Christmas Is Coming...

We had a lovely weekend full of pre-Christmas celebrations!

On Friday night we visited Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church for their Christmas program, which included selections from Handel's Messiah. This performance was particularly special as my cousin Valerie performed one of the arias. Valerie is a senior vocal performance major at Azusa Pacific University and has a gorgeous soprano voice! We are all so proud of her and it was wonderful to watch her sing in such an amazing piece of music. We enjoyed the drive to and from Reedley by carpooling with my grandparents, two of my favorite people in the whole world!

On Saturday Chad accompanied the Clovis North drama troupe up to San Francisco to see Phantom of the Opera. I was invited to go too but decided I'd stay home to get some last-minute Christmas stuff done in town.

On Sunday night we enjoyed what's becoming an annual tradition -- a holiday dinner and gift exchange with our friends Jeff & Andreana Merrill. This year we did it "progressive" style -- dinner at our place and desesrt/gifts at theirs! We had a fun time together, as usual, and got a good gift-opening "warm up" for Christmas Day...

Here's Valerie and Jeff & Andreana!