This blog is about behind the scenes moments, posting for prosperity and sharing information...It feels correct to put a bit out there about December in our lives on Newark-Granville Road! We blinked and here it is December 22nd!
First- I invite you to Christmas Eve Service at FPC-Calendar — First Presbyterian Church We'll have three services- all special! I was quite impressed and touched by Sunday, December 21st service- “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel with strings and soloists that delighted. Need something to listen for holiday spirit- tune in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=UWcFxNFlG-0&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.granpres.org%2F&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ
Second a fun little poem quote:
“D-December never means
E-end, it's the time to
C-celebrate and rejoice
E-express love and joy
M-mesmerize the moments
B- believe in blithe spirit
E- enhance the end and
R- rhyme with the beginnings.”
―
Then direct flight to BWI for Stoner family time! I met dear Winney and hugged on Remie, caught up with Louisa, Greg and Sarah and slept so well in their guest room. Then we celebrated Mom's 85th birthday.
- Jeanne Stoner- happy 85! You inspire, impress, delight us...thank you for your independence and style, hospitality and community! Mom and Michael hosted their own party with help and it was all our favorites: olive balls, crab balls, country ham..Clare joined in, Louisa's Becket, Dunkin and Kirsten...Mike found the perfect cake and we really enjoyed the time with beautiful snow arriving after so family from Htown could join the toast!! Grateful to all who celebrated Mom that day and her birthday week!
- I pause here to post on the shootings at Brown, the Reiner's deaths and the other sadness that can stop you in your tracks. When we hear about the gray, the meek, the dark in December this is it. And my heart hurts...I'm grateful the sun comes up, the snow reflects and sparkles, family time comforts as does music. While in MD I went to two amazing performances and it soothed in ways like no other. Best was sharing it with family.
Then I took the train to Connecticut and NYC. Plans shifted and I ended up connecting with Denisonians and updating them on the
What We Can Be: The Denison Campaign | Denison University Joe and I share about how life on Newark-Granville Road connects us with visiting Denisonians. It was fun to reverse the visits with alums from our era- thank you for dinner and family time Len and Koonce, the tour and cheese shop featured here: https://denison.edu/magazine/2015-issue-3/140108 Kevin, and our special morning tea/coffee in your beautiful home. How fun to connect two special Denison women!!
In NYC we were hosted in a suite for the Rangers v Cannucks game- again some shifting due to a Hughes brother trade, but a very special evening with wonderful Denisonians of all ages: alums, families and a student!!
Love the trains, ubers, and flights- new was taking a train to EWR! I read The Wedding People by Alison Espach while traveling and thoroughly enjoyed it and found a number of good messages!
- Meanwhile Sally finished her semester strong and moved out of Theta, she will have her internship in Indy. She made it home to decompress and take care of lucy for us! Joe traveled to Atlanta and DC for work!
- We arrived home to jump into holiday to-dos. We are shopping, wrapping, shipping, decorating, baking, list making. Yes, the leaning tree and no plan stressed me out..but a spreadsheet helped and we're on our way. Doing our best to not sweat the small stuff, be in the moment, find joy and peace and love in the true meaning of the season, the light is there for all of us and we're grateful! Holiday get-togethers mean so much and we're lucky to have the colleagues and friends that really are family.
- That said, two openings coming soon to the Family Philanthropy Team at Dension- tune in January!!
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