PARTYING, IN PART, POSTPONED

Due to TURRBLE weather in our parts, the traditional New Year's Eve with the MacMillions has been postponed til tomorrow night.

BUT...that said, die hard partiers such as my friend Shannon and her kids plus a sprinkling of other kids just HAD to come and ring in the new year and eat the food we did have despite the tornadoes, downed power lines, trees in the road, and flooding.

As Shannon says, our parties are worth coming out for "because I have no life". Or, as she was quoted as later saying, "I'm a party animal!"






HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL and if you're in our neck of the woods tomorrow night,head on over for the official night-after-the-real-night-New-Year's-Eve-party!

A BEAUTIFUL GIFT

One of the joys of traveling to Africa --- in fact, my favorite joy --- is spending time with the children. Despite the dirt, the poverty, the lack, it takes very, very little for a smile to form upon their sweet faces. This little girl is one that had a go-get-it personality despite the harshness of her life's circumstances. She glowed and lived exuberantly and was not a child you could ever overlook.

Just seeing her smile even now makes me smile.

How blessed I am by God to have gotten the privilege of meeting her, spending days with her, and loving her. I pray that He'll bring me back to her and all those other beautiful Bheveni children again in the not too distant future.

I also pray that she will always have many, many reasons to smile.

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

~Mother Teresa

THE CELEBRATING CONTINUED

I've been absent from my blog a couple of days because our Christmas celebrating was continued down further south with family and friends.

Here's a quick look at our happenings:




On Sunday evening, we arrived at my mom's house to eat our traditional fried-shrimp Christmas supper and exchange gifts with her and my brother's family.


My brother and his wife. What a gift she is to our family.


My sweet mama.


My spunky niece.


Mom gave B a gorgeous scarf handcrafted in Africa.


My three kiddos and their new critters.



On Monday, I helped my little women decorate their gingerbread house.

To burn off some Christmas goody calories, we went walking at the local mall and got some good laughs at our oldest sons' expense.




Daddy had to leave a couple of days before us and as you can see, the little kids didn't like it one bit!


On Monday night, we hung out at the Chinese buffet with my dad, his wife, and some of his cousins that I'd not seen in years and their wives and even a granddaughter. It was neat to realize my kids were meeting their 3rd cousin.






On Tuesday, we visited with my grandma who is living in an assisted living center. She is my last remaining grandparent and I cherish these times that I can see her.



After visiting Grandma Little Mc, we visited with my Cousin-Sister's family. She cooked us a potful of yummy, chicken spaghetti and entertained us with stories about her squirrel Sammy .


Here is a teacup set that was my paternal grandma's. It was brought to her from a relative who was stationed Asia decades ago.


Today we traveled home and stopped for Thai food and good fun with mom and daughter friends, Terry and Lydia. They both graduated from my alma mater, Mississippi University for Women, and I went to church with them when Lydia was just a little girl.




Once again I am reminded of the truth that the people we love are definitely some of the most precious gifts that God has given us.

WALKING IN THE LIGHT

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” --- Jesus (The Bible, John 8:12)

A CHRISTMAS GLIMPSE

What a blessed Christmas we have had this year.

Last night, after we lit the last Advent candle and had our scripture reading, it was our traditional supper buffet comprised of fancy cheeses, breads, special meats, favorite chips, and special extras such as hummus and crispy flatbread while we watched A MUPPETS' CHRISTMAS CAROL and the kids opened one gift.

This morning the kids woke us at 6:30 singing WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS and then it was time to read the story of Jesus' birth, open gifts, eat a big, ole, Southern breakfast, and hurry off to WE WILL GO in inner-city Jackson. There we were mightily blessed by sweet folks, soulful singing, yummy food, powerful prayer, and lots of African talk.

On our way home, Jim took the kids in to fire departments and police stations in our area and dropped off brownies and cards made by kids at Restoration Church. Our small group has been taking by goodies monthly just to let them know we appreciate them and we're praying for them.

At home, the hubby and I enjoyed afternoon naps before calling all the grandparents, supping on leftovers, and once again watching George Bailey realize that ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Here's a visual glimpse into our celebrating:








































Farewell for now and hope you have a wonderful Boxing Day!

If you post photos of your Christmas online, leave me a link in the comments section. I'd love a glimpse into what Christmas looked like in your little corner of the world, too.