Mews from Meowmix

The weekend was rather busy and painful, too, in some ways!

It began Friday night with our church Christmas party, which was a lot of fun.  There were lots of food and bright colors, singing of Christmas carols, and a gift exchange.  More than one group of “goldenagers” from different congregations got together for this party.  One couple we’ve known 100 years from a congregation we attended for at least 75 of those 100 years was in attendance.  Gene was asked to lead the caroling………..and he did!  I’ve known him for a long, long time and went to church with him for eons and never knew he could sing!  I guess we were always on opposite sides of the building, huh?  He also made a great emcee, telling stories and jokes, etc. about growing up in Arkansas.  How funny.

The gift exchange was one of those “dirty Santa” exchange things, or whatever you call it in your part of the world.  You know, the one where you get a gift, open it, but you may not get to keep it, because the next person may want to swap their opened gift for what you  have.  This time, though, it was done differently than I’d seen it done.  I had the luck to have the first number given out, thereby being the first gift-opener………..which meant when it was all over, I could swap mine for any other gift in the room!  As always, there is one gift that is most popular and gets passed around all over the crowd.  This time it was a Christmas music box, really pretty.  So, just ’cause I had the power to do so, I took it at the end and then gave it to someone I knew really, really wanted it.  But I ended up not being happy I did it because the person I took it from is a very good friend.  I had forgotten who had it in the final analysis.  I guess that’s why it’s called dirty Santa.

I spent about 4 hours raking and bagging leaves Saturday afternoon.  I knew it’s supposed to start raining about tomorrow, so I at least got the front yard pretty much cleaned up.  The BACK yard, though, hasn’t been touched, so there’s at least as much again to do as has already been done.  Did I say that right?  Anyway, Saturday afternoon’s activities are what caused some of the pain of the weekend.

Also learned there is to be a new great-grandbaby in the family, expected sometime in July ‘09.  There is also one expected in May.  No telling how many will be added by Christmas next year.  Thess are two more good reasons why suspending gift exchanges among the whole family was a good idea!    But babies are sweet, no matter!!

Hailey has had two basketball games, and her team has won both times.  Two in a row!  Go Hailey!!

Saturday night I did something that caused quiet a bit more pain.  Anyone who knows me at all will NOT be surprised that I managed to pull this off.  In the midst of getting someone out after 8pm to look at our heating unit, which appeared to be malfunctioning, I found I had to run down to the nearest store to buy a necessary Barney item.  I left in a hurry and came back in a hurry, anxious to get back in the house and see if anything was seriously the matter with the heat……………………and promptly tripped on the steps and fell UP them and onto the porch…………..with a thud.  I don’t know how I managed to fall in such a way that I am bruised on both arms and legs and have some sore fingers to boot!  When I got through falling, I must have somewhat resembled a pretzel!  Being accustomed to this type of thing, I did fall soft enough that I was able to get up and limp into the house……..still carrying at least 10 pounds of kitty litter!

This brings memories of another time I fell UP some steps.  Years ago, I was dating a guy named Roger, and he accompanied me to Mom and Dad’s for our Christmas get-together.  Being the gentleman he was, he carried the packages in for me, walking behind me, and I stepped up on the bottom step and then started falling.  Not only was I embarrassed at falling in front of Roger, but my brother-in-law laughed to his dying day about hearing a THUMP outside which meant Judy had arrived.  But then Roger……….did he try to stop my fall?  Uh-uh.  He just stepped back out of the way and let me fall, holding the packages to one side so they didn’t get damaged!  Sure glad he chose to marry somebody else. 

Anyway, that’s pretty much the last 2-3 days of my life.  Now you know everything I do!

TODAY’S SMILES:

1. Being able to move my body parts even after all the abuse they suffered yesterday.
2. Phone conversation with Michael.
3. Jonathan and Steve finally came and got the Christmas tree we’re lending them, on account of it was counter-productive for US to put it up this year, on account of Barney.  Now Barney won’t be able to climb on the box which had been in the hallway and then jump up and sit on the top of the door frames!  Yes, he did!!
4. Tonight, JB led singing at church.  He had asked me this morning if I’d ever sung “Higher Ground,” and I assured him I had.  Evidently he hadn’t led it before.  Anyway, when we got to the part about “……Lord, plant my feet on higher ground,” the translation from JB was “…..Lord, plants my feet(s) on higher ground.”  I was pretty successful at stifling a giggle.
5. Anticipation of Paul and Janet being with us next Sunday reporting on their work in Cameroun.

Have a great Sunday evening and Monday.  God bless and keep you ’til we meet again.