Bliss # 25

Christmas night- Alysse meets me at the door.  She has been in the house almost 72 hours!  For her that is probably a recent record!  Of course it took her getting her tonsils & adnoids out.  Mom, please lets go to a movie!  She certainly can't drive... her meds make her loopy (or as others say loopier-than-usual!) so out the door we went to a late night movie.  While the movie was very average... I did enjoy spending this time with Alysse... Bliss

Bliss #24

Games!  Christmas evening Aj & I went to a friends home and played games. (Greg stayed with Alysse as she rested)  We have shared over a decade of holidays.  The level of comfort is equal to that of family.  Once we finished playing the conversation went from the past fun we all shared to our current & future plans. Theses-once kids- now adults -sharing life together as well.  I am so thankful that God has put meaningful relationships not just for me but for my family as well to share our  lives with. Bliss...     

Bliss # 23

Christmas... My family is together, we are all healthy, we have no regrets with each other, nothing unsaid... true love, fondness and acceptance of each other and more importantly each one  serving and loving the lord.... this is Bliss

Bliss #22

Every Christmas Eve we have gone out to dinner then to church as a family.  Afterward, we each take a turn  "toasting" with eggnog and then we open Christmas stocking presents.  This year was a bit different.  Alysse was unable to go out, since she had her tonsils out the day before.  Aj & I went to church together then drove through a McDonalds to take food home!  Alysse tried to enjoy her milkshake.  The only egg-nog I could find was a soy substitute- yum!  But... it was still such a fun night.  The unique gifts the kids put in everyones stockings- made us all laugh.  The "bliss" was that we were all together.  Freely talking about the very real fact that this part of life is changing.  The traditions and days they take place may need adjusting- we may not be together on the 24th like we always have been in the past,  but it ok, because I have no doubt that we will have many special times together and we will create new traditions. And when we are together there is tons of laughter and love.  However, this year I will follow Mary's example and hide theses memories in my heart.  Bliss... 

Bliss #21

Last night I sat in the basement with my complete little family of four.  We watched "Elf" and laughed together.  I savor these moments with both kids living so far from home.  I totally recognized the "bliss" of the moment.

Bliss #20

Today, Alysse & I had lunch with two family friends.  We rode the lynx downtown and ate soul food at "Mert's" Yum!!!  then we walked around "uptown"  It was great fun!  Thank you lord for the Bliss of sharing time with friends!

Bliss 19

Being able to cook & host and evening for my new "staff" family at Hope.

Bliss 18

Laying in bed until 8:00- knowing the house was clean, the shopping was done, the groceries were purchased & the laundry clean!

Bliss #17

Making "Buckeye's" with Alysse- even though it blew my diet!

Bliss #16

I spent 90 minutes stretched out on the couch enjoying the lights on the tree, the fire roaring and completing a challenger Sudoku- bliss!

Bliss #15

15- I sat at the kitchen table last night with a friend of over 20 years, we drank hot chocolate

and shared openly with no judgements.  "Bliss" is the feeling I had, as I thought about our

enduring friendship, it is rare gift. 

Bliss 01-14

01- The feeling I had when Greg & I handed a lady & her daughter at the bus station a Harris 

Teeter gift card from Hope Church the day before Thanksgiving.

02- Joelle (my future daughter-in-law) choosing to fly in and spend Thanksgiving with our family

03- Wednesday night the feeling I had as I said goodnight to my children- it makes me feel complete when they are home sleeping in their beds.

04- underbaking the cookies the way Aj likes & eating them warm with a spoon together

05- I was sitting in the dining room and listening to the "kids" at the "kids table" in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day- (6 "kids" ages 19-23 all traveled in from various colleges & careers)who have spent at least 12 years of Holidays together laughing and talking above one another catching up, completely comfortable life-long friends 

06- Looking at the houseful of company for Thanksgiving- knowing I was blessed to have each 

person in my life

07- Eating at Olive Garden, as a new-soon to be family of five

08- Taking in a movie- even one I would never choose to watch (While I dislike 007)- I like going to the movies as a family

09- Spending hours shopping the outlets with Alysse

10- Falling asleep on the couch with Alysse & Brittany, the fireplace glowing and an old

movie on TV- fun night

11- Hearing familiar laughter from the basement as Alysse's HS friends came to watch a movie

12- The joy as we all visited an old family friend in her 80's- we prayed as we left, she cried, so 

proud of AJ & Alysse

13- The fun of watching Aj get blessed as he was given a 7ft Christmas Tree that played music & rotates! He was pumped!

14- Without asking the ticket agent gave me a pass to walk Alysse to the gate at the airport- we shared one final cup of Starbucks before she boarded her plane

I don't want to miss the "bliss"!

Our church has started a new series this month called "Bliss"  I feel challenged to look for and give the Lord honor for 100 "blissful" moments as they pass through my days this Holiday season.  I will be posting those simple joys as I recognize them throughout the following weeks.  I am doing this more as a record for me. (They may not be too interesting for anyone else to read!) However, I challenge you to look for your "Blissful" moments this season.  To me, this will  be like little Christmas gifts that I will be unwrapping from my heavenly father...... I can't wait to unwrap these gifts!