Christmas in May!!

Having family come visit for two weeks is fun for many reasons, one of which was the three suitcases of gifts and goodies that I am trying to find cabinet space for! I had so much fun opening up suitcases and unwrapping presents the day my family got here. A few of the fun presents:

Thanks to Dave, Debbie, and the Boys for parting with their lovely daughter for two weeks and sending her to Cairo, AND thanks for the goodies!! Two canisters of Ginger Peach Tea (YUM!), two super precious mugs based off of a favorite children's book (one says "Guess how much I love you? The other answers "I love you to the moon - and back!), a sweet smelling, prettily wrapped bar of Ocean Pur Botanic Shea Butter Soap, and four special cards with verses and encouraging messages written by Josiah, Jeremiah, and Jedidiah. I love you guys!!

Thanks to Tonya and crew for more special things to make my home cozy: Yankee Candle Sage and Citrus votives and tea lights to go with a pretty home fragrance oil burner, an olive oil mister, two bars of french-milled soap, some Bath and Body Works White Citrus hand soap, two picture frames with sepia toned photographs of Lilly, Kathryn, and Levi, three hand-painted masterpieces waiting to be matted and framed and hung in my spare room, and a singing card. Love you much and will think of you every time I use these things!

From Samantha and Abby: My favorite snack food for a fun treat: Two boxes of Cheez-its and a four bottles of Dt Mt Dew - I'm not very good at saving things, and I must confess that the Diet Mountain Dew is gone, but it was thoroughly enjoyed!! I shared the first box of Cheez-its with the rest of the fam, so of course its gone, but I'm rationing the second. Thanks guys for a special treat!!! Love you much!!

From Paul and Carol: Four beautiful hand towels that are color coordinated with my bathroom, 2 packages of my favorite blueberry coffee, and a Mary Magdalene DVD. I'm savoring a mug of that blueberry coffee as I type this. What a cozy treat!! And the towels look lovely in the bathroom (and now my guests can actually dry their hands :) Thanks for the thoughtful gift! Love you guys!

A few cards rounded out the Christmas in May celebration: A hilarious and entirely appropriate card from Joanna brought smiles and laughter. Thanks querida. Love you and miss you more than you know. And a letter from Sam Condon was a special surprise. Thanks Sam!! It was a particularly special to get that letter because it was a surprise! Love you so much, and we'll skype soon so I can see your lovely face!

Besides the Christmas presents, I am enjoying a newly stocked pantry. With 10 bags of regular, decaf, and flavored coffee, 8 jars of flavored creamers, 4 bottles of flavored syrups, and a couple new coffee mugs, my coffee bar is open for business. Come visit and I'll make you an iced latte or a mug of coffee with frothed milk :) I like to keep chocolate chip cookie dough in my freezer so that I can bake fresh cookies for anyone who drops by. With 186 oz of chocolate chips in the baking drawer, I will be sure to have cookies for visitors for the next year! Lemonade powder, soaps, clothes, fun new sandals, lots of candles, and some books complete the new stash of stuff. I love using my home for hospitality, and its so fun to have new candles, hand towels, pretty soaps, and coffee supplies to help create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Yay for Christmas in May!!