Christmas Weekend 2016

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  I hope you enjoy reading about our Christmas weekend here in Reno, NV!

Saturday night, our church had a Christmas Candlelight Service.  Here are a few photos from that evening.

Worshiping our Lord...go light your world!

Poem by Pastor Joe.

Silent Night...Autumn had a speaking part.

We enjoyed the service very much - I think this is what Christmas is all about.  HIM.

After the Candlelight Service, we invited our staff families over to our home for a time of food and fellowship.  I prepared some appetizers and desserts for everyone.

Fresh fruit tray - pineapple, blueberries, cantaloupe and grapes.  Mmm!  So good after all the sweets of the season.

Lil' smokies in the crockpot.

I did a meat, cheese and cracker tray.

Summer sausage, pepperoni, jalapeno jack, medium cheddar and colby.

Wheat thins, butter crackers and tomato and basil crackers.

I thought the tier serving platter went well for this item. :)

The pinwheels I actually ordered at Wal-Mart.  Turkey and chicken bacon ranch.  These went over well.

Of course, you must offer coffee. :)  We also had four kinds of soda and water bottles.

It was a fun time together with everyone!  This is our daughter, Addie, on the left and Melissa.

Shaun and Shannon - they are our Children's and Youth Pastor.  They run the teen group as well as our Sunday Awana program for children.

Chuck and Jeanne are our finance team.  They do all the financial aspect of our ministry.

Josh and Jenny - he is our worship pastor.

Joe and Keren - he is our Outreach Pastor.

Roger and Rachel - they are not on our staff.  They just wanted to crash our party.  LOL!  Just kidding!

We are grateful to our staff and all they do in our ministry. :)

After everyone left for the evening, the girls opened one present for Christmas Eve.  A lady from our church, Holly Lang, got them all new outfits.  Boy, does that make a girl happy! :)  Thank you, Miss Holly!  You made their day! She even got them hair accessories.

Anyone that knows Sierra knows this is perfect for her. :)

I opened up a gift and received a new Kindle Fire from my oldest. :)  She has been working and saving up her money for Christmas.  I am very excited to get this and it means a lot to me that she got it for me.

It was a pretty late night.  I cleaned up from the party, did the dishes and put out the stockings.  All ready for the morning.

In the morning, I enjoyed my coffee and devotions with my new Kindle.

More goodies!  This awesome batch was from Miss Jeanne. :)  Thank you!

Showered and got ready for church.  Made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. The girls even had time to clean the kitchen and do the dishes before we left.  We didn't know what to do with ourselves with the extra time.  Ha!

What a pretty day it was!  Cold but clear.  When we got to the church, the girls prepared the Lord's Table items while I cleaned the building from the Christmas Eve service.

We had just the 10:30am service on Sunday.  I sang for Praise and Worship and then did the nursery for the rest of the time.

After church, we came home and I baked Papa Murphy's pizzas for lunch.  Chicken bacon artichoke and herb chicken mediterranean.  We prayed and then opened our gifts.  

After opening gifts, I cleaned up the house.  Garbage, vacuuming, dishes, assembling new gifts.

We watched Ernest Saves Christmas (again!) for the hubby and just enjoyed the day.  I didn't text anyone or even get on FB.  It was nice to unplug.  LOL!

When you try to use all your new gifts at once.  LOL!

A few of the new gifts I got...a heating pad.  Ahhh!

Oh, the funny sarcastic-ness of children.  Ha!

New pajama sets!  Love!

Wool socks. :)

Gifts from my daughter, Autumn.  Candle, wax melts and a new sleeping mask.  She knows me well!

And probably my most favorite...the Pioneer Woman cookware set!  Gahhhh!  I'm in love.

I especially love the measuring bowls and spoons!

Lick the spoon!  :)

I know...I love them. LOL!

New lamp set - I assembled them but they won't work?  Not sure...

Sierra wrote this poem for Eric and I and gave us these coupons.  So funny!  I love their creativity.

New towels and hot pads...I can't tell you how much I needed these!!!

And all the blue items go with my kitchen. :)

Shannon painted this ornament and gave it to us.  Isn't it cute?

Our neighbor, Richard, brought over these cookies that his daughter, Rebecca made for us.  People have spoiled us left and right!

Not a traditional Christmas dinner but it was good!  Corned beef and cabbage.

After dinner, we played a new family game together that my sister, Rachel, gave us called Beat the Parents.  We had a lot of fun and sadly, the kids did beat their parents.  LOL!

Then it was off to my Monday night shift with my client.  I hope you had a blessed Christmas!