christmas caroling

To wrap up the stories about our whirl-wind weekend, I bring you: Christmas Caroling.  We are part of a large Bible Study, and one of the members is in another Bible Study as well. She was planning on having that group over for Christmas carols, and wanted to invite us, but her house is too small. I quickly offered ours, and suddenly, we were having a Christmas potluck!  The idea was to come together and sing some Christmas songs, of course, but really it was just a nice time to get to know new people, enjoy food and fellowship.

But sing we did!

And we won't win any awards for it. 

In the middle of the singing, the power went out, of course.  But that didn't stop us!

I'm sorry I didn't get any group shots of everyone.  I think the final count was 23 adults and five children under the age of two.  A pretty good gathering, I'd say!  I loved every minute of it.

At one point I was in the back, nursing Kyalo, and listening to the off-key, can't-sing-the-song-even-with-the-words-in-front-of-us, signing, and I smiled {ok, I laughed a bit, too}.  I have been so blessed by this community that has welcomed me in as one of their own.  I came in 2005 single and alone in so many ways, and will leave with a husband and son, and the richness of friends and community.  It is hard to leave, but I take them all in my heart.  And, I have the memories of nights like this to keep me going!  I hope and pray that we can find a community half as good when we're in Newark.

Wednesday night, Dexter and I ate popcorn and lounged on our couches, because that was all the energy we could muster! It took a couple of days to fully recover from the fullness and richness of activities, but we wouldn't give them up for anything.