www.laurareimer.net

Day 10 Christmas Countdown 2022

www.laurareimer.net

Happy Saturday!

Last night the women’s ministry at our church had the annual Christmas event. 

The theme was “Shalom” and we had a lovely evening learning the deeper meaning of that word that goes beyond just a lack of chaos and conflict. We learned that Peace/Shalom has to do with obedience that literally lands us in a place of well-being and peace no matter what our circumstances might be at the moment. 

It is an event many of us look forward to each year for many years and as we worked setting up and then cleaning up, it was on all of our minds the longevity of our stories working side by side in the kitchen of the church. 

Several of us hale back the old kitchen of the church downtown where Russ and I started attending and were welcomed into the life of so many families.

We served in the new kitchen of the new church when our kiddos were in their latter elementary/early middle school years when it was located off the “Fellowship Hall” complete with a window we slid back to push the trays through into the dining area. 

And we served last night in the remodeled one that shares space with a little bistro/coffee shop called the Mosaic Cafe. We carried our wares into the expansive room called the East Auditorium where friends and family gathered at beautifully decorated tables following the program. 

www.laurareimer.net

One of the ladies on the team and I have a tradition that started way back when we attended “The Young Disciples” Sunday class. Every year we had a Christmas party that included a white elephant exchange. 

If you have ever done these, you know you can choose a new gift or steal someone else’s. 

I never steal. 

Until that year. 

Debbie opened a box with the cutest Merry Christmas blocks that you can set in a window and the devil got a hold of me and I stole it from her. 

I believe on the way home, someone may have mentioned he couldn’t believe I stole Debbie’s gift and I hung my head, even as I clutched the box with that adorable display…planning where I would place it. 

The next Christmas, as I pulled the box out, conviction hit me like a ton of bricks and I wrote her a note on one of those freebie holiday pads someone sent when they asked us for a donation. 

I told her we had enjoyed it, but it was hers now and I slunk up on her front porch and left it there.

The next year in early December, I found a bag out on our front porch with that same white gift box and a new note taped over mine…same kind of freebie paper, saying it was my turn to enjoy. 

Every year that box is found in one of our stashes of Christmas trim and a new note is taped on. It gets dropped off at the other house. 

It is so fun and such a delight to find the box in my own tubs or have it resting against the front door. I am always surprised either way and enjoy reading back through the notes. 

I wish I had thought to count how many years we have passed that white shirt box with the cute little blocks back and forth before I left it on her porch a few weeks ago, but suffice to say there are quite a lot of them taped one over the other. 

Friendships and the ways we get together ebb and flow over the years. We are all busy taking care of our families, young and old, and our homes and life in general so I am thankful for this little connection every Christmas. 

God bless you with smiles and reminders of friendships forged through the every day sharing of life on planet earth. 

You are precious and you are loved <3

Share and Save: