Xanga

Christmas Caroling

…with our Sunday School Class

Monday, December 21

Twenty-six of us met at church, and then traveled to our first stop where we sang for David (sitting) one of our senior members. He is the grandfather of our daughter-in-law Chris.

 We have a committee from church who set up and assign the schedule for the Sunday School classes who go Christmas caroling – making sure all ministers, widows, widowers, ill, and seniors (I think eighty and older) are not missed.

 David lives with his daughter Joann and son-in-law Luther (left). Luther is one of our ministers.

 We took the scenic route on our way to the next stop, and drove by our friend Gloria’s beautifully decorated house and grounds.

 Our second stop was Jane (right).

There are many in our class with great singing voices. We sang a variety of songs, always closing with “Beautiful Star,” then “We wish you a Merry Christmas.”

 She gave each person a small pack of M & M’s

From there we went a short distance to sing for my stepmother.

She had cookies and candy for us.

 Singing for John (right)

Cathy and Lorraine (sisters) were not on our list, but we decided to sing for them anyway, as they are in our Sunday school class, and Cathy had recent hip surgery.

 Lorraine serving water – they also served cookies and candy.

 Back in the church fellowship hall, we noticed that not all of the card packs have been picked up – due to church being cancelled on Sunday because of snow. Most of those will be gone after church this week.

 The three ladies on the committee (Fay, Sue, and Joanne) set out the food. Everyone brought something.

 Prayer before eating.

 It was a great, encouraging evening.

God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 

John 1:17 (New Living Translation)

 Pink Sunrise ~ Golden Sunset

…and icicles

Monday, December 21

We were surrounded by a pink glow on Monday morning.

The combination of melting snow on Sunday, and a very cold night created pretty icicles.

When we woke up Monday morning, we discovered that someone had delivered our Christmas cards from church – and our 2010 calendar.

We have large mailboxes at church during the early part of December, then on a designated day, the youth group sort and put them in pretty bags. Because church was canceled on Sunday, we weren’t able to get our cards. I never did find out who delivered them.

There were forty-eight cards and five chocolate bars. The youth add the candy.

Sunset created a different kind of glow on the icy snow.

A golden sunset

~~~

Tomorrow night – Christmas caroling with our Sunday School Class

~~~

The angel said…I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.

Luke 2:10-11 (The Message)

Morning After the Snow

Sunday, December 20

This was the scene outside our front window on Sunday morning.

 We had between seven and eight inches of snow. Areas not many minutes away had ten to twelve inches, and our daughter Deb who lives one hour south of us, had seventeen inches.

 Church was canceled for us, and for many other churches in the area.

Sunrise over the snow. 

This view outside our living room window is especially for my brother Clair who is in Italy.

 My brother Dale opened Clair and Anne’s driveway.

 Dale would have opened our driveway too, but Cerwin was already using the snowblower. After he finished this job, he went to TFC’s International Office and opened the parking lot (with a skidloader) so the office staff could get to work in the morning.

Our decorative grass was almost flattened.

Birds had to work their way through the snow.

The larger-sized blue jay chased the junco away and created a larger opening.

It looked pretty in morning sun.

I

It

 Are you watching me?

I thought so.

 As soon as the blue jay left, the junco returned.

Hey, back off! I was here first.

 By Sunday evening the snow had melted a bit. However, this snow has guaranteed us a white Christmas.

Nothing, you see, is impossible with God. And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:37-38 (The Message) 

A Snowy Drive

Continued

Saturday, December 19

Traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike wasn’t as heavy as usual, but it seemed that the truckers kept going. Cerwin noticed that this driver was being especially cautious, because it is treacherous to bobtail in snow.

We saw lots of snow plows, especially in the other lane of traffic. 

 After leaving the turnpike, we still needed to travel several miles on country roads.

 It was beautiful.

We were glad to be getting close to home.

 This photo was taken just before we turned into our driveway. It was good to be home.

 It seemed the birds were very territorial about the bird feeder during the snow, and often fought off anyone who wanted to share their food.

By now they had to peck through the snow to get to the seeds.

The wren finally got its turn.

By evening there was five inches of snow on the feeders.

The outside was a winter wonderland

The angel answered, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.

Luke 1:35 (The Message)

Prayer Breakfast and Snow Storm

Saturday, December 19

We were up early Saturday morning, and out of the house by 5:30, giving ourselves extra time for the normally one-and-a-half-hour drive – because it was beginning to snow. We eventually drove out of the precipitation, but shortly after we arrived at Henning’s, the flurries began in Lansdale.  The photo is from the mezzanine level.

This Christmas breakfast is a special celebration for TFC’s Bucks-Montgomery Chapter.

We showed a PowerPoint series of photos from the Truck Rally last summer, while people waited to eat and during the meal.

Beautiful, inspiring Christmas music.

A ministry update from TFC Vice President, Dwayne Johnson.  We only had a two-hour drive to get home, he had a full day ahead of him as he traveled home to Michigan.

Director of Chaplains, Bunny O’Hare also shared an update from his area of ministry.

The snow stopped while we ate and enjoyed the morning, but we did not linger after the program, because lots of snow was predicted. I understand this area got about twelve inches of snow.

The closer we got to home, the more intense the snow.

Tomorrow night, more snow pictures.