PHS Christmas

The PHS Marketing/Business Development department had our annual Christmas party on Dec. 14th at Stoney River Legendary Steakhouse. Steve and I have talked about going there, but it's a little pricey, so we've never made it. It was nice to go with my PHS friends on the company's dime!

(Top Row: #1 Skip Gardei & George Parsons. #2 Briana Lutes & Me. #3 Skip Gardei & Jon Walker. 2nd Row: #1 Scott McDaniel, Briana Lutes, Doug Devlin, Lauren Balmer.  #3 Cheryl Long & Lea Matthews. 3rd Row: #1 Our legendary steak dinner! #2 Holly Rawnsley, Melanie Taylor, Rose Laycox. #3 Pat Booker & Janet Vogelaar. Not pictured: Michael Miller & Wendy Baker)

The evening included a delicious steak dinner and an array of desserts, and a game of "Dirty Santa" where you exchange 'white elephant' gifts, and then can steal from your neighbor, etc. It was very interesting! I received a set of wine glasses, a bottle of wine, and an adult card game. Was I ever happy when it was stolen! So then I ended up with a little stuffed, dancing puppy with ears that wiggled and danced to Christmas music. MUCH more my style!

This a great group of people, and I spend a good portion of my days and years with them, so it's good to love my work, and enjoy the folks I work with.

And as a parting gift, they gave everyone a $20 gift card for the next visit, so Steve and I might make it there yet!  :o)

Then yesterday we had departmental open houses on all 4 floors of the building. We had refreshments, music, and tours of each floor so people could meet everyone, get a layout of where everyone "lives," and enjoy some holiday cheer! Part of that activity was a "TACKY Sweater Contest," and I actually WON the contest, and a $50 Gift card to Macy's!  Not a bad return on a $6 sweater bought at a thrift store! (Not to mention the flashing necklace I was wearing with it -- you can't see very well in the photo...) They said they were giving us Macy's so we could buy something 'not so tacky.' hahaha (fun)



Prize Winning "TACKY Sweater!"



Christmas Music Weekend

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...!"
Truly, I love the music of Christmas! I love to sing it around the house, in the car, it's in my mind throughout the day, and I also like to sing it for other folks! This weekend has been a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

With my ole' pal, Jerry Bridges -- who I've known since we moved here in 1988, and sung with, and done many projects with over the years -- we did a couple of fun music shows this weekend. First, through a contact who heard me sing for the Republican Women of Williamson County, they asked us to sing at their church Christmas dinner party. It was at the Richland Country Club, and what a fantastic place that is! SO beautiful, and decorated perfectly for the season.



Jerry Bridges and I at Richland Country Club

We sang a variety of Christmas songs off our CD, and Jerry did a medley of some of the big hits he played on, wrote, and/or produced ("Puppy Love" by Donny Osmond, "More Than I Can Say," "Good Ole' Boys" by Waylon, "Luchenbach" by Waylon & Willie, etc.) Those were fun to sing, too!

We also sang a new gospel song Jerry wrote, called
"Greater Hands" -- the chorus goes like this:
     Greater hands, stronger hands
     Help me do the best I can
     When I'm to weary to understand
     I put my faith...in greater hands.
(It's under consideration for recording by both Martina McBride and Reba McEntire!)

The next night we did basically the same program for Jerry's congregation at Berry's Chapel Church of Christ, and they were also a delightful audience!



Jerry and I at Berry's Chapel

Such fun to sing with Jerry again. We haven't done it much in recent years, and it was great to be back at it. We were even talking about recording another project soon, so...we'll have to see!

Then tonight, I'm singing at our Ward Christmas party, and tomorrow night our stake is providing the "angel choir" for the Live Nativity presentation involving multi-denominational musicians and people acting out the people in the nativity. Should be fun!

Fa-la-la-la-la!

Wonderful Life, Wonderful Cause

Today we went to a showing of "It's A Wonderful Life" on the big screen at Belcourt Theater in Nashville. This movie presentation is sponsored by the Wonderful Life Foundation, which was started 5 years ago here in Nashville by Robbie and Angie Cook when their 2 1/2 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor and began a 5-year (so far) journey of chemotherapy and survival.

When they realized the costs involved in this process, and met many other families going through the same challenges, they began the foundation to help earn money to help with medical expenses and provide Christmases and support for these struggling families. They host the movie at the theater, then throw a big party with fabulous food and music at their Nashville home, and invite attendees to contribute anything they can, small amounts or large. The entire event is provided by sponsors and personal donations, so that ALL the money donated at the event goes to the families.


Steve and I at the "after party" at the Cook's home with Becky
Pinney, Diane & Jesse Hubling, and Barbara (Becky's sister)


My friend, Becky Pinney, introduced us to this favorite movie opportunity in 2008, and we enjoyed it so much we went again this year. It feels great to celebrate the wonderful life we live by giving to others who have overwhelming challenges, and makes us even more grateful for the healthy children in our lives.

After we left the party, we went to dinner at Sportsman's Grill, and had a delicious dinner, visited, talked, laughed and just had a wonderful evening.

The fact that this just happens to be my favorite movie, shown at my favorite time of year, and it allows an opportunity to spend time with some of my favorite people --  is all an added bonus!

NOTE: Robbie & Angie Cook own "Knobstoppers," a hugely popular company that makes wine bottle stoppers, candles and decor out of old vintage doorknobs. They are really cool looking!

The after party at their home showcased their whole house decorated with this cool stuff. The chandeliers  and other lighting are made from old spoons, serving trays, old-fashioned key panels....SO COOL looking! They had their living room wall decorated with vintage silver trays of all shapes and sizes.

And they just started doing pastry paper/doilie things, and linens, and all kinds of kitchen-type magnets, magnetic boards. Just some really cool stuff. And some of the proceeds from their business also benefit the Wonderful Life Foundation, so besides the COOL-factor, it' a great reason to support their efforts.

Check out their websites:
http://www.knobstoppers.com/
http://www.cakevintage.com/

Indoor Soccer

When Sam said he wanted to play Indoor Soccer for the first time a few weeks ago, all I really had to hear was "indoor..." because the weather was so cold at the last outdoor soccer games, that was all that mattered!

But there are several differences between outdoor and indoor soccer -- the main one being that they don't stop the game or the clock for anything! You score, you keep running, you can touch the walls of the arena, the ball is still 'live' even if it goes out of bounds and touches the walls. You just keep playing! It's very intense, and fun to watch. They play a 30 minute game, take a 30 minute break, then play another 30 minute game against the same team.

Today's games were both very good, exciting, intense, and fun to watch! Sam's team won both of them in the last couple of minutes of the games, and the parents were going wild in the stands. Soccer at it's finest!