2005 Church Ladie's Christmas Dinner

Here's Donna C.... Donna is our associate Pastor's wife... as well as the Queen Mum of our Hallelujah Hunnies... Doesn't she look stylish with her fur ear muff and sparkly top..... All ready to party with the ladies from church as we gather to celebrate another Christmas dinner....Besides the opportunity to spend time together and catch up with each others daily lives.... we also have the added benefit of actually being served by many of the ladies' husbands.... Our chef this year was George Gray, who put on a very splendid meal indeed.... The men went about making sure that we were being well cared for, bringing us the drinks of preference and serving our dinner when it was ready.... and cleaning up when we were finished.... That in itself can be very rewarding... they worked diligently at making sure we had a wonderful evening... Thanks George and the rest of you fine men for working so hard to please us and make our evening special....
These were the ladies sitting at my table.... In the left fore front, are Debbie and Patty... Later in the evening, Patty did a special drawing set to music.... She's a very talented artist... Bruce and I have one of her paintings hanging on our bedroom wall of Talcott Falls....
Here we have Karen F, Connie S., and Ellen K..... Each lady comes with her very own special gifts to share with all ... we are very blessed to have them among us....
Here I am with my good buddies, Jan H. and Debbie S. I remember so well when I was hit with that bad run of Vertigo... I doubt I could have gotten through those several days of being bed ridden if it hadn't been for these two... They were right there by my side helping out until I was able to start fending for myself once again.... Thanks my special friends!!

I don't know how Patty does it... but she can start out with a blank canvas and develop it into a work of art.... These photos don't really do her work justice... as it was not only beautiful... but inspiring...
Once Patty was finished ..... It was gift sharing time.... We start with handing out a gift to pass to everyone who is there (we each bring one to pass)... These are on this table.... Once that has been done those who drew names the Christmas before will then seek out her own secret pal and reveal herself and give her, her Christmas gift bought just for her.... It's always a fun time to watch the surprised looks on the ladies faces as they discover for the first time the person who has been blessing them all through the year with little gifts, notes, etc for special occassions...
Her Debbie S. reveals herself to her secret pal, Yevette.... she had thought Yevette guessed she was her secret pal.... but found out she didn't have a clue....
Linda S.'s secret pal gave her this neat little snow man that lights up.... And Sally D. received this beautiful picture from her's.... Before the evening was over with... those wishing to participate in the secret pal drawing drew new names for 2006.... Each month they'll think of some special way to bless their secret pal and try not to get caught in the process..... I chose not to participate again this year.... a lot going on right now and not sure I can be faithful as I'd like to be.... maybe next year.....