More celebrations!

 These next 2 celebrations took place at our house.   As I was cleaning the house for the company, I realized that our blinds needed cleaning.  I was able to do all of them except these in the stairway.    My sweet husband willingly helped me!

I spent some time with cooking.  Al's dad used to make these chocolate covered peanuts.  And my Uncle John made the BEST peanut brittle!  I made both plus some other goodies.

Recipe for the peanut brittle:
In a 3-4 quart Pyrex dish, stir together:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
dash of salt
Add 1 1/2 cup raw peanuts.
Microwave on high 4 minutes.
Stir and microwave 3 more minutes.
Add:
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Microwave 1 minute
Remove from microwave and add:
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Stir well and spread on warm cookie sheet that has been greased or sprayed with Pam
Spread as thin as possible.  Be careful!  It is HOT!
Cool 30 minutes and then break into pieces.

*****

On Saturday night, we had a Japanese fellowship.  We had invited several Japanese but not everyone was able to come.  The original intent was to show an American Christmas for Japanese.  Last year we did this for Thanksgiving.  As it was, most of those students or Japanese were not able to come.  Conflicts or illness popped up.  But everyone did have some kind of connection with Japan.

A couple of us were MKs.  That's Missionary Kid if you don't know.  We grew up in Japan.
One couple are missionaries back in the States on furlough.
There were 3 young ladies who have spent some time in Japan and plan to go back to serve there.
There were 3 Japanese women.  Two are married to Americans, one being a Japanese/American.  One is a student at the local college who also brought along a friend, who is part of her host family.  And there were kids too.

We can seat 22 around our Amish made table.  It has lots of leaves we can add!

There was American food and some Japanese food too.  What a fun time we had.  Both languages were spoken, back and forth.

 
I made these little poppers for each person.  It is based on the M&M story:

Kaori-san read a "kamishibai" Christmas story in Japanese.  Andy translated it for those who didn't speak Japanese.

New connections and friendships were made.

You could tell we were all "Japanese" at heart.

We took off our shoes in the "genkan" (entryway).

For the next party, we took a few leaves out of our table.  It didn't need to be so long.  We had had 21 guests on Saturday but would only have 11 for Sunday evening.  Our friends came at 5:30 and we went caroling!  We each had one person we picked to sing for and drove around to various homes for that.  I forgot to take pictures - sad ;(  

Afterwards, we came back to our home for soup and goodies and for lots of laughter and fellowship.

 As Christmas gets closer, one thing I really enjoy is getting Christmas cards and letters!  When the season is over, this stack will make it to my bedroom and I will pick a card each day and pray for the family.   I got that idea from someone many years ago and I have kept up that tradition.

Our next party is with my husband's siblings.  And then we wait for the arrival of our family from 3 states!  Can't wait to hug on our grandchildren!