Some of the musicians at the Christmas program looking for Brianna and Shiana
Everyone was feeling quite bored with being home for a solid week. The only day we really went out was Sabbath; to church, to a very rushed lunch at a friend's house, and to the Christmas program. We decided to brave the crowds and take a look at what is happening in town. I have been sewing little crafts for gifts for friends and had run out of little stuff like thread and I needed a couple of minor items to go along with the gifts. I was glad Steve was driving. The roads are messy and hectic and I hate driving at the best of times. I was simply struck with stupidity of the commercialism of Christmas. People buy the dumbest things just so they can cover everyone on their list. We had a $10 certificate that was mailed to us from J.C.Penny. The girls and I went around and around looking for something to get with it before it expired. Nothing tickled our funny bone or appealed to us much, and if it did they didn't have the right size. Finally Brianna found soft pajama bottoms that she liked and since she only has one pair of old pajamas we settled on it. The price tag read $20 but it was on sale and we had the certificate. The girls thought it was really cool when the cashier said, "Your purchase is free today!"
We thought of Africa while we ate our beans and rice for lunch, but Taco Bell has a way of making them taste way different than they taste in Africa.
I spent several hours designing a card for our neighbors. Steve thought we should invite them all to see our pictures of Africa Friday evening. They had all been invited to our fund raisers for the building project and some had been quite generous. We don't know how many or if any will come but we thought it an opportunity to get to know them a little more and show them Africa. We delivered each card last evening. While in town I ran into an old neighbor and she expressed an interest in our pictures and so she may come over sometime. I hope she does. This is the picture I used on the card.
I am thinking if we ever go traveling again I want to have a camera of my own. I was always borrowing Brianna's. I need something with a great zoom capability, too.
We are blessed! We had three Christmas dinner invites in the space of 2 days. It's just too bad we can't accept them all! Teresa brought over a nice present of Christmas cookies and sparkling cider. It was decorated with brightly colored kerchiefs for the girls. I ate one of the cookies already! She is so on the ball ... don't know how she does it so soon after our trip! One of our neighbors brought us a lovely pastry with dates and nuts. It has a foreign sounding name that I can't remember, but it is their traditional Christmas treat and it's the second time they have shared it with us. It WAS lovely.
The girls have been working away at finishing up their journals. I gave them a deadline, so everyday they can be seen writing, writing, writing.
Christmas
Posted by Kristy on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 08:37 - Link
What to do!? Christmas has been a delima this year for us too, and I didn't just get back from a huge trip! I think I have wandered through the stores a couple of times and come out empty handed. Once I bought socks and Sabbath pants, but just gave them to the boys right away because they NEEDED them for the next Sabbath (boys have a way of suddenly growing, and from one Sabbath to the next, their clothes don't fit anymore!) I"ve got to come up with at least some sort of outing for tomorrow...perhaps find a fun sled run somewhere, and not just the one in our back yard! In reality, I think this minimal Christmas will be very good for my children (14 yr boy, 12 yr girl, 8 yr boy). Kristy
Some of the musicians at the Christmas program looking for Brianna and Shiana
