Christmas - that special time of year!

Oh what a great month this has been! Planning and prepping for company and parties and gatherings of family and friends. I've enjoyed getting this season put together with putting the house in order, baking little goodies, and planning out shopping excursions.

However, most of my excursions this year has been solely myself and myself alone. Not many chances to get out shopping with my girlfriends or family. Even though I've been enjoying this season, I've also been missing many people that seem to have stepped out of touch. But what better time of year is there to think of them and send well wishes their way?!

Sitting here with the Christmas lights glowing on the tree, and thinking back over the past week or so, it's been a good end to a long and tiring year. But even through it's tiring day-to-day hassles, the good moments and the worthwhile moments have kept ahold on the bright outlook of the finishing day, week, month, and now the year.

I have some pics to share from one of the many gatherings we've had this month alone. Alas, that will have to come on a future post. I'd rather just sit and enjoy the lights on the tree, and remember the good times we've had this past year (and come up with a few more to add in the next couple days - before the year is officially over). :)

In Service...

We worked at the Operation Christmas Child warehouse again this year. I had been looking forward to it since my last visit last year and had had it on my calendar since this past January! I love the time spent with family and friends, and it just feels good to not only get out and DO something, but to do something good for others at the same time. I need more of these adventures in my life!

OCC has a warehouse in Denver where they need volunteers to come each Nov-Dec to go through packages to remove certain restricted items and to sort the donated boxes by ages.

These boxes will then be shipped out to areas of the world and be delivered to children in time for Christmas.

Not only will these children receive gifts of toys, shoes, and toothbrushes, but they will also receive the Word of God and be told that they are loved by the people who sent these gifts to them.

And it's nice to know that we can be a little part of this HUGE opportunity! Maybe someday we'll be able to be part of the delivery aspect and be able to watch the receiving kids as they open their gifts and express their abundant joy!

 

Catching up...

For Thanksgiving, we had a busy day! Hubs had to work, so I rode along with him on his route. It was an early morning, a chilly morning, and an enjoyable morning as we chatted and spent time together - something that seems harder to come by as we get into another busy season with our work schedules.

We ended up making it to the parental's house just in time to help get some appetizers put out for the men to snack on while we worked on tying up the loose ends of dinner. Extended family arrived not too long after and the afternoon turned into a hustle and bustle of people, conversations, cooking, catching up, eating, taming our crazy dogs, and keeping the kids entertained.

Not long after dinner, Hubs and I had to take off as we had tickets to the Broncos' game that night. We had great seats that we couldn't miss, so we promised to be home after the game to join them all for some pie.

The start of the game... the place was crazy loud!

We had a few good plays and got off to a great start!

 

Then we scored!

Further along in the game, coach pulled Orton aside...

Next play...

We scored again!

That game was the perfect end to the day. Well, aside from going home and eating some pie. :)