Two More Sleeps

That's what we used to tell our kids when there was something exciting planned. Vacation, Birthdays, Holidays, Grandpa & Grandma coming, etc. Well, we have two more sleeps before we leave for London so I decided today that I should pack. Dennis got the suitcase out a couple of weeks ago and put it on the guest room bed. I admit to having placed just a couple of things on the bed next to it, but that's it. I didn't really pack anything until today. I decided I should probably start to pack something. Well...it's a good thing that we each get a free checked bag on this flight because by the time the gifts were packed, there was room for a couple of pair of underwear and that was it in that first suitcase! Ha! 

I'm also taking Papa's favorite sugar cookie recipe and cookie cutters so I can bake cookies with "J". I'm really looking forward to that. Alex has made reservations for us to stay in the Cotswalds for a few nights which I'm really looking forward to. 

On Saturday evening we had our 2nd annual gingerbread house decorating party at our friend Amanda's house. She has her place decorated so beautifully. She's an avid quilter, crocheter and does gorgeous embroidery. She is the lovely lady that we went to Kentucky for her Masters Degree graduation last summer. I thought I would share a few photos of our masterpieces.

Everyone was concentrating deeply to learn construction techniques. Amanda had a huge selection of candies and glitter for us to choose from.

Here are the finished products. Aren't they something else? This is the group of people that Dennis rides his bike with in the summer. 

We all decided this was the winner! Angie is the artist.

From left to right: Dennis, his cousin Curt, Curt's wife Barb, our paster Jeff, Amanda and Jeff's wife Angie. These are also the people we camp with a LOT in the summer.

Jeff made the broken down old truck. He owns GMC's and Dennis has a Ford. It's a running joke between the two of them as to which is best. So Jeff says this is a broken down FORD truck with last years Christmas tree in the back!

I think Dennis did a great job on our house. My hands were shaking a lot that night, so he did most of the decorating and I took pictures. We had pizza beforehand and spent a lot of time laughing and making messes. Good friends are wonderful!

I'm sorry that we won't be here for a lot of things that are happening at church this month. The children's Christmas program. A caroling party for church members that are not able to get out and about. The Christmas Eve service and a few other things. But I also know that we're going to have a wonderful time with our kids and experience the holiday for the first time with our sweet daughter in law's family. Her parents are wonderful and I'm looking forward to spending time with them.

I'm not sure how much I'll be online in the next couple of weeks but I'll try to check in now and then. I hope you all have a blessed Christmas season, always remembering the Christ child and the reason we celebrate this day.

Blessings and love,

Betsy