More December Notes

Today Keith, Skye, Wyatt & I rode/walked/ran in the surrounding neighborhood. A nice morning temperature-wise, although overcast, to get some exercise. Wyatt thought he was in Heaven being outside and with ALL of US:) Keith's working on his biking stamina, so Skye didn't get her normal workout. I did get in some running whenever Wyatt decided to chase the bikers:)

Our Small Group had their annual Christmas Dinner last night. We departed from our Progressive Dinner style that we've done in the past and met at Biaggi's, an Italian restaurant, in Cary. It was excellent. Even Keith was able to enjoy a meal of pasta and Italian sausage. Afterwards the group traveled to the historic Apex home of the Stern's, where we tasted various desserts and drank delicious hot coffee. Their home is always a feast for the eyes, as Teresa has a flair for decoration like no other person I know of! Must say visiting together was the sweetest part of the entire night:)

Today I'm baking sweet bread, something I love to do when I have the time, and yeast bread is such fun to make, and eat:) These days I usually only bake bread at Christmas (Swedish Tea Rings), and it's part of the holiday tradition for me. Sugar and gingerbread cookies used to be a top priority when the kids were small, but we don't have the time to make/decorate them anymore, and don't need to eat many of them. But Skye and I have found an especially good gingerbread recipe this year so we've baked a few batches---yum:)

Our sweet and precious neighbor Christa dropped by early afternoon and brought some goodies:) Such a sweetheart:) She and her family, Todd, Gina & Ali, attend the same church as we do.

Our 'Self' neighbors left some wonderful sugar cookies and a gift card to their son Mason's music site. I must say the cookies were very good, plus they were packaged like large buttons--so neat! How sweet of them:) The music I'll leave to Skye:)

A blessing to have neighbors dropping off goodies and saying I care:)

A dear old friend called today and asked if we could come to their house tonight. As much as I'd LOVE to see her & her family, I'm really tired in many ways and am not sure if I'm up to a night out across town.....have to decide, but maybe a nap would help my outlook:)

Skye got her Appalachian deposit in the mail today. How things will have changed by this time next year---we'll be looking forward to her coming home from Boone. Not sure if I'm ready for that, but I know she is:)

Finished reading the book "same different as me". It is POWERFUL!!! A true story that shows how much difference we make when we simply love the unlovable. I challenge you to read it in 2008.