December 15, 2006

So, here's what I've been up to lately.

The night after we returned from California we had a former missionary friend stay with us. He served in Bolivia as an airplane mechanic, but his term was up. He's now back in the states waiting from the Lord for his next steps. In the meanwhile, Jughed is driving around the USA visiting lots of friends and supporters.

3 days after we returned from California I had a Christmas tea party to host. There was to be a gift exchange and the gift that I was making for my Sister was a crocheted blanket. Therefore, I needed to finish a 1/4 finished blanket in 1 1/2 days. Blessedly I decided to do a Q-hook blanket and was able to finish it and even wash it in time. I was also able to finalize some details before the party. The co-coordinator of the group was such a great help as she took care of most of the decorations. The one contribution I made to the decorations were the tea-pot favors which we put on every place seating. The ministry's co-coordinator did such a wonderful job! We even had a faux fire-place where we put the gift exchange gifts in front of. My main role was coordinating the whole party and being the Mistress of Ceremonies. Though we had a smaller turn-out than previous years, the time was well blessed. Our speaker talked about being the answer to another's prayer. The story she told was of an unsaved high school girl she had mentored who moved away to college. As this girl moved away, the speaker prayed that someone would come into this girl's life to share the gospel with her. As she prayed for that someone, it dawned on her that she could also be that someone for someone else. Thus, the intruduction to her theme of being obedient to God's work so that we can be the answer to another's prayer. It was a very encouraging evening.

After those 2 events were over I finally had the opportunity to unpack our baggages.

My next task was to write up thank you notes for all the families who attended DearDaughter's huge 1st birthday bash and also for those who generously gave gifts. I personalized every note and printed out a keepsake picture of DearDaughter and her own personal cake.

I also had to take DearDaughter to JC Penny's to get her 1 year pictures taken. Since I was there, I also stopped by to pick out some scrapbooking material. I've got a lot of pictures and memorabelias to compile.

This week I started and completed my Christmas Cards & Update. They will be mailed off tomorrow.

I had a friend over on Wednesday so in the first hour of her visit, I completed wrapping up filipino style eggrolls, called lumpia. The lumpia was for my Thursday Evening Women's Study Christmas party, but I was able to spare 5 for my friend, DearDaughter, and I. We had some salad with it.

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment then I spent the rest of the day preparing for that evening. I made a wonderful Cranberry Dip and fried up the lumpia. The dip turned out really good, but everyone was too into the lumpia that the dip was hardly touched. I was kind of happy about that since I came home with a whole bowl full of dip and I could have it all to myself.

Today a friend and I had lunch at Panera Bread. I had the Turkey Bacon Bravo and French Onion Soup! It was "delish". Then we window shopped around the Promenade Shopping Plaza and ended our tour at the plaza's ice cream shop. I had Dark Chocolate Peppermint and Sinless Smoothie Sorbet in a waffle cup. To me Baskin Robbin's ice cream is "delish" and this ice cream was even better than Baskin Robbin's.

Next week I have a meal to make for a family whose mom is suffering from breast cancer.

I also have a small Christmas gathering with my local friends at the Tiramisu Cafe. I have some handmade gifts I will be giving to them, but I'll describe those gifts in a later post.

Lastly, I need to go shopping for my neices, nephews, and in-laws before we head up to Illinois. We head up there next Saturday, so next week I'll be packing up again.

So, that's what I've been up to. Doesn't sound like much, but with the time it takes to care for DearDaughter, I feel like I've been hustling and bustling more than previous years. One thing I know for sure is that I do need to take inventory of where my mind and heart is so that I will stay focused on Jesus Christ, our Saviour, God incarnate.

Well, time to spend time with hubby for the evening.

Blessings,
In Pursuit of His Call