The Gift 2022

This bluebird is funny.  I mean, there's usually the whole "worried about my reflection in the windows so I'll attack it" thing, but then there are times where there are no mealworms in the bird food, so it comes up to the window and stares at us with an expression like this that says, "Well?  Are you going to fill the bird feeder or what?"

Yes, we filled it up.  There's a family of five out there, hungry!  Also we have to make sure the water sources are no longer completely frozen over, as that's been happening each night.  It's cold out there!

Today was a monster day with a long of fun stuff in between.  Mom started the day off at a soap making class in Oakwood - she made the soap you see above, and got some others too.  There are scents within the soap of pine and Christmas, and the end result is going to be wonderful.  We just have to let it dry in place for a it, but she's made some nice things this morning with friends.

Meanwhile, Maddie was training with the team as you can see above.  She's gotten very good with the bo staff, and everyone is super coordinated at this point, although there's a lot of practice time to go.  One big thing that will affect everyone here is a major decision by Master Edge, one he told us about this morning in private.  We'll talk about it later, but it involves the letters "GTMA." 

After picking up Mom, it was time to head down to the Venue in order to see "The Gift," the yearly dance performance that we go to see.  It's been something over twenty years now that we've been watching this.  They actually did the same opening scene they used to do many, many years ago.  We got there really early, so we actually got front row seats for the entire thing which was as always a very special, very wonderful and moving performance.   We were in line early for the snacks, so we got this fudge that had all kinds of cranberries and...

...pischachios.... with smichmachios.... with.... with nuts!

Anyway, it was a good time there.  We talked about being there with Maddie at the very beginning, fourteen years ago for her.  And how Zena and I used to go see it all the time at a different location.  We've been on the "Angel Donor" list for years now, our names on the screens at the beginning (along with others), and on the program too.  We're big fans.

*********

So we got home and I was able to finish the piano room tree, which you can see above.  We were watching "The Santa Clause 2" and munching on a few snacks while also making final preparations for tomorrow's service.  Lots of props, but it's going to be fun!

Here's one more picture, this one of the Star Wars tree.  I'll have to take a picture of both of these at daytime, but at night they look perfectly festive.

Lunch today was at Chick-Fil-A.  Forgot to mention that.  We did that in the time between the morning activities and the production.  Didn't have time for a seasonal milkshake, but we'll make time for that this week.  

We've been going through our Christmas records and Christmas music in the car pretty well, but we've got so many recordings now.  I was loving the Partridge Family Christmas record tonight, while decorating the tree there.  It was a good day at the end - we were reading, and we said our prayers, and I was super tired.  It didn't take long to fall asleep at all.  Must have been a big day!