Katriel got to be in the musical at church this week. Like Butler kids before her, she got to use her gifts for the LORD.
Then we enjoyed an ice cream party in the fellowship hall.
church
HOA Egg Hunt and Rock Solid Rehearsal
It wasn’t a warm day.
But it was fun.
These kids got a bajillion treats.
And Mama won the guessing game.
Then Katriel, some of our neighbors, and I headed over to church to work on the musical for tomorrow night. It has been a delight to be part of the crew. I’ve gotten to know quite a few ladies and kids over the last few weeks. ♥
And LOOK at this treat!
A little work for a little girl…
Katriel and Johanna both started in American Heritage Girls on their last year of their respective levels. As a third year member, if they wanted to earn their Level Awards they had to accomplish a fair number of items in just one troop year. Truth be told, by the time I was able to wrap my head around it at the end of October, it really was too late to get all of Johanna’s requirements done by year’s end. That wasn’t the case for Katriel. Her requirement list was much smaller, and her troop leader was really focused on getting as many of the requirements done for as many girls as possible.
One thing Katriel needed to do was help set up for an event for at least one hour.
Our new church was hosting a Seniors Valentine’s Day Brunch and I asked the coordinator if Katriel and I could come and help with set up. We were warmly welcomed and Katriel was treated so kindly. She was given very real tasks to complete and no one looked down on her because of her youth.
She was so disappointed when it was time to go. We helped for 1 hour and 15 minutes. She was hoping to stay and help serve the food, too!
Johanna started her art collection.
On the way home from church, Johanna said that her youth group leaders were in the process of remodeling the youth room. She said they were getting rid of some of the posters and she had wanted to bring one home. Her leader told her that she needed to clear it with us, first. We said that would be fine and didn’t really ask anything about it.
She brought this home tonight, frame and all.
Christmas Eve 2021
I’ve spent the better part of the last three days shopping or cooking.
Kelly and I broke for a few minutes this morning to be at the mall when it opened.
Marie worked til 2PM, then played some games with her sisters.
Both Kelly and Noelle are here for the holiday.
Church was at 5PM and we were some of the last to leave as we took some photos and visited with our new church family. One of the ladies in our church asked where in NY Noelle was from and wouldn’t you know she has a niece in the area Noelle may have met when they visited her church. God’s world is both BIG and small.
We went home for dinner of amazing snacks.
Veggie tray, shrimp, carmelized pigs in a blanket, spinach artichoke dip, taco dip and beef and turnkey sliders.
And for dessert we had a new recipe. It didn’t look like much and we had our doubts. It ended up being amazing.
Marie and Noelle sang for us.
Kazoo for you?
Katriel was given a kazoo at Sunday School.
Not sure what we did to deserve that.
(She called it a bazooka. It’s almost the same thing.)
Katriel and her Christmas offering
The first photo is a daytime photo of our church. The decorations are so lovely.
Katriel had to be at church by 4 for rehearsals. The children’s choir she joined on a whim turned out to be an amazing opportunity for her to offer her gifts and talents to our Christmas celebrations.
Many a Butler child has offered musical gifts, but this year, it is Katriel alone who graced the stage.
My heart was full. She kept herself smiling all the time.
As we arrived home we got to see the beautiful candles that lined the whole track. Marie and Stewart went to get ours this afternoon. It is an HOA thing. People walked the neighborhood to visit and have treats together. We missed it because of the concert, but we were very blessed by the concert. You sometimes just can’t do everything!
our not last day at PCC
John flew home yesterday. The packers come Tuesday and life shifts a lot in the weeks to come.
Tonight church was scheduled for an outdoor service, but rain made us move indoors. An ice cream truck had been scheduled, and wise leaders didn’t cancel said truck.
It made for a long period of fellowship after the service, and time for photos.
D.L. is the youth pastor at PCC and has been a friend to the four oldest Butlers (and me as well). Hanny had just attended her first youth group last week.
I get teary each time I see this photo, even weeks later. My kids are who they are in part because of DL’s teaching and mentoring.
Only one of these kids was born when we first attended 20 years ago in the summer of 2001.
This part isn’t easy.
Noelle came to visit for the weekend. We love her. I hate to think how much time will pass before we see her again.
I wish to the core of my being we didn’t feel the need to flee NY as strongly as we do.
Trusting God. Easy to say… now we are doing it with our feet, too.
Outings–to encourage Mama.
When one of your closest friends from work is besties with one of your oldest friends from church worlds COLLIDE in THE best possible way.
My world is reeling with John in SC and us trying to find a house and get other ducks in a row. All day long the Enemy chided me that I did NOT have time for this gathering. Being down a car and staying up on all the kids’ schedules and appointments has had me running like Ricochet Rabbit.
What a JoY to SloW dOWn and enjoy the fellowship.
And food. So much amazing food.
And prayer. Praise the LORD – \o/ the PRAYER.
God is so faithful.
I do not deserve these women. But God has been so generous.
Dayspring Disciples 