Miscellany Monday

It has been probably ten days since I've blogged, so I'm going to use

Miscellany Monday

as the vehicle to recap all of our Christmas week activities.

[one]

Our first Christmas activity was a family trip to Columbia to Lake Murray Baptist Church for their production of This Man Called Jesus.  What a wonderful experience for our whole family.  We all enjoyed it and were moved by the play. 

[two]

After the play and supper at Fuddruckers (YUMMY!!), we went to Riverbanks Zoo for the Lights Before Christmas.  The decorations and lights were spectacular, and the weather was perfect. 

[three]

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Chuck and I finally got around to doing our Christmas shopping.  We went to Cheraw and Florence and got the few gifts we wanted to purchase.  We also made our yearly donation to heifer.org in honor of our families. 

[four]

The girls and I were busy in the kitchen making delicious goodies for Christmas.  We made peanut butter fudge, pralines, cheese biscuits, sausage balls, sugar cookies, graham cracker goodies, and mints.  Thanks to Big Mama's recipe boxes, we have all of the instructions for the snacks and goodies that have always been a big part of Christmas in my family...

[five]

Saturday night we all attended the FUMC candlelight and communion service.  Afterwards, we had our annual soup and sandwich supper here at our house for the family.  I made veg. soup and broccoli soup, and we had lots of sandwich fixings and goodies.

[six]

After sleeping a little late, we got up on Christmas morning and went to church.  After the beautiful service, we came home to the sweet and spicy smells of breakfast casseroles.  We enjoyed our brunch, and then went into the den to open gifts.  I think that the children got a few things that they needed/wanted, and Chuck and I got a few things too...

[seven]

Christmas supper was a Creech family get-together at Bethel UMC, as we usually do every Christmas and Thanksgiving nights.  I cooked the turkey, dressing, and gravy.  There was so much good food there, and we all left full and happy.


[eight]
Our final Christmas gathering for the week was lunch today at Viv's.  Warren and Emily were here from the Columbia area, so we exchanged gifts with them and the others.  Then, out to the backyard for a corn hole tourney.  Lots and lots of fun was had by all!!

Merry Christmas all!

Christmas Blog Challenge - Day 11

Day 11

Show us your church at Christmas

Our church is always decorated beautifully at Christmas.  Here are a few  pictures that I took this morning. 

 Our Sunday school classes' Advent wreath..

FUMC sanctuary Chrismon tree..

 The alter with the new blue paraments, dedicated
in memory of Madison..

 Poinsettias in memory and in honor of loved ones..

 Our nativity scene, in memory of Ward Hubbard..

So beautiful....

What I'm Loving Wednesday

 I"m once again linking up with Jamie for

WHAT I'M LOVING WEDNESDAY...

I'm loving...

that tonight's a Survivor night!

I'm loving...

that the weather has cooled off a little here in SC, and it actually feels like the holiday season is beginning.

I'm loving....

that tomorrow is the first day of December and my

Christmas Blog Challenge

starts tomorrow.  Go link up and join in, if you'd like.

I'm loving...

the pictures of the kids that I took over the weekend.  Now I've just got to decide which will be best for our Christmas cards this year.

I'm loving...

the turkey gnocchi soup that I made from the leftover Thanksgiving turkey legs...YUM!

I'm loving...

the great turnout that we had for the Advent Fair at FUMC.  We made wreaths and ornaments, and then played Christmas BINGO.  Fun, fun, fun!

I'm loving...

that our baby, Pippi, is feeling better.  I was really worried about her at the end of last week.

What and who are you loving today??

Miscellany Monday

[one]

So we went to the beach for the weekend for L and MJ's last softball tournament.  When I say "last tournament," I do mean last.  They have decided not to play travel softball next year.  I am a bit sad to think that that part of our busy life is over, but I've come to the realization that this is probably best for our family.  We, as parents, are often pulled in many different directions, have so many financial obligations, and  expel a large amount of energy encouraging/quelling our three teenagers youthful attempts at independence.  So it's over, and I'm so over it.  It was definitely fun while it lasted!

[two]

My GBE was due today...and for those who have no idea what I'm talking about, I mean Goals Based Evaluation.  Our school district has switched from using TAP as a teacher evaluation tool, back to GBE... and here, thirteen or so weeks into the school year, we've been instructed to come up with goals that we hope to accomplish over the next few years, until our teaching certificates expire.  Personally, I thought I'd developed fine goals, but my asst. principal was quick to discourage me.  I took the easy way out  and  caved...I rewrote one of the goals to satisfy her....

[three]

The weather here is CRAZY!  We've had cold, frosty nights, cool blustery days, and now, the temps are climbing back into the 80's!  Fall of '11 is certainly a mixed up season here in the South!

[four]

I've got to start planning for the Advent Fair for our church.  It is scheduled for Sunday, and I've done nothing to prepare for it.  This is procrastination at it's best!!

[five]

For some reason, I've bitten all of my fingernails off!  It is the craziest thing I've done in a long while, and I cannot for the life of me, figure out what made me do it!  Hopefully I'll come to my senses and keep my hands out of my mouth (ewww....nasty!) and they will start growing again!

