What's Been Keeping Me Busy

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities. I traveled down south to the city of Santa Ana the first weekend in December, to volunteer at the Operation Christmas Child distribution center. It was a blessing to be able to be directly involved in helping to minister to children all over the world. As the staff remind us quite often when we are there, this often is the only gift that many of these children will receive.

Upon returning home, it was time to finished preparing for our big Christmas production at church. I had costumes to repair, a skirt to hem, and music to learn (yes, I was still working on learning the music to sing). With nightly rehearsals going late, it made for late mornings, and needless to say a difficult time getting up and getting school work done. After 6 performances, everyone who could, joined in to strike the set late Sunday night. Needless to say, Monday morning we all slept in.

I spent Monday and Tuesday preparing for our annual Ladies Christmas Party at church. The theme this year was "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I was responsible for the craft project and making prizes for one of the activities. It really was a very nice evening, and I also found out who my secret sister was. I was really surprised, I had no idea it was the pastor's wife!

Our craft was making Christmas Tree Ornaments using paper castings I made from my brown bag cookie molds. I spent late Monday night and most of Tuesday getting everything ready. ( I also molded Chocolate Snowmen that were the prizes for the snowman building contest.)

About half of the paper castings for the ornaments:Close-ups of paper castings:

Set up at church:
Here are a couple examples of our finished ornaments:
Each table was decorated with Charlie Brown and his very special tree.

Each table had to build a snowman, as you can see each one come out quite adorable. One even has a little cell phone in his hand. The ladies who's snowman was awarded first prize got to take home a chocolate snowman of their own.

First Place Snowman:
Second Place on the left, Third on Right:

Chocolate Snowman Prize. I used Wilton Candy Melts in my snowman brown bag cookie molds.
As for my knitting, I fit it in when I can. Right now mostly working on the tulip skirt and poncho, both have a simple pattern that I can do while relaxing or watching tv or a movie.