December Happenings

I never quite know just how crazy my Decembers will be, but with only one child still at home, and Brad traveling, I was able to find time to practice and perform Handel's Messiah with our Church's bi-stake choir. We also had a full high school orchestra, a professional chamber orchestra, and amazing soloists from the Lexington community. In a word, it was a joy!

Merinda's Christmas choir concert at the Singletary Center of Arts in Lexington. They always put on a very nice show to get everyone in the spirit of Christmas.

And Merinda's Christmas band concert, also always entertaining.

 
My good friend Bea (in purple) moved to Alabama in December so before she left we had one last luncheon with some of her closest friends.

Merinda still working hard at Chick-Fil-A, and enjoying every minute of it!

Aubrey enjoying her awesome roommates,

and all the snow (or maybe not) at the end of her Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.

A blanket her roommates crocheted for her (just one of the reasons they were so awesome!). 

Aubrey, Breck, and Iris spending much time together since Aubrey and Iris lived in the same apartment complex at BYU-I.

 

Merinda receiving her Young Women Recognition medallion. 

It was so nice to have all the kids come home for Christmas this year. Going to watch the movie Mary Poppins with my girls!

Merinda and Aubrey playing a Christmas duet on the piano. 

Visiting Brad's old boss Tak and his wife Miho, who recently moved back to the States (Lexington, KY to be exact) after living in Japan for the past 14 years.

The Takayanagi's then visited us in Georgetown with their girls Tomoyo, and Nina.

It was so fun to catch up and see them all again!

 It was especially fun to see how the girls have grown ...

Here I am holding Nina in 2000, when both our families lived in Saint Louis, Missouri.

We visited them one last time before moving to Troy, Missouri.

Here I am with Tomoyo and Nina again, this time in 2008 during Brad's and my trip to Japan.

 With the whole family at the Takayanagi's home in Osaka, Japan during that same trip.

 Later that same year (2008) Tomoyo came and stayed with us for several weeks. We showed her all the sites of Kentucky, and she even went to school with Aubrey.

 We have now come full circle as our paths cross again! It so interesting how that happens sometimes in our lives. I know that God not only has a hand in it, but must also have a divine purpose.

Making my grandma's famous (at least in our home) sugar cookies.

It's usually a lot of work, that's why it's great to have helpers!

One of my favorite things we did in December is go caroling as a family. We actually sang in parts, and it sounded beautiful! We then dropped off a plate of sugar cookies and Christmas Oreo bark. It really is the simple things that matter most!