Third Day of Vacation - 23 December

Mike is home today! Yippee. He, Bre, Krista and Jared went out shopping.

While they were gone, I shredded the meat from 3 roasts that I had baked overnight. I then made BBQ. I set aside enough for dinner tonight and put two bags full into the freezer. Then the girls and Mom and I headed for downtown…the real downtown. I’ve yet to fully explore the downtown area. It’s a treasure trove of little antique shops, unique stores etc.

I did find a store that carries Taylor and Harogate tea – my brand. Still not a sugar cube in sight. I could tell I must be hungry when we left that store with some Cinnamon Butter, Peanut Ginger dressing and 2.5 pounds of homemade fudge. Home we headed for dinner.

Tonight we are watching Bre’s solo from her graduation, Krista’s speech at her graduation and Santa Clause 2. I think it will be fun for my parents to see these clips and it reminds me again that we need to make copies of the girl’s ceremonies to give both my parents and Mike’s parents. We’re STILL on track with our advent readings in Bartholomew’s Passage. I think we’re going to do finish it this year.

We are getting a lot of Christmas cards and letters and it’s been so fun to catch up with people and reflect on the relationships we’ve enjoyed over the years.


Stacia is thoroughly enjoying all the attention. She really is a social little girl. Here she is with her oldest sister and with Grandpa Paul.

Back a bit later – an added bonus to the “home movies” was seeing old friends who celebrated with us. May God bless you all with a Merry Christmas and a Joy filled New Year.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

For nearly 300 years it was illegal to be a practicing Catholic in England. Catholic parents wanted to teach their children about God and celebrate their beliefs, and so the story goes that they became creative. Some say they developed the "Christmas Code" that became the "12 days of Christmas". I find it interesting that our city chose this as their theme for this year's light tour. We've not had some of the situations we hear about on the news. The radio station we listened to at the city sponosred Light Tour constantly encouraged us to remember the "meaning of the season" and our county courthouse has a big nativity on the front lawn. Below I break the code and then show pictures from the light tour...in no particular order.

Breaking the Code:
My True Love = God who gives all the gifts listed in the song

A partridge in a pear tree = Jesus, who gave His life on a tree

Two turtle doves = Old and New Testaments

Three french hens = Faith, Hope and Love

Four calling birds = Mathew, Mark, Luke, John - the gospels

Five golden rings = Pentateuch - 1st 5 books in the Bible

Six geese a laying = six days of creation

Seven swans a swimming = Seven gifts of the spirit (Rm. 12:6-8)

Eight Maids a Milking = eight beatitudes (Matt 5:3-10)

Nine ladies dancing = nine fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:22 - 23)

Ten lords a leaping = ten commandments

Eleven pipers piping = eleven faithful disciples

Twelve drummers drumming = 12 points of the apostle's creed

*based on info from "The ADVENTure of Christmas" by Lisa Whelchel.

Light Tour: