24 Days of Advent - Day 9 - Friends

I'm a 'church lady' -- I've worked in the office of our church for the last 10 years and have developed dear friendships with the other 'church ladies' there. Yesterday I had the blessing of hosting our annual church ladies' luncheon at my house. We had such a good time! It was a potluck and all the food was great -- no one left hungry. There were lots laughs, lots of talk, lots of food and even a trip out to the barn to visit the girls. (Linda K. was the only one brave enough to hold a chicken and found out that Betty could be very gentle & almost friendly). Thanks to all who came -- I'm honored & blessed to be a friend, as well as co-worker, with each of you!

A special thanks, too, to my friend, co-worker & fellow estate-sale-shopper, Bargain Hunter, for coming early to help me get ready and then staying late to do most of the clean up herself!

24 Days of Advent - Day 5 - Mend a Quarrel

A friend gave me this framed print

when we lived in Chicago and I put it out on the piano every year. I don't know who wrote it, so I can't give credit. I know it's a bit obvious and simplistic, but as our pace of life becomes more hurried and society becomes less civil, these small acts of social graces are forgotten. So each year, as I get it out of the storage box, I read it over and try to remind myself of them. Here's what it says:

this
christmas

mend a quarrel
seek out a forgotten friend
share some treasure
give a soft answer
encourage youth
keep a promise
find the time
listen
apologize if you were wrong
be gentle
laugh a little
laugh a little more
express your gratitude
welcome a stranger
gladden the heart of a child
take pleasure in the beauty
and wonder of the earth
speak your love
speak it again
speak it still once more