The long weekend kind of flew by. Christmas will be here before we know it! Thanks for your visit today! Peace & hugs.
Your son looks like just his dad, smiles. I haven't done much yet...we will get the tree sometime this week...I did change out the wreathe on the front door---can I count that? Just so busy with school...........sigh
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful day, Terri. Blessings
Like Halloween and now Black Friday, some people in Spain put up a Christmas tree. However, Nativity scenes are what people go in for, and most have very elaborate ones with lots and lots of details. They're villages really with all the things you'd expect to find in a village.
ReplyDeleteI love this Monday blessing. Thanks for the soup recipe, because it sure is soup weather in Madrid. It's absolutely freezing in the morning. Hope Darlene feels better soon. Have a good Monday.
Brenda, we can't even find a Nativity Scene to purchase anymore. This country has gone to 'politically correct' that there are very few references to the birth of Jesus this time of year. It is still CHRISTmas, however, and they can't change that on us, as much as I think "they" would like to. I'm glad Spain keeps Christ in Christmas!
DeleteHobby lobby...probably because it's Christian owned...has lots of activities, if you're needing one.
DeleteI have several small ones for inside the house, but we haven't seen a really nice one for outside in a long, long time. I'll check Hobby Lobby and see what they might have.
DeleteI have my husband's Mothers's nativity and even though it is chipped and faded it is irreplaceable to us :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is not awful of you to not put up a tree for Christmas and especially since you won't be home. At our age, we need to consider our energy levels and save ourselves for the non-negotiables of life. You most definitely are about those things that really make the season meaningful. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your mishmash! I've done all the decorating I'm going to do this year. Very minimal as compared to years past. These days we go to our daughters for Christmas so I only put up a few things for me and the hubby. Your 2 Joe's are very handsome. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteYour Monday blessing really touched my heart. What a woman of faith you are, my Friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie, for your sweet words. I do try, though fail a lot too. I can't claim ownership of the blessing. I copied it from an email I get daily. This one was worth sharing!
DeleteWe haven't gotten our decorations pulled out yet either. I am dreading the tree and trains. It takes over our living room. Probably next weekend.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
So glad you had a good visit with Joey. Everywhere we go from now til the big day, will be crowded, difficult parking, etc. Online for me when I can, and so far I am batting 100%. We are not decorating either. Just not worth all the work, and turn around and take it down. We will not be here on Christmas either, as we go to the kids houses to see what Santa brought.
ReplyDeleteGoing back after a holiday can be rough, but you are 1 day closer to another weekend! lol
Sometimes I feel the same way about the tree. If I didn't love my ornaments so much I would pass. And of course, I have grandchildren now. Either way, sometimes it just comes around to fast.
ReplyDeleteTeri, I am just now reading this and I will take the blessing for today and tomorrow and maybe the next day, too. Great words to hang on to in these times.
ReplyDeleteI really like the pic of your two Joes. And yes, it is wonderful to be able to help others.
I haven't done a real tree for 15 years. We go to the boy's houses or we were off on RV trips to warmer places. This year I am flying to Ontario. I do put out some favorite ornaments and stuffed animals and get pointsettias. I haven't even baked this year. Your beginning is certainly true for my liife this last year..
ReplyDeleteWe have bee putting up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving since Vince went into the Navy. That was many many years ago, and this year is the 1st we didn't. I'm anxious to get some decorating done here. After this past year, we need a little celebratory decor in here. Its been a rough year, and I'm still not up to getting it all done in a day or two, but I'm really excited about getting the tree up. We're hoping not to be home for Christmas....hoping to be with our daughter. This is such a wonderful time of year. Breaking out my Christmas playlist today for sure.
ReplyDelete