Tradition, Tradition.....TRADITION!! (x30)

Most families have many holiday traditions. Our longest lasting holiday tradition began Christmas Eve 30 years ago.

We gave an unusual gift to 3 of our couple friends and their children. Not pricey monetarily but for us......relationally priceless! 

Early Christmas Eve morning, 1986, we went to each home and loaded up the entire family in our "new" tan Ford Econoline 150 van. 8 adults and 10 children, a few over the passenger vehicle limit. Seatbelts other than the captain's seats, not even an option.

The "Girls" 1986

Our gift to each was the 99¢ breakfast special at Bryant's. (still at the corner of Summer Ave. & Graham) Plus, each child was given 4 quarters to play the pin ball machines. 

What fun! What a crowd. And so it continued----tho for a few years, Bryant's closed on Christmas Eve so we met at Perkins (2-3x) and Uncle Lou's (1). From tacky sweaters to denim and more subdued colors, along with dark hair and big hair to white hair and no hair---we've continued. "Life's too short to eat low-fat food----so eat at Bryant's" on Christmas Eve.

The "Girls" 1994

Over the years the crowds increased as grands were added to the mix. Today's total would be 48---too many for the small ""counter service" type breakfast.

Original 18 and cousin Betsy

Liles 1st Bryant's with a "grand" 2002---note Life's Too short to eat low-fat Eat at Bryant's sign upper left

But nowadays many of the original "kids" can't make it "home" (AL, IL, MS, NY, NC,  TX) on Christmas Eve....needing to work, be in their own homes for Santa or preaching Christmas Eve services. 

Last year all the Liles were to be together in Colorado so hubby and I weren't even there but daughter Molly and her family were our "remnant" and had breakfast and a picture with Carrie, owner and sometimes cook, before hightailing it to Colorado.

This year the tradition marked our 30th anniversary---with 3 of the original kids and their families (7 young ones) in attendance! 3 of original kids holding "sign" to be "photo-shopped" in to pic.

Merry Christmas Eve---a great tradition!!

Gift Extraordinaire

I know there is probably no such thing as a "perfect" gift but for needed a key-chain, "map lovin' granny" who loves her kids and grands where ever they are----this one is pretty close!!

A key ring map that shows all the places closest to my heart---New York---Lucy, Tennessee---Owen,

Texas---Nathan, Noah, Caleb, John Parker and Andrew. (Proverbs 17:6)

Thanks Day----this is truly a gift extraordinaire. A gift that touches my heart!

Monday, Monday.....

This "meditating Monday" a time of reflecting on yesterday's sermon. As always,  Pastor Cole gives much "food for thought."

He gave as an 8 second example of sharing one's faith. (2 Corinthians 8:9) Cole has a way of cutting to the chase. He is a master in the fine art of making a point. I on the other hand, ramble around with a plethora of words--struggling to pare it down or pitch it out. Not just with words but with everything.
Poverty is not just an economic state---it is also a social factor. It can be relationally distancing---even isolating. The "poor" can be exploited and easily taken advantage of. God's will is to close those relational differences by drawing near to God in order to draw near to others.
These "poor" ones in our society are often seen as having nothing to offer. How relationally demeaning that is!!

Yet, the passage from 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 emphasized those Christians who gave from the "muscle" of their means---NOT their fat, because there was none. "Their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality." (8:2) They gracefully gave out of their own lack!

A Shared Cuppa

They might have been sipping from their own cuppa pover-TEA but they were willing to share with others.
Now there's a truth to savor on this Monday, Monday.....

Monday, Monday, so good to meMonday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be (Mamas and the Papas)

...because the truth of this passage began to sink in and just like the "Grinch" I felt like my "heart grew three sizes that day." (Dr. Seuss)

Giving and Receiving--More than an Adage

It is better to give than receive. An old adage that researchers say "proves" to be correct.

I had visual truth of that tonight as I saw grandaughter Lucy open and put to use the "gift" we sent her. Lucy is so-o-o "into" decorating this year. Her "gift" was a box of "treasures," her daddy's childhood ornaments---handmade, received and collected for many years. 

FaceTime with watching Lucy decorate and find just the right place on her tree was the BEST gift!

Lucy shows her favorite of Daddy's ornaments---an aluminum foil star made by him as a pre-schooler.

It is indeed better to give than receive but it's more than an adage, it's scriptural! And....the wording goes even deeper. (Acts 20:35)

Lucy received a gift. I received a blessing!

Calculated Splurge

Only 2 a year---that's the deal! Chick-fil-A milkshakes that is.
After untold numbers of Chick-fil-A milkshakes during my 2009 cancer battle when eating could only be done thru a straw---I developed a "taste." Since life was more important than worry about weight gain, it worked. But....after that the 520 calories a "pop" began to take its toll----thus the rule. Only 2 Chick-fil-A milkshakes a year.
Wisdom finally set in and 2x earlier this year I had only 1/2 a peach milkshake and 1/2 a strawberry one. I love friends who indulge me and share with me to "enrich" my goal. So.....I had one whole one left for 2015 and sweet friend Drenda treated me to it.
A Peppermint chocolate chip milkshake with 2 cherries!!! YUM!! (
(I actually drank, ate and slurped mine before remembering to take a pic, so I borrowed one.)

