Friday, December 23, 2011

we care....

For the past several years we have been part of a small group of friends that meet together on a regular basis...mostly just to share this journey we call life.  Some call us a life group.  I call us a care group...because we care!  We take turns hosting...and we work our way through a Bible study...or sometimes are inspired by an inspirational video series.  But mostly we share our joys and sorrows...and pray for each other.  During these years we have been meeting...we have had been through so much with each other.  There have been children married and parents buried.  Many new grandchildren have joined our ranks and one grandchild went on ahead to her heavenly home.  There has been illness...and a couple from our group who underwent a double kidney transplant operation.  One has a son with disabilities.  There are others who have shared relationship problems with family members...co-workers...or even neighbours.  We are there for each other.  We care!  Sharing with friends makes the sorrows easier and multiplies the joys.

We also know how to fun together...and celebrated a few milestone birthdays in the recent past.  And every year around this time we have a Christmas party.  We did just that...a few days ago.  Though the food is always fantastic...the highlight of the evening is our gift exchange.  We know how to give the best of gifts!  Who could have known that a 'white elephant' gift exchange could be so entertaining?  A few of the gifts seem to come back from year to year!


The antique rat trap was a real prize this year...though it seems it got left behind when the party was over.  And who would not want a 'green valley' sign for their man cave.  I would have been quite happy to take home the ceramic Christmas tree with its many sparkling lights.  We had such a good time.  We put our cares aside...and we laughed. 

And now it seems our journey together will be changing in the New Year.  One of the couples will be moving on...due to a job transfer.  I'm sad about that.  But we wish them any blessings...and we will keep them in our prayers...because we care!

14 comments:

  1. Oh what fun - these kinds of gift exchanges are a riot! Love how someone is admiring? the ceramic Christmas Tree :). Here's to close friends who care!

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  2. Friends that stay close by during life's journey...the best sort of friends one could hope to have. I hope the couple who moves finds new friends soon.

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  3. Your fellowship group sounds as if it could be the model for many others. Our fellowship groups have been a bit too regimented for fellowship, if you get my drift. Friendship is a beautiful gift of Christmas!

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  4. Fellowship, Care, small, home, whatever we call these groups they have really been a wonderful addition to churches across our countries. I'm glad yours is going strong over the years. I've always enjoyed White Elephant exchanges! We still use those antique rat traps around here LOL!

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  5. What a gift you all are to one another. Such a group would be a blessing to anyone's life. I'm sure you'll miss the ones moving away, but they're just sure to spread the blessing to where they go.

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  6. Terry wants the sign!
    OH boy have we ever given some good gifts for those white elephant games.
    We once brought a full sized velvet painting ..it was huge.
    We also found a gondola lamp some place and gave that away...which we wondered later if it was worth something.
    OH fun times. I love a good care group! It is very hard when one leaves...no one can ever really be replaced.

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  7. A good care group is a treasure. And it sounds like you have a wonderful one! What fun!

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  8. I know a few people in that gang......what fun you have had over the years. Looks like you know how to care and also laugh.

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  9. I have enjoyed my past three years in this group. We had always been in younger aged groups, but this has been a real treat, and yes, at the end of it all, I was a real winner at this event . I will covet that pottery vase.

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  10. I have enjoyed my past three years in this group. We had always been in younger aged groups, but this has been a real treat, and yes, at the end of it all, I was a real winner at this event . I will covet that pottery vase.

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  11. This looks like a wonderful group of caring friends, Judy. I would have wished to be lucky enough to pick that pretty ceramic tree out of the grab bag :)

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  12. Thats what friends are for - sharing, caring, support and laughter. Happy Christmas Judy!

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  13. Everyone should be able to be part of a group like that. Like anything else, it takes time and commitment to share in the benefits, but so worth it!
    Merry Christmas to all of you!

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  14. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Judy!

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson