Christmas 2011

Like many of you, Christmas time is one of my favorite times of the year!  Not only is it a time that we recognize Christ's birth but it is a universal feeling of thinking of one another through our actions, gifts, cards and thoughtfulness.  I just wanted to share a few things that I did and enjoyed this year!

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and made more memories with your families! :)

I love white lights on my house for Christmas! 

Andres will be in college next year.....I hope I won't be the one on the ladder. :( 

We love lighting the fireplace for its beauty and for making roasted marshmellows or smores!

Our living room tree that is color coordinated for show....

...but this is my "memory" Christmas tree.  It has our children's baby ornaments, ornaments they made while in grade school, pictures, small toys our children played with, ornaments my husband and I had on our tree since our first Christmas, Gabriella's first Christmas ornament and many more sweet memory items.

I like to decorate our dining room table.

I love to bake...

...bake

and bake!  :)

The best yogurt covered pretzels and ...

and popcorn in Kansas City! 

"Velvet Creme Popcorn Co."

(Thanks mom and dad for sending me some!)

Yearly Christmas breakfast with the office staff and our Pastor and boss.

Christmas Dinner 2011

Jared, Elyssa & Danny

While on deputation in the east part of the country, my wonderful son-n-law took time to drive to KY to let Elyssa see her brothers whom this year were not able to come home for Christmas. 

Elyssa and Danny

Elyssa and David

Melody, Brenda, Elyssa, Gabriella, Aracely & Diana.

Lexington, KY

I love hearing our children's choir sing!

I love hearing updates from some of our college students who are home for the holidays.

Elyssa & Gabriella

My grandbaby's first Christmas! :)

"Can we please hurry so I can open my presents from grandpa and grandma?"

Gabriella not knowing which toy to grab first!

"I'm being a good girl!"

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to our missionaries!

We hope that you had a very Merry Christmas with your families and a great day in your churches yesterday.  May God give you health and many blessings in the new year to come. 
We love you and pray for you and your ministries.

Love & Prayers,
The Missionary Circles of Iglesia Bautista Fundamental 

"Dorcas Missionary Circle"

Leader: Roberta Ortiz, Kareny Leon, Aida Ortiz, Silvia Valencia, Belinda Tamayo & Yanira Roman.

"Debora Missionary Circle"

Maria Jose Orozco, Leader: Nellie Muela, Inez Mendoza, Heather Juarez & Nelda Garcia.

" Esther Missionary Circle"

Berenice Ramirez, Clemencia Sanchez, Karisa Daniel, Leader: Alma Moreno, Maria Alvarez, Patty de la Torre & Juanita Martinez.

" Eunice Missionary Circle"

Socorro Ruiz, Maria Beltran, Leader: Mirtha Rios & Maria Alvarez

"Priscilla Missionary Circle"

Leader: Sandra Guzman, Mayra Olvera, Graciela Barajas, Magda Gutierrez, Angela Vera & Mayra Moreno.

"Rebeka Missionary Circle"

Gloria Alvarez, Alma Rojas, Leader: Maria Carpenter & Perla Martinez

"Ruth Missionary Circle"

Leader: Gloria Landeros, Martha Vazquez, Maria Guadalupe Campos, Carmen Ramirez & Gema Orozco.

"Sarah Missionary Circle"

Noelia Vargas, Rebeca Lopez, Leader: Laura Arevalo, Olivia Lopez & Elsa Torres

Ladies Christmas Party!

Last night I hosted our yearly Christmas party for all the ladies in the Missionary Circles in our church.   For some reason my household clears the property!!!  With the exception of this year!  My husband was sick and so he was stuck upstairs in our bedroom.  I'm not sure how much rest he got because of his comments like, "What was so funny?" and  "You ladies were laughing so much!!!". 
We had a great time!  I don't know how we all fit but we had 38 ladies in my family room. 
We started off with a meal catered by Dickey's BBQ, a couple of games, a gift exchange, a prize for the best festive dressed lady and then time to show my gratitude to the ladies.  Every year I recognize my group leaders with words of thankfulness for their hard work and gave them a gift.  Then the leaders give a gift to their ladies in their groups thanking them for their time and hard work.  They all received a christmas ornament that I make especially for them, then we end the evening by having dessert!  :)
I am so thankful for these ladies!  They are faithful to our meetings, the emails, cards and phone calls to our missionaries, their extra love offerings and christmas love offerings they collect for our missionaries, and last but not least their love and prayers.
Thank you ladies for a job well done!  You are the best ladies in the world!  I love you!