Party, Party, Party!

Saturday, December 2, was the start of our many, many Christmas festivities.

From noon until 3:00, I volunteered, along with other Salado Village Artists (SVA), at the Bell County Expo Center, for Christmas on the Farm. This is the annual fund-raiser for Aware Central Texas, an organization that works to prevent child abuse and family violence through education and case management. I love this low-cost event for children and their families. There were over 40 fun activities for kids. Our (SVA) booth was the Christmas stocking booth, and we helped over 750 children decorate their stockings.

Decorating stockings at the SVA booth

That same evening we met four other couples from church - Kay and Andy, Kelly and Trish, Larry and Deborah, and David and Denise -  at Olive Garden for dinner before taking in the Temple Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert. I should have taken a picture or two, but I was too busy having fun.

My book club had their Christmas dinner on Monday (12/4) evening. We were hosted by Jean, an 88-year old member of our club, who loves to entertain. She has lived in the same house for 40 years, and it was not a new house when she and her late husband bought it. I think it was built in the '30s or early '40s, and has tons of character - just like Jean, herself. She kept us in stitches most of the evening with stories of her amazing life. She still volunteers overseas for two or three weeks each year, providing humanitarian aid to people in different countries. She comes by her adventurous spirit naturally, as her parents also traveled widely. Our book under discussion this month was an Agatha Christie Christmas mystery, and we learned that Jean's parents actually met and dined with Agatha Christie once!

First Monday Book Club - holiday dinner at Jean's 

Tuesday (12/5) I drove to Salado to join my friends from SVA for a "fancy" holiday lunch at the Inn on the Creek. One of our members, Connie (I also know her from church), made most of the arrangements, and brought her musically talented daughter, Nan, to play Christmas music throughout the luncheon.

Salado Village Artists - Christmas luncheon at Inn on the Creek, Salado.

Nan, at the keyboard.

Connie with her daughter, Nan.

On Thursday evening (12/7) we enjoyed a musical performance by the Salado Community Choir. A number of our good friends sing in this choir. They did an outstanding job!

Kay and Deborah in the opening song.

And, on Sunday evening (12/10) we celebrated with our church friends. It was a great party, with beautiful decorations, fun games and activities, a visit from Santa and tasty finger foods of all kinds.

Santa "Kelly" Claus entertained the children.

At one point that evening, four teams were formed to compete in decorating four "Christmas trees." Those trees were actually walking/talking Christmas trees, in the form of some of our church staff, including Daniel (youth minister), Joe (preacher), Ray Don (family life minister) and Saturnino (minister to our Spanish speaking members).

Daniel

Joe

Ray Don

and our WINNER, Saturnino!

 I still have one more party to attend -- my Bell County Genealogical Society party -- but I think that's enough partying for one post.