Thanksgiving Weekend Events

Kirk and Kelli arrived on Wednesday evening as scheduled. Kirk's family stayed with Gramma and brought her over on Thursday morning. While the turkey was was roasting in the oven, they brought out the scrabble game. Gramma was delighted! After dinner, we all played Apples to Apples, then began a game of Mexican Dominoes. Gramma kept forgetting to inform us of some of her "made-up rules" which kept everyone laughing! After indulging in pumpkin pie, and applesauce cake with whipping cream, Kelli unwrapped her birthday gifts. We gave her a dainty cross necklace with a rose on it, and a stuffed penguin that sings, "I Wish I Could Fly" while it flaps its wings.

On Friday, Tamra had to fly back to LA because she had to work that evening as an ER nurse. Bill, Kelli and I went to the mall to check out some specials. Kirk called me and I told him to meet us at Taco Mayo for lunch with Kyle. At 3 pm, Noel's family arrived. I prepared a deli smoked ham dinner for 16 people. Jason (Galen's son) brought his family over to see his cousins, Kelli, Kirk, Steve and Mark. Steve's wife had to work so he had brought his boys, Hunter and Forest. I was so thankful that it was a gorgeous day and the kids could go to the park behind our house. In fact, it was so warm that several of the boys ate on the patio with the little ones.

On Saturday, Bill, Kelli and I drove over to Gramma's to say goodbye to Noel's family and then we headed to the movie, "The Blindside". Fantastic movie!!! From there, we took Kelli to Braum's. She was introduced to chicken strips with white gravy and their small hot fudge sundae. She loved it!

We learned this weekend that Kirk and Tamra will be heading a team from Cal Baptist to Manilla, Phillipines next spring; Jason's wife is having baby #3 in June; and that Kelli has been invited to New York City where a friend is covering the ball-dropping for Fox News. He is the national editor for that network. She will stay with Lorn Green who is the Religion Editor for Fox News and be given a press pass. The fellow who has invited her is the former Baptist Press Editor. We are so excited for her! (He also happens to be a bachelor!) I told her that next fall when we do our New England tour from New York, I want a free ticket to the Huckabee Show! She said that would be easy.

Kelli left to go back to Michigan this morning at 4:30 am. In spite of the early hours, I managed to teach the 17 people in Bible Study and sing for an hour with the choir after the worship service. We were preparing to sing at the Christmas Tree Lighting at Unity Hospital tomorrow evening. University Baptist' Handbells will also play. It rained today and the temperature dropped which makes it seem more like Christmas. We received some holiday mail which also puts me in the spirit!