Our monthly Chaplain Spouses Group social for December was (of course) Christmas themed. Well, I only say "of course" because the spouses in our group all happen to be Christian at the moment. Our Rabbi and his wife transferred this past summer and we miss them dearly. Funny story about that...last December, she insisted we go ahead with a Christmas theme, anyway. She was cool like that. We did an ornament exchange, and when she opened her first choice, it was the Holy Family. She didn't miss a beat after she opened it and cooed, "Awww...it's the baby Jesus!" like it was the best thing she ever received. I love people who can use humor to diffuse a situation and not take offense. Kristen ended up with the ornament (lucky!) and it hung on her tree this year and caused us all to remember Melanie fondly and wish she was still here with us.
This year, we had lovely familiar faces, but also lots of new ones, too. NingNing (on the right) had only been here a few days, reminding me of our Christmas time arrival here two years ago. She just fit right in.
I love this sequence of pictures. I call it, "Photographer's Prayer." Here's Dianna..."Dear God...please help me capture this moment."
Ready....Aim....SNAP!
Nailed it!
We do our ornament exchange "White Elephant" style, so there is lots of humor and competitiveness. The "Chaplain Spouse" gloves definitely come off!
I think she's probably saying something like, "She's got a good one...steal hers!"
Lisa, cruising the room to see who has what...
NingNing didn't hold onto this one for long.
I managed to hold onto this one by the skin of my teeth. I tried to look as threatening as possible...like I'd "take my toys and go home" if they stole my ornament. Psshhh! Not that this group would buy any of that, but I still managed to go home with one of the best ornaments. ChaCHING!
This Christmas, I am so grateful for such an amazing interfaith group of women who love and support me, and do so much for others on this island. I am proud to be associated with them.
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