[six]

It's late.....time for me to go to bed.

G'night all...

Miscellany Monday/Weekend Recap

Go  link up with Carissa for..

~one~

The weekend started with Postgame on Main at FUMC.  We had an eclectic crowd this week....mostly older guys who were playing basketball.

~two~

For my birthday celebration, Chuck took the girls and me to Florence to the Mellow Mushroom.  It was soooo delicious, and we had way too much food!

~three~

The girls and I had a nice shopping adventure to Bath & Body Works at the mall.  We bought a lot of the holiday scents in lotions, creams, and body wash.  There is no reason for any of the Black females to smell bad!

~four~

Sunday was All Saints Sunday at our church.  This service is one of my favorites of the year.  We remembered seven church members who have died in the last year.  A candle was lit and a bell chimed for each one.  (I miss my mama so much....) 

~five~

A terrible accident occurred at our house right after church on Sunday.  L and MJ came home and were playing around, and Lawren threw her phone at MJ.  MJ moved, and the phone hit the TV screen!  Yes, the big, new TV that we got for Christmas last year!  We are all devastated....and we won't be able to replace it anytime soon. :(

~six~

Josh and MJ gave Pippi a much-needed bath last night.  She had a lot of fleas, and it took a long time for them to pick them all off of her.  Hopefully Josh will get the flea medicine for her today....

(Be a good daddy, Josh, and go get the flea med. for your baby!)

Friday Fill-Ins

1. In November, I most look forward to Thanksgiving.

2. What is that terrible smell...phew!

3. It's right there, in the laundry room.

4. Lord, grant me peace of mind.

5. Water sustains life.

6. "I hate this 'new time'," is what my grandmother used to say!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Postgame on Main, tomorrow my plans include sleeping late and then, who know?... and Sunday, I want to go to church and celebrate All Saints Day....one of my favorite days in our church!

Miscellany Monday and Weekend Recap

It's Monday again....

and time to link up with Carissa for

MISCELLANY MONDAY!

[one]

On Friday night, Chuck and I hosted Postgame on Main at our church.  I made cheese dip to go with corn chips, and then we had a donation of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs!  We had a fair number of teenagers to come in, mostly (hungry) boys, and, as usual, a good time was had by all!

(More about Postgame later in this post...)

[two]

Saturday morning, we all slept late.  Those few extra hours of shut-eye was very much needed for everyone in the family.  We had a late lunch at Sub Depot and then Chuck and I rode over to Cheraw to Wal-Mart to pick up a few household necessities.  Saturday afternoon, the kids and I played Monopoly, and I lost miserably!  After walking away from the table with my tail tucked between my legs, I cooked chicken enchiladas and Mexican rice for supper....YUM!!

[three]

I had to have a little talk with MJ on Saturday...a serious talk.  She is growing up very fast and I'm trying my best to handle situations.  Lord, help me.

[four]

I started Sunday lunch before going to Sunday school:  baked chicken, rice, gravy, stuffing, and green beans.  It was ready before 1:00, and everything was delicious, if I do say so myself!

[five]

Lawren and I went shopping in Laurinburg Sunday afternoon.  I felt like I needed to get her a few more dressy items to wear to church.  We found some nice black slacks, a cute top, and a dress that really looks good on her.  I also bought a nice blue dress for MJ, and gifts for Chuck's birthday.  Then, thankfully, I was able to round up all of the children to go to the church picnic at 5:00.  I was not surprised that mostly older people attended, but the food was really good....and I didn't have to cook!

[six]

(Here's the "more" about Postgame...)

I learned at Sunday school that there are some people in our church who don't think that we should host Postgame on Main, the after-football-game activity, for various reasons....one being that our church has to foot the cost!  Well, the only cost involved in opening the gym on Friday nights after a home football game is the cost of electricity for about 3 hours!  I purchase the refreshments (or they are donated) and I don't turn in any receipts for reimbursement.  The teenagers that attend are from the community and just need/want a place to go and hang out and have fun.  The kids who come up to the church are welcomed with open arms, are given drinks and snacks, and then they either sit around and talk with friends, or play basketball, pool, or ping-pong.  They are supervised by adults and are in a safe environment.  Like I said in Sunday school, if these people would come up to the church on a Friday night, meet the teenagers, talk with them, and get to know some of them, they would see that this mission is worthy and should be continued, whatever the cost that is incurred by the church.

(Now, I've said my peace....sorry for the rant!)

Thursday's Top Ten

Top Ten things you would do with a million dollars

1.  Pay the taxes on the money

2.  Give 10% to the church

3.  Pay off our house and all of our bills

4.  Put my children through college

5.  Buy each child a car/truck

6.  Have Lasix eye surgery

7.  Buy Chuck a new riding lawnmower

8.  Hire a weekly housekeeper

9.  Buy new carpet for our whole house

10.  Go on a second honeymoon in Key West for our 20th anniversary