Week 18 - Favor with Chocolate

Do any of you feel that Christmas has snuck up on you this year? Completely out of the blue? I sure do. And that's saying something as I love Christmas and eagerly delve into the Christmas spirit.

This week has been warmer than last. Again the temperatures as increasing and the snow is melting. We still have snow all around, except on the roads, which is the way I like it.

Monday through to Thursday were days unlike any other. Pete heading off to work (usually yawning as he isn't sleeping that well) and me pottering around the house being the domestic goddess I am. (Cough cough) Tuesday evening I had sewing. I finally finished the jacket I had been working on. Well, sort of. I tried it on and it felt like it needed buttons. So next lesson, before I begin my next jacket, I am going to sew buttons on. Even though sewing is not that cost effective after you pay for lessons, patterns, fabric etc, it is still something I love. My teacher is a sewing teacher by profession, so loves talking to me about work. Well, more like complaining. And I love it! I know what it's like to be unhappy with decisions made at work and feeling like you can't voice your opinion. So she voices them to me.

Thursday evening we decided to ditch Moana (our GPS) and try to get to connect group using our own wits. However, we made a wrong turn. Needless to say, we were late. That didn't affect our evening though. We were greeted with Nicco and Peter (not my Pete) giving me a box of chocolates. They felt bad for trying to take my chocolates at the game we went to on Sunday night. What was ironic is that I had brought them both chocolates as I wanted to give them a little something as they won nothing at the game. We then chatted, prayed, worshiped and spent time with God. I have been getting more pictures lately. God gave me one where He entered the room and held out his hand. I took it and went to lead him away to something I wanted to show Him. He said no. Let's just hang out. I said but I want to show you something. He said, I know Deb. You often want to lead. How bout we do what I want. Let's just sit, have a cuppa and chat.

Sort of what I saw.

               
Friday arrived to me heading to that lovely place I visit each fortnight. Yep, you guessed it. The bank. I banked Pete's cheque, picked up eggnog at the local supermarket and headed home. As I got in the door, the picture I received on Thursday came to mind. So I sat at the table ready to hang out with God. I put on a worship clip on YouTube and felt God say, That's not spending time with me. So I asked if I should read the bible, do a devotion. He said again, I want you to just hang out with me. So I put the kettle on, made a cup of tea and sat. It was strange, so I then asked, Now what? He said talk to me. What has your day been like. So I did that. Just chatted. It was different to say the least, but oddly comforting as God is all about relationship. He just wanted to hang out with me.

Friday evening we had big plans. Note the word HAD. We went to pick up my Christmas pressie. This year as money is limited, we have decided to get each other something we know the other will want. So no surprises. My pressie is a camera. We picked it up and somehow on the way home got into an argument. Our big plans involved picking up a Christmas tree, decorating it and having a special meal. As you can guess, we weren't feeling very festive after our 'discussion'. So we came home. I cooled down in the room (some may call it sulked) and eventually we kissed and made up. As it was late by then, we had our special meal (which I had whipped up earlier) and watched a Christmas movie.

Saturday saw us embarking on the great Christmas tree selection. We decided to get a real one this year. The lady who offered to help us find the perfect tree (had to be a Canadian tree and not a pine) commented that Pete was a real Canadian (note he was wearing his customary shorts and T Shirt while we were stomping through the snow). He answered, Sure am... all the way from New Zealand. She was a bit shocked but commented that he had acclimatized really well. After much discussion, we made our selection ($50 later!), stuffed it (gently) in the boot and made our way home. When we arrived, we commented to our neighbor above us about the lights she was putting on her porch banister. She thanked us and then told us we weren't allowed Christmas trees in the apartment as we won't be covered insurance wise. We thanked her and quickly snuck Bob (we have dubbed him this so we won't get into further trouble if people hear us talking about our Christmas tree) inside. We then decorated him and put a few pressies that Pete's parents have sent over for us.

Couldn't resist taking a snap for Sez.

Shock horror people... Pete got a jacket for winter!

After relaxing around home for the rest of the day, we dolled ourselves up for our church Christmas Party. Pete wore a dress shirt and looked so good! The evening was so much fun. Pete even won a box of chocolates. That makes 4 boxes of chocolates this week between us. We opened them to share. After a huge meal, lots of items and great laughs, we left ready for bed.

Sunday we decided to head north a bit to an outlet mall to buy Pete a much needed accessory for this winter. A balaclava. He made his purchase (camo - much to my disgust) and then we did a bit of window shopping. After our shopping excursion, we made our way to Kurt's (a friend from church) birthday. We had missed part of it, but still made an appearance and gifted him with... chocolate. How could we not. As we were fading (shopping takes it out of you), we declined another invite with a group of friends and decided to go home for a quiet evening in, ready for another week.