The Days Flew By...

It was my intention to post all the happenings of Christmas but I was so caught up in the actions, my blog was forgotten. OOPS! My bad! Maybe, I'll find time in the next few days to post a few more pics. In the meantime, Bryn and Blake are playing Ninja's and Sparkles is enjoying her new blanket, most especially, when she gets to cuddle with it in my chair.

Pics from Christmas Sunday

Many years ago, my father started a tradition of making Christmas sacks for everyone who attended the Christmas Service. An apple and an orange were the first items selected, then candy canes, and Christmas candy. The above pictured oranges were donated by Paramont Farms. Can you smell them? :)
Helping prepare the sacks, was Brian, Bryn, Blake, and Zack Ojeda. The kids love to help because they know they will always get some of the leftover candy. :)
The base of the sack begins with a red, delicious apple and orange. Then, we add a package of CornNuts, a Rice Krispy, Tootsie sucker, Candy Cane, and mixed hard candies.
Bryn and her friend Daria singing solo parts on "Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child" with the KIDZ Choir. Those kids rocked the house.

The little girl on the left is a new girl who comes to church on our Sunday School bus. She loved singing with the choir and was not a bit shy to sing out. Love those kids.

Apostolic Gospel Church of Delano KIDZ Choir. These kids surprise me sometimes with the songs they sing and how well they perform.

Bryn wanted to sing for the Christmas Concert and wanted me to help her. "What Did You Say Was the Baby's Name?" Bryn LOVES to sing.

Charlene Wilson singing, "New Kid in Town."

Coy Anders performing an instrumental on his trumpet. "Angels We Have Heard on High."

Kelving Furgerson singing, "Greatest Story Ever Told"

Ernie Aguilar playing and singing, "White Christmas."

This is just a few of the 20 something songs performed at our Annual Christmas Concert. It was a great night. (The children performed at the am service.) I hope all of you are having a great Christmas season - the most wonderful time of year.

The Friendly Squirrel

Yesterday, while entering a business, Bryn saw this little squirrel romping in the landscape and so we paused to watch it. The little critter looked up at us and came straight towards us, paused and raised up on his hind legs as if to say, "Hi," or "Do you have any snacks?" Bryn was so happy I captured his picture. All God's creatures, great or small, are such a wonder.

Another Brag Moment

Bryn acting
Bryn and castmates singing
The Wildcats Basketball Team

Wildcat Cheerleaders

Bryn and her 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Lancaster

Choreographer, Ms. Arciaga and Bryn

Ms. Campos, play director, and Bryn

Bryn and her best friend Shailynn

Can you handle another brag moment? Bryn is a GATE student and involved her school choir, Chess Club, and Theatre and Arts. Last week, a cast of 40, third through fifth grade students, put on four shows of an hour and half production, "High School Musical." Bryn was one of the Thespians (Susan) and did a great job. Kudos to the department for a job well done.

You Go, Girl!!!

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire,

which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity;

but which kindles up,

and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.

- Washington Irving

There's just something about adversity or that feeling of "can't," that makes a woman say, "I can." Makes me wanna say, "You go, gurl."

Bound

I am not bound to win,

but I am bound to be true.

I am not bound to succeed,

but I am bound to live by the light that I have.

I must stand with anybody that stands right,

stand with him while he is right,

and part with him when he goes wrong.

- Abraham Lincoln

Hmmm.....sounds like President Lincoln read his Bible.

Brian and Jana's Christmas Salad

Saturday night was our Christmas banquet. The menu was shredded beef, green beans, rice pilaf, salad, roll, sweet tea, and dessert from The Cheescake Factory. Brian and I made the salad this year. It is a recipe we created a couple years ago and has been a huge "hit" with our church family. I thought I would share our secret since it is such a simple salad yet delicious.

Ingredients: spring salad mix, green salad mix, Sesame dressing (from Costco), fresh blueberries, fresh strawberries, fresh red, seedless grapes, dried cranberries, apples, candied or glazed walnuts. (In the summer, add tangerines.)

At Costco, we purchase the large bags of salad mix that has iceberg, purple cabbage and carrots, and the boxes of spring salad mix. Use a box of spring salad mix for every two bags of the other salad mix and blend all the greens. Then add the blueberries, sliced strawberries, halved grapes, dried cranberries, chopped apples, and candied walnuts. Once you have all of this mixed, add the Sesame dressing and toss the salad well.

(If you want to make salad for 200 people, use 8 bags of the regular salad mix, 4 boxes of spring salad mix, three bottles of Sesame dressing, three pounds of fresh blueberries, three pounds of red seedless grapes, two pounds of strawberries, approximately four pounds of dried cranberries, 4 chopped red delicious apples, 3-4 pounds of glazed walnuts.)

A "Good Lookin'"Brag Moment

Pictured above, is Blake with his principal, Jennifer Townson. On Wednesday of this week, we were invited to a luncheon where Blake was honored. Blake is now in 7th grade and was chosen as "Student of the Trimester" to receive the "Academic Excellence Award." He is in the top 1% of his grade. I am so proud of him! One of his teachers spoke of Blake's enthusiasm to learn and said many kind things about him. Blake is now taller than me and, when I looked at the above picture, I couldn't help but wonder where my little boy has gone?!?! Fortunately, he is just growing as he should and he has not yet reached a stage where he is too proud to hug his mommy. That's my "Good Lookin'."

Regrets?

If I had my life to live over again,

I would have made a rule

to read some poetry

and listen to some music

at least once a week.

- Charles Darwin

Regret - a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction. Most people probably have some regrets in their life, but I pray yours are few.

Merry Christmas!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny 's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Obama, Now Biden, Now Sharpton, and Jackson

On Boxer, on Rather, on Ried, and Pelosi!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,not Happy Holiday!