It is always just so good to be together and have time to catch up with those we don’t get to see nearly often enough during the year. Here is Uncle Boo talking to Olivia’s husband Taylor…

Friday night Mallory and Clara spent the night with us. Lindee had to work on Saturday, so they slept over so they could go with us to our Smithmas the next day. They arrived in their PJ’s, & we had leftover turkey sandwiches for supper, watched The Grinch and a Christmas episode of Bones, had hot chocolate, and they helped fill the socks we were taking for our annual sock exchange the next day. Fun, lowkey evening.

Got this picture of the girls before everyone started heading home: Mallory, Clara, Elise, Little Hope, June.

And Meg got this one of Mallory and me. As always, just such a special day.

Tonight we decorated the church in preparation Advent arriving next Sunday. The youth did a great job helping, and I picked Clara up to come help, too. Here are a couple of pictures.

This evening was Clara’s first ever Military Ball. I met them at Elise’s house, where Leesy fixed her hair. She looked so, so pretty.

Our church has a very strong Veterans Committee, so we always have a very meaningful Sunday near Veterans’ Day. Last Sunday all of the veterans who have bricks in our memorial park were marked with a flag.

This banner was inside the lobby of the church.

Saturday night Clover High was finally able to have their homecoming dance. The homecoming football game was about a month ago, held early on Thursday night, since there was a possibility of tornadic weather the next day. Due to that weather, the dance was postponed until last weekend. Mallory and her friend Tara came by our house to show us how beautiful they looked on their way.

Last Thursday night was another program at the auditorium here in town. I missed the first two shows of the year, but was so glad I was able to get to this one. The Hall Sisters played sort of Americana/modern country music, and then the second half was their Christmas show. Their harmonies were out of this world, and they played all different instruments. Such a great time.

Mallory got her first official college acceptance letter last week, to Berry College in Rome, GA. She visited there because they offer the major she wants – public history – in the undergraduate program, and she ended up absolutely loving it. And, as it happens, it was Granny’s alma mater. We know she was dancing on the streets of gold when Mal opened that letter.