Sweet friend. Sweet treat. A calculated splurge comes to fruition in the best way possible!!

Chair of Discomfort at the Table of Life

It is the holiday season---a joyous celebration for Christians throughout the world.

However, Christmas does not exempt believers from hard places----deep hurts----struggles and longings as they face Christmas without their loved ones. The best reminder is that Emmanuel is "God with us!" (Matthew 1:23)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God......(1 Corinthians 1:3-4)

That's what friends of the faith do----reach out to others to comfort them, even when they are suffering themselves.

That's what Jerrie did----she invited me to lunch. She shared her bounty and served me in a glass that reminded me, "Don't get tangled in the tinsel."

Such an act helped me refocus----enabling me to cut through the Gordian knots of life. Fear, sadness and disappointments being chief among them. Kindness can aid in disentangling those "impossible" knots that too easily surface this time of year.

Intuitively, my hostess listened to me "unload" from my chair of discomfort and made the table of life seem a lot more palatable. Just sitting at her table made me smile!

Let them eat cake....

Let them eat cake is probably a misinterpretation of Marie Antoinette's, Qu’ils mangent de la brioche." Let them eat brioche" or rich & expensive bun, would have shown her disdain for the peasant class but was probably said 100 years earlier by the wife of Louis XVI.

Regardless, since I don't eat chocolate at night, I chose to follow my neighbor's offering----"let her (Dotsy) eat this rich, dense chocolate cake" for breakfast with a cup of tea! Fairmont Organic Breakfast* to be exact. YUM!

*Ali Baba, Turkish apple tea was hubby's PM leftover---but he says YUM to it as well.

Holiday Humili-TEA

Humili-TEA---a great cuppa to serve for the holiday.

Humility is the "tea" of our souls which nourishes and enriches others.

Humili-TEA, anytime of year is a great cuppa to serve others but especially during the Christmas Season as it personifies our Savior.

Sayonara Seattle

 Listed my  好きなもの  (Sukinamono, translated favorite things) as a way of saying sayonara (good-by) to Seattle.

Japanese language was used b/c topping off my favorites of NW Washington trip was our kind, capable, knowledgable and funny bus driver (think lots of verve) who spoke Japanese. He also steered us safely through the Cascades to SNOWY Leavenworth, WA via the Snoqualmie Pass and back to Seattle thru the Stevens Pass (Hwy 2) so we would not have to chain up twice. Chaining up is hard enough for cars BUT for a BIG bus it takes skill, patience, strength and perseverance---not to mention that he also did another bus for a lady bus driver. Raymond Borge is bus driver extraordinaire! Corey, our Viator tour guide, was great as well and had lots of snacks, music and Christmas movies available. BEST tour duo, for sure
Best Breakfast Treat---Lolo's donuts in a bag served with cranberry jam & vanilla mascarpone cheese* (Could eat the mascarpone on card stock and love it.) Yummy omelet with Beecher's cheese too. Seattleites love Beecher's cheese & Berkshire pork.

Best Lunch--Andreas Keller Bavarian Restaurant Leavenworth WA--Schnitzel---all 3 varieties. (I ate my weight, which has increased exponentially on this trip, in the Spätzle alone.) Courtney, the BEST waitress, booth in a barrel, and Bavarian decor of this "underground" establishment all added to its cozy ambiance. Of course, the snow falling and cold temps outside and warm mulled wine served inside heightened the appeal.

Best Tea---the  Fairmont "1907" black tea at the Georgian Room in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The elegant surroundings didn't hurt either. (Pix at 12/12/15 blog entry)
Best Fine Dining maybe one of the best ever for me--Canlis Restaurant---Pacific NW fare (Peter Canlis prawns) steak, twice baked potato, tho I was skeptical about this Canlis tradition served in a ramekin, it was yummy--- Best View--our table view of Lake Union, aglow with lights.

Best Christmas Display--21 miles of lights coming ablaze at the Christmas lighting in Leavenworth

Best Gingerbread House Display--Star Wars themed ones at the Sheraton hotel

Best Surprise--The Chihuly Garden and Glass. Amazing. Other displays elsewhere but this is TOPS!

Best Extra--a car available, compliments of the hotel, with a true gentlemen of a driver.
Best Reason to Travel this far---seeing Gigi and Bonnie, even in the rain and snow!

LEAVENWORTH

Leavenworth.........and I'm "NOT" in Kansas anymore! 

But......I am in my cuddle duds!
There is snow! Lots of snow!!!
A true winter wonderland.
No wonder Leavenworth, WA was voted today the #1 Best Small  Town in America for Christmas.
Just click the link to see it and 19 other " best town" candidates.

Snow continued all day. Carolers, Santa, Snowmen, Elves and folks in crazy shoe-shaped hats walked the streets. Music groups performed all day at The Gazebo in the town center. Stars were carried in along with placards proclaiming being "born again" as the mayor reminded each of the importance of following the One who lights the way.
Prayers were offered in His holy name and all gathered together there sang "Silent Night"---3 verses!
How blessed I was to be there with friends to share this snowy day.