December 29th: Monday Musings...

 

Hello friends!  On Mondays, I "muse" about how my previous week went, and that includes Christmas! Mine was nice!  

I hosted my neighbors for Christmas dinner.  I thoroughly enjoyed the food and company, and they did too.  I warmed up the spiral-sliced ham from Sam's Club, made au gratin potatoes with extra cheese, cooked fresh green beans with bacon, had a pickle plate, and rolls.  Sandy brought a delicious pasta salad, Dee brought lasagna, and Dee and Bill paid for the ham (not asked for!).  Dee also brought some wine, and we had iced tea and spring water. Cheryl brought Tres Leches cake for dessert, and it was so good.  Susan and Chuck were with their kids and grandkids, but she brought over a pumpkin pie, so we had that too.  Enough food for an army.  I sent some over to Anne and Paul's.  Paul is still in the hospital, so we missed having them with us.  He should be home in a couple more days.  Prayers still appreciated!

My table, ready for guests...

L-R, Dee, Bill, Bob, Sandy, Cheryl...

Bob took this one with me in it...

The decorations will go away this coming weekend.  I have company coming this week, so I decided to wait until after the 1st.  I tend to make a big mess gathering everything together and then sorting through it while packing it back in the bins for storage. Kali and her family are coming tomorrow or Wednesday.  Danon, Mali, and Monika are coming on Friday. Good excuses for procrastinating, taking everything down.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Speaking of decorations, here are some pictures I took around the house that I haven't posted yet.

Botticelli painted the Madonna and Child.  This is a 3-D re-creation that I

bought years ago in the art museum's shop (where I worked).

Not my photo, but this is the painting...

My mom crocheted the tree years ago.  

My Advent Candles with my Bible opened to Luke...

My two boys had stockings...

My Dollar Tree wreath, and a cat ornament from Judy and Tim...

Merry Mail... where I put my Christmas cards.

I did post my tree picture a few weeks ago, but here it is again...

And my lights and luminaries (also posted before...)

And these were the luminaries at my church on Christmas Eve...

Granddaughter Lauren sent me this photo of the newlyweds, with her Merry Christmas text, and the one with Tristan in it, from Christmas Eve.  I hope to have lunch with Tristan on Saturday, before he goes back to DC on Sunday.  Not sure about Lauren and Jeremy, but I will be glad to see Tristan!

Thanks for making it this far! I wish you all a very blessed 2026!!

Peace and Hugs!

(same tune as Auld Lang Syne)

All glory be to Christ our king!
All glory be to Christ!
His rule and reign will ever sing,
All glory be to Christ!