December 22nd: Monday Musings...

 

I am jumping back to Lauren's wedding first, because I keep forgetting to share this painting that was created of me at the wedding reception.  They hired two young artists to create watercolors of guests, and they were given to us as a take-away gift.  How fun!!  I only asked them to please include the wrist corsage.  It's a caricature and is well done.  They were very busy and cranked them out from a photo they took in just a couple of hours.  I was very impressed.  It is a nice keepsake!

On Friday, I drove Anne and Paul to Moffitt in Tampa.  He had blood work done and was told that he didn't get into the trial they were hoping for, but they do have another course of meds to do, and hope that numbers will come together for the transplant.  He knows some of my blogging friends are praying for him, and he thanks you.  This is really hard for him and for his sweet wife (their three kids are all in New York).

I haven't mentioned it lately, but I am still walking six days a week with Sandy and Susan.  Susan has been fighting a bad cold, so it's just been Sandy and me these past few days, but we are doing it!!  Sure hope Susan can join us, if not this week, after Christmas. We miss having her with us and want her feeling better!!

After our walk on Saturday, I spent the rest of the day fiddling around at home until 5:30, when I picked up my friend and neighbor, Theresa, to drive over to Ariana Village, which features Christmas lights on every house and in every yard.  Car after car after car, with headlights off, meandered through the streets from the entrance to an obscure exit behind the community that really turned me around to get home from there!  That caused some silly fun and a couple of U-Turns!   Here are some photos I took through the car windows as I drove (slowly).  It was fun to see!

This is a manufactured home community of 55+ people (like me), so the lights aren't fancy, and there are hundreds of homes with lights.  I liked that there were lots of Nativity scenes!!  It took us a good hour to drive through the community.  They asked for a donation at the exit, which I was happy to give.  It is all volunteer and has been going on for all 36 years I have lived in Lakeland.  Joe and I went through several times when we first moved here and heard about it.  

I went to church yesterday, stopped at Publix on my way home for a few things I need for Christmas dinner.  I did my usual two loads of laundry, and I put out some luminaries.  Mas Verde asked us to consider doing luminaries this week.  There are a few of us on this street who got it done.  It is nice to see as we drive around.  Nothing like Ariana, but still a nice community effort for some holiday magic.  Here is my house as the sun went down...

This week will be all about getting ready for friends on Christmas day.  Cleaning, food prep, etc.  Labors of love.  I enjoy hosting and am so happy to have such good neighbors who have become like family.  I do have lunch scheduled with Shirley on Tuesday!  Glad to see her before Christmas!

On Friday, I will be off to Moffitt with Anne and Paul again, unless something changes.  He sees his Lakeland Oncologist tomorrow. 

Jeff's sweetheart, Kali, is at her parents' in Clermont.  I am waiting to hear when they will have a day to spend down here while she is visiting.  Sure hope we can make that happen.

Wishing you love and lots of holiday magic!

Peace and Hugs!

O come, O come, Immanuel,

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel

Shall come to you, O Israel.