Christmas Day 2011...a blessing

Ah...it's Christmas 2011, and we're home in Grand Rapids to celebrate.  Our daughter is in Pennsylvania celebrating with her husband and his family.  My parents, who usually are here to celebrate with us, are in North Carolina at my sister and brother-in-law's having Christmas with them.  This is the first time we've been alone for Christmas in many years!  It was going to be a very different one than what we are use to....

Christmas morning, Keith and I woke up to some presents under the tree.  We sat down to open our gifts and Keith looked at me and asked me to pass out the presents.  I looked at him with a sad face and said, "Our present passer-outer isn't here."  Then after a few tears were shed,{on my part!} we went on to open our gifts.  The Lord certainly has blessed us beyond measure through the years.  He's blessed me with a wonderful husband for 35+ years for which I am so thankful for. 

Keith and I had decided previous to this day that we would invite our neighbor, Ilene, over to share dinner and the afternoon with her.  Little did we know, we had some other friends, Steve and Pat, that were also going to be alone for Christmas, and invited them as well. We decided to fix our regular Christmas dinner of ham, potluck potatoes, green bean casserole, salad (pretzel salad and seven layer salad which Pat provided), rolls, dessert.

Ilene, Pat, Steve, Keith and me

Our dear, sweet, long-time friends, Pat and Steve

Our dear sweet neighbor and friend, Ilene

Our dinner was ready by 1:45, and we all enjoyed the fellowship around the table.  It was a wonderful afternoon, and before we knew it, it was over.  Steve and Pat were on their way back home.  We had been so blessed that day with our friends.  I believe they were equally blessed to have been with others as well.  Ilene stayed longer and visited before heading back home after dark.  

Christmas in Virginia 2011

Keith's final day of school for this calendar year was December 16.  Immediately after school, we drove to the airport for our flight to Baltimore, MD.  When we arrived in Baltimore, we then took Amtrak into Union Station, Washington, D.C., where Jess and Andy picked us up.  We then headed to their apartment building where they settled us into our very lovely guest apartment. 

We opened the door and this is what we saw!

This is a one bedroom, one bath fully furnished apartment complete with a washer and dryer, dishes, pots and pans and linens, etc.  The only thing we know we'll need next time would be hangers and washcloths.  We were located on the second floor (2 floors from Andy and Jess).  It sure saved much running back and forth from a hotel, etc. 

On Saturday, we went to their apartment, and Jess and I baked several different Christmas cookies.  While we were busy with the cookies, Keith and Andy went out shopping for a new television.  We were successful in our baking endeavor as they were also successful in their shopping!

Successful shopping trip = Happy Andy!

In the middle of all the baking!

The nicely decorated sugar cookies in the top of this photo were decorated with helpers Julianna,
Sebastian, Katie and Jessica at our cousin's house.  Jess brought the cookies and they had all the pretty/fun decorations to put on the cookies.  We had a fun time baking together.  I even got a chance to use her new Kitchen Aid Mixer.  So nice!!! 

While we were there, we also exchanged gifts.

This sweet little tree was a gift to Andy and Jess from Katie and Emin and family.  It's a real tree in a pot and decorated with various owl ornaments and a string of lights including an owl on top.  What a thoughtful gift!  

 

Andy organizing his new tools.

Very yummy hot chocolate and Christmas kitchen towels

Cheese bar board with little dipping bowls

Cologne!

A hand-blown glass ornament from the WAR Chest

iTunes card!

Thanks Pinterest!  I found out Jess "liked" these, so I made some for her! 

Sunday evening, they took us into DC to see the National Christmas Tree.  The tree is located in "President's Park."

Yes, there was a Nativity located next to Santa's place.

This is a park-like setting with a Christmas tree decorated for all 50 states.

The Eisenhower Building

Washington Monument in the background

The White House

The National Christmas Tree (48 feet tall)

On Monday, Jess and Keith made a shopping trip to an outlet mall and to Trader Joe's to pick up some baking items.  When they got back, we finished up the cookies and started some dinner for Andy and Jess to eat when Jess got home from taking us to the airport in Baltimore later that evening.  Andy happened to arrive home before she got back from taking us. 




Even though it was just a short weekend, we sure had a great time together!  We were so thankful to spend some Christmas time with them, as they would be in Pennsylvania for Christmas celebrating with Andy's family.