'Tis the Season...

...for everything this month but blogging and blog reading! But here's a post to catch you up a bit!

Actually, this may be the first Christmas in quite the number of years that I'm not rushing to finish a quilt, a scrapbook, or some other crazy project I started waaay too late to remain sane! I really miss the adrenaline rush and excitement that a "gotta-get-'er-done" project generates! Tell me what you're rushing to finish this last week before Christmas--I'll pray that you finish in time--I've been there, done that!

Instead we've been focusing on other activities such as:

• Enjoying a couples' lunch date with our long-time friends, Fred and Chris
• Inviting my friend, Dorothy, to visit for some Valley adventures and overnights
• Hosting missionary friends from PNG who were passing through our area
• Experiencing a just-opened little coffee house in Crozet with Tom (for sandwiches but not the coffee, thank you though!)
• Packaging up basket and soap orders (there's still time to order before Christmas---limited selection of baskets left--contact Hannah for availability)
• And preparing for my sister to arrive in a few days to spend Christmas with us. Busy but fun times!

Here are some photos to share of the above special times together:

When the miles separate friends...you find ways to get together and keep up with each others' lives. This particular Saturday found us traveling to Richmond to meet Fred and Chris, who had traveled from Newport News to join us, and then we ate together at Whole Foods Grocery...yes, a grocery store with an out-of-this-world gourmet salad bar!

We girls talked quilts, of course! Chris brought her recently completed Christmas quilt to show me. Isn't the snowflake quilting on the back just wonderful?!

My friend, Dorothy--a faithful blog reader and commenter--came to visit last week, and we took in the sights in the area. From the Dayton Farmer's Market and Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg to Woodrow Wilson's Birthplace and the Pampered Palate and neat shops downtown, we thoroughly enjoyed the time together. Here's Dorothy just before she left:

Our friends, Kim and Annie, who have been missionaries for quite a number of years in Papua New Guinea, were headed to Kentucky to spend Christmas with family when they stopped by this week. What a treat to catch up on all their news and understand better how to pray for their situation.

Here's Annie after breakfast sharing pictures with Granny of their village and translation work:

And Kim and Jonathan enjoyed some pickin' and grinnin' and entertained us with their music:

And...all too soon it was time for them to get on the road, too. I'm reminded so many times when friends come and leave that one day there will be no sad good-byes.

Below: the Green House Coffee Shop where Tom and I enjoyed a delicious lunch yesterday. If you're ever over the mountain near Crozet, I would recommend the hot and toasty Southwest Turkey Panini.

Special thanks to my friend, Kendra over at Kendra's Korner, who blogged about her trip to Green House or I never would have known about the place.

These next few days I'll be planning the menu and preparing ahead just a bit for my sister's arrival on Tuesday. I hope you're enjoying this wonderful season, too, with friends and family. Take lots of pictures and make lots of memories!

 ~ Deb

Comments

[victoria]

This season sure keeps us busy doesn't it? I still have a long list of to do's -shopping, wrapping, baking and planning and preparing the family Christmas party. I hope your family has a wonderful Christmas and happy new year too!

Victoria

[Stephanie in Mi]

I am behind on everything. Trying to finish up my grading so I can do my baking and finish about 7 different sewing projects. I don't think I'm going to make it. I would relish in some relaxation like you're getting! :-) Merry Christmas!

[Bobbi]

You find the cutest places to go to. I have put the Green House Coffee Shop on my list of places to visit on my next trip to Staunton. I am praying that you and your family have a very blessed Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year!

[Tammy]

Last night was the American Legion Christmas party and today is the Auxiliary luncheon.Chris comes home from Georgia on Tuesday and this year is able to stay home until the 2nd of January.

How exciting to see Kim and Annie again.That is neat that they are still in PNG.It must be a shock for them every time they come back to the US.

Glad to read that you saw friends from Newport News and still in touch with Dorothy.Where is she living these days?

Have fun getting ready for Bet's visit.

[Julie]

Looks like ya'll are having alot of fun in Virginia! We are busy here getting ready to head to VA to have Christmas with our Mothers and with Alli and Eli. It is a happy time although i'm like you, I hate to say goodbye when we have to come home. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family!