Ronald McDonald House

This year, our family (Mayes) decided to give back as part of our Christmas.  We finally settled on bringing a dinner for the Ronald McDonald House... a home away from home for people with loved ones in the hospital.  We were expecting to feed 60 people and wanted to make a comfort food for them... nothing says comfort like chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, veggies and Christmas sugar cookies!

  Grandpa Dan with the grandkids.  They had a play room right by the kitchen, which was great.

  Joel and Jeri who made awesome mashed potatoes.  and Joel was the man when it came to clean up! He stayed in there washing dishes til the end even though the heat for the kitchen water was out!

  Kevin and Connor looking at the trains.  Connor LOVES the trains.


  Grandma Libby with Riley


  Dan stirring the pot... er, I mean food! :)


  Getting the food ready for serving.


  David played some Christmas music on the piano while people came to eat.


  Jodi showing the flyer for the Mayes family dinner.


  Jeanie with one of the girls staying at RMH. Her sibling was at Riley. They were decorating sugar cookies. yum.


  Danny and Josh

Neighbors

I love baking (if you haven't noticed).  And Christmas time is the perfect excuse for getting out the sugar and flour.  Some friends came over this year to make a whole selection of yummy treats. We had such fun dipping and baking and decorating. 

But once it was finished, I had to decide who to share my spoils with. I wanted to give them to several neighbors, but I wasn't sure how they'd recieve it.  I was afraid they might think it was just more sugar at a time that we're all trying to avoid the treats.  And we have one couple who lives across the street that on first impression, I thought was a sort of odd couple. 

Well, after telling my hubby my worries, he kind of chuckled saying that no one's going to be upset about receiving treats. ...still, it took me over a week to share them. It wasn't until I realized that they won't know I thought of them if I don't give them away that I finally got the courage to go walking...

Not everyone was home as I delivered their goodies.  But one who was home was the couple across the street.  And amazingly, the lady came out of her house, smiling and gave me a big hug. It was so sweet.  She totally made my day and helped me realize my worries were a waste. 

Since then, she's talked to me a couple of times making me all the more glad that I shared.

winter white flakes.

It's snowed this weekend! Wasn't it beautiful?!  It truly feels like Christmastime. I love turning up the Christmas music, decorating the house and going to all of the events this season.  This weekend, we went to a Christmas concert at our church, which was just beautiful.  And the following night, we went to an ugly Christmas sweater party.  You know you have a good sweater when you dread putting it on. :)  I'm sure there will be pics on facebook, but I didn't take any this time.

This past week, my sister-in-law and I planned a Christmas craft time.  We had a good time together, and I'm excited that she invited me.  I've been wanting to do this for a while, and this gave me the initiative.


Our craft table.



I changed the ribbon on this wreath, added lights and replaced the ornaments. Doesn't it look great with the lights and garland on the mantle? You can view Jodi's wreath here as well as some of her other great Christmas ideas. 



One of the ornaments we made. ...We got the idea from another blog, and it very much resembles some of the ornaments available at Pottery Barn this year.



Jingle Bell Wreath to welcome visitors.

ho! ho! ho! Tis the season.  Writing this post has been a good reminder to me.  I want to enjoy each event as time with family and friends.  It's so easy to get overwelmed with planning, scheduling, cooking, shopping, that one could stress right through the season.  I'd rather take the time to enjoy some good Christmas movies!

November.

November went by so fast, but it was a month of blessings. 

• I'm enjoying a bible memory class that meets once a week.  I love the ladies, and I love how just talking about a few verses can be so enriching and bring so much sharing.  Ultimately, it's about committing to memory, but honestly, it's more than that.  It's taking the time to stop, study and listen as God reveals Himself through His Word. 

• I also made time this month to create several much overdue cards for friends. 

• Earlier this month, I was so excited to win tickets to the Veggie Tales concert.  Josh and I planned on taking my nephews, but unfortunately, he had a last minute business trip.  Thankfully, my sister joined me in taking the boys.  I won the tickets from Naptime in Naptown, which is a great blog for young mothers.

• I've enjoyed doing more cooking and baking in November.  pumkin rolls, cookies, my grandma's cranberry salad and more.

yum, cranberries!

• We also celebrated my birthday with friends and family as well as going out to dinner, just the two of us. 

• Finally, I want to leave this post with a verse that's filled my heart the past couple of weeks.  I've been wanting to memorize it for a couple of months (sad, I know), but I finally can say that it's not only in my mind but in my heart.  And I hope to continue to learn how to live it daily.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true,

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9