The Messiah and Christmas Lights Too!

I have sung the Messiah several times through out the years.  In high school and college chorus's, in Church but yesterday was my very first community sings Messiah.  Each year the Messiah sings is a local Orange Park/Jacksonville event where people gather and sing the Christmas portion of the Messiah.  There are soloists and is accompanied by Organ and piano.  The conductor for the past few years has been Dr Mark Stallings.  I finally had the opportunity to participate and I am glad I did.  Over 70 singers came together to sing the Messiah and the audience seemed to enjoy it.  It was a challenging but wonderful experience.

Before the Messiah Sings I went to Church and then lunch with friends.  Thank Debbie for staying a little longer so we could have lunch.  After the Messiah I headed over to see Jenny, Nate and Rory,  there are four house up their street that looks like they are having Christmas lights war so we had to check it out.  The houses were beautifully decorated with lots of lights and Rory loved them!  My pictures did not come out the way I wanted but the lights are still beautiful!  

Today I head back to Tennessee for a couple of weeks but then Tim and I will head back down for Christmas.  It was so good to be with my family and friends and I thank you all.  A big Thank You goes to Sharon and Richard for allowing me to stay with them.  Sharon and I had some great late night talks and I had the chance to meet Richard's Mom Maxine.  Check out Travels With Tuth later this week for Maxine.  Thank you all again!  Here I come Tennessee!

It Was A Good Birthday

I had a wonderful Birthday yesterday and I want to say Thank You to all who made it so special.  It started out great with Birthday wishes on Facebook, text, email and phone calls and all were great but I have to say the best greeting was from Rory when she saw me first thing in the morning and came running to me.  Oh what a wonderful feeling that was!  Of course greetings from my kids were just as special!  Jenny and I spent the day at Jingle Jam, her first craft show for her Salted jewelry, and all I can say is that I am one proud mama! Jenny's set up was very professional and even though we had to fight the wind and the coolness outside it was still a good day.  Jenny did not do as well as she wanted but she did make a small profit and promoted herself and her jewelry.  She had a lot of interested lookers and most took her card especially since she does custom orders.  Jenny I know it wasn't what you expected but I am very proud of you and enjoyed spending the day with you!
After Jingle Jam, which was a well run event, we met up with Nate, Rory, Carrie & Daniel at La Nop for my birthday dinner.  We had a great time and it was good to be with my kids!  We missed Tim and wish he was with us but next year we can celebrate together. This year is the first time Tim and I have ever celebrated our birthdays apart.  Once again, Thank You all for making my Birthday so special!

I Think We Are Ready

Today is the Jingle Jam on Fleming Island, FL hosted by Watson Reality.  It runs from 10:00 to 3:00 and we are hoping it will be a success.  Jenny has been preparing for this craft show for a while and we are hoping it will be profitable.  She has planned everything and I think she is ready to go.  Even her packaging is amazing.  Way to  go Jen!
I had a wonderful lunch with three of my favorite ladies Debbie, Sharon and Jean.  If you follow my blog you know who they are.  We got together yesterday at our favorite lunch spot, Panera, and got all caught up.  We were last all together in August.  The three ladies are so loving and caring and I am very fortunate to have them as friends.  Thanks Debbie, Sharon and Jean.
Check back tomorrow and see how Jingle Jam goes!

Play Day With Rory

This Saturday, tomorrow, is Jenny's first Craft Show.  It is the Jingle Jam on Fleming Island at Watson Reality.  It runs 10:00 to 3:00 and should be a lot of fun.  Even Santa will be there.  If you are in the Jacksonville,/Orange Park area come by and say Hi!   One of the ways to help Jenny get ready is to help with Rory.  Yesterday I had a great time playing with Rory.  We played in her room with her toys and then we went outside and that is when the real fun began.  She rode her tricycle up and down the driveway, the driveway is longer than a football field, and she loved it.  She rides her trike really well and has no problems maneuvering it.  Then we played the "sit down Grandma" game.  Now Rory being little could sit down anywhere and so when she started the game it began on a bench moved to a stoop and eventually went to landscaping bricks then the ground.  For Rory it was a breeze but for me it was getting tougher the lower she would go.  It's not that I couldn't do it but it was the amount of time. I would literally just sit down and she would get up and move to another place.  Later in the day we took Rory to the park and that was fun.  She loved the swings and climbing around on the playground equipment but her biggest thrill was the slide.  I think it was the first time she could actually go down by herself and her face was priceless and full of huge smiles. Jenny and I took turns at the top and bottom of the slide and Rory loved it.   Playing with Rory was so much fun and I can't wait to do it again today!

Decorating The Tree With Rory

I have decorated several Christmas trees through out the years and I have so many wonderful memories decorating with my girls but last night I got to hang some ornaments with Rory and it was great!  The tree that Jenny and Nate put up is a beautiful tree that sits on a stand that rotates the tree.  I love it and this way all the ornaments on the tree can be seen.  Of course this also means everyone can see it the tree has some decorating flaws. Rory was so cute and so gentle with the ornaments and while putting them on the tree she looked and found the perfect spot.  I am sure it is just a coincidence that all the ornaments hung by Rory were at her eye level!  Another precious memory was made at Christmas and with my Rory!

Hello Florida!

Hello Florida, it's good to be back!  Last time I was down here in the Jacksonville/Orange Park area was in August for a friends wedding.  This time I am back to help my daughter Jenny with her first craft show.  We will be working the rest of this week getting ready and then Saturday is the big day.
Lisa and I drove down yesterday and we are happy to report that it was an uneventful drive.  We could tell once we were back in Florida because the fast lanes any place else are just that fast.  Here in Florida the fast lanes are the lanes to drive in and the slow lanes become the passing lanes.  I got to see Rory, briefly but I still got to see her and she knew me too! Oh how I love that little girl! I am staying with my friends, Richard and Sharon.  They own a condo on the river.  What a wonderful place to be and the view is wonderful!  Ah Florida, it's great to be back!

An Early Surprise Birthday Lunch

I had a nice surprise yesterday.  I thought we were just going to a late lunch early dinner (linner) at Ruby Tuesday with Tim, George and Lisa but when we got there I had a nice surprise to see Larry and Linda waiting for us.  They were all there to celebrate my birthday early.  I will be in Jacksonville for my birthday so Lisa planned this little outing to celebrate before I go.  It was a wonderful surprise.  Thank you Lisa for planning it; what a wonderful surprise.  After Linner we came back to the farm where Lisa made me a birthday cake, yellow cake with Chocolate frosting- my favorite, and I even got some presents.  Lisa and George gave me a beautiful Nutcracker carved out of wood and mounted; Lisa knew I liked nutcrackers.  What made the gift even more special is that is was made by our neighbor Cheryl.  She does beautiful woodwork.  So it was a nice day and a great celebration.  Thanks to all and an extra thank you to Lisa. 
Today Lisa and I are headed south to Jacksonville where I will be spending a week and Lisa is spending three weeks.  I am looking forward to seeing my kids, Carrie, Jenny, Nate and Rory and Daniel.  I am also looking forward to seeing my friends.  Here we come Florida!