Friends and hot chocolate and more

Today was a shopping/laundry/cooking day. We had the Wolfertz over for dinner. They are a cute young family and Matt is older than Jess’ parents, so that’s weird. But we enjoyed our dinner and the girls love their little Adeline. They swung her around  and took her to their rooms. They love babies!

Peter’s crew finished his fence today. It’s tall and we don’t love it, but I do hope it helps them sell their home. It’s been empty for over a year and I just don’t know why. 

One of my girlfriends posted this cute picture of Addie from Brwakfast with Santa. Love this pretty girl. 

Lunch with Lana last week. So fun!

The night before that was our 3rd Annual Hot Chocolate Stand. It was a warmish day so we didn’t freeze for a change. It was a slow night and we spent time between customers talking about the symbols of Christmas. 

We made $90 that night and were kind of bummed. But as Matt and I talked we felt good about our efforts. We are trying to teach our girls to be giving and generous and that’s what we did. And since we donated to Grandpa Ray’s Computer Lab in Ghana, he promised to double our donations. Then we had several friends donate and that brought us up to $310 with grandpas doubling! Then, after i posted our earnings, one of grandpas buddies donated $150! We found ourselves up to $460! Then we got yet another surprise $40 donation to make it an even $500! To go from our slowest hot chocolate stand to date to $500! So impressed and grateful to friends and neighbors supporting our efforts!

I am loving my allllmost completed laundry room! Matt made these beautiful shelves and I found these nice organizing bins from The Container Store. Someday our dryer will die and we’ll have a matched set again, but I’m in no rush. Things are coming together nicely, albeit slowly. 

Rainbow Ellie Sparkles and her Hanukkah gifts. On the first day she hid Hanukkah candy canes and the girls enjoyed finding them. Incidentally, candy canes are way more fun to hide than Easter eggs. Don’t ask how I know. 

On December 1st we went to see a free showing of The Polar Express. We came home, ate lunch, and headed to the Aina’s to help #lighttheworld. 

Matt was working and I had been praying and pondering on who to give service to that day. At the movies I thought of our dear Aina friends. We were definitely not the best helpers, but, like the hot chocolate stand, it’s more about teaching our kids to give as Jesus gave. 

More to come.