Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016 is in the books.  It came.  It went.  It was merry and bright.  (Just like it was supposed to be.)  We went to Atlanta on Wednesday, December 21, so that we would be there for Amelia’s first piano recital on Thursday evening.  Thursday morning, Amy and I got out for a while just the two of us while Paw-Paw stayed home with Amelia.  He said they played Candyland once and  Life several times.  Amy and I shopped a little and had lunch at Mellow Mushroom.  I was also introduced to Starbucks by trying a drink Amy likes (Non-fat, White Chocolate, Mocha).  It was delicious!  In fact we had it several times while I was there.  Amy always paid.  Later when I was out by myself, I got one and found out that the things cost $5.00!  I think I’ll save Starbucks for a special treat in the future.

The piano recital was held in an auditorium at a Steinway piano dealership.  Amelia looked so pretty in her sparkly dress and she played her two pieces, We Three Kings and Over the River without a single sour note.  She also had to introduce herself and announce her pieces before she started and she did that very   clearly.  (A couple of the students were so nervous that they forgot the names of the pieces they were playing.)

Beautiful!

Great Performance!

Friday morning started with Dunkin’ Donuts and then  Amy, Amelia, Bubba and I attended Christmas Canteen at the Aurora Theater in Lawrenceville.  It was a good show that included singing, dancing, acrobatics, and comedy.  We all enjoyed it and afterwards went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch.

Donut Holes & Hot Chocolate!

Christmas Spirit!

That evening Amy prepared a number of “finger foods” which we all enjoyed.  She also baked a chocolate cake and made lemon icebox pie (YUM!).

Darryl grilled steaks for Saturday lunch.  Then Cousin Vicky and her husband, Robert, joined us Saturday afternoon for dessert and we exchanged gifts with them.

Saturday evening we attended a Christmas Eve service.  Coming from a small town and small churches, I am always amazed at the crowds attending services at “Andy Stanley – Northpoint Community Church” locations.  There are a number of services and throngs of people are waiting to enter.  This time in the  “lobby” there were coffee mugs for sale with the proceeds going toward a new youth building.  During the service we attended, it was announced that $5,000 was raised by people attending the previous service through the sale of the mugs.  Imagine that.  They were also set up in several areas for families to have photos taken in front of Christmas trees.  What a nice touch!  The music is contemporary and the message is always great.  I noticed that Amelia laughed with gusto at the funny stuff at the beginning (an animated snowman conversing with people in the front row), participated in the singing, and was attentive to the message.  After the service we ate “supper/breakfast” at the local Waffle House.

Church Picture

Darryl, Amelia & Amy

Counter Service

When we got home I was sitting at the bar playing with my phone when I noticed that Amelia was standing over at the bookcase where there was a nativity scene she made at school in Baton Rouge.  I didn’t hear the beginning of what she said but this is what I heard:

“Thank you for everything you do for us.  Thank you for sending the Baby Jesus.  You are the best God ever and I love you.”

She was praying out loud and it made my heart melt.  💗💗

We had a typical Christmas Day.  Amelia was so sweet.  She handed out presents and was more excited about everyone else having a present than opening her own.  We all agreed that the Christmas the year before was the best ever because we enjoyed having Darryl’s family with us so much.  Hopefully, we can do that again.  We all got great presents.  We gave Amelia a camera similar to the old Polaroids that makes small instant pictures.  The camera was pink with a pink case that she walked around with on her shoulder ready to take pictures.  Later Darryl put her new hammock up outside between two trees and she said that she was going to stop people as they walked by to see if she could take their picture for $1.00.  When Amy suggested the camera as a gift, I’ll admit I wasn’t too enthused but it was a hit with Amelia.

Mom opens her present.

Dad seems excited.

Yes, this is my son-in-law.

Pink Camera

Games

We also got her a Harry Potter chess set.  She endeavored to teach me how to play chess.  It was very confusing.  Every piece seems to move in a different direction.  She seemed to be getting annoyed that I couldn’t remember it all right away so I wrote it down.  Then things got better and I could actually move without her guidance.  She learned to play by joining a Chess Club at school and she seems to really know what she is doing.

We had a huge Christmas dinner and lots of delicious desserts.  Tradition, you know.  That evening Amy, Darryl and Amelia went riding around looking at Christmas lights and we prepared for our trip home the next morning.

Traffic was lighter than usual leaving Atlanta.  It was a little sad because Amelia usually comes home with us after Christmas, but her dad had taken the week off this year and they were going to do things as a family so we certainly understand.     

                                                                                             

What’s ahead?  I got a new sewing machine for Christmas which I tried out before Christmas.  I could not hem jeans with the machine I got when Amy was three years old so I was basically determined to test it out and send it back if it would not do the job.  It worked great on the jeans and I really like the machine.  I’m going to experiment with it some in the days ahead.  I used to sew a lot but I can already tell that it will be like starting over.  At least sewing projects won’t take up as much room as wreaths!