Residents of our park entertained us with a golf cart/vehicle parade. Many of the residents have golf carts to transport them around the park: to activities, to visit others, or just to cruise the park in the quiet evenings. Some of them decorated their carts for Christmas - thus the birth of a parade. We walked across the road and sat in our neighbor's driveway with them to view the spectacle. It was short, but noisy and fun to see the different ways to decorate a golf cart.
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| waiting for the parade with Dean and Ilene, great neighbors |
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| this really is a golf cart |
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| snowmen in the sunny south |
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| even seniors love convertibles |
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| many of these 3 wheeled bikes are seen in the park |
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| Zoe rides a souped-up three wheeler
The parade was followed later on in the evening with the Christmas program. Just a time of song and getting together, enjoying all the Christmas goodies brought by us all. We sang traditional Christmas carols with fun readings, and then the Christmas hymns along with readings of the true reason for the season.
 
Verla Johnson singing beautifully, as usual
Christmas Eve services at the Church @ Alamo Rec Veh were very poignant for many reasons. The services always seem to be very extraordinary because of the sermons from Chaplain Dennis Maloney leading up to this evening. His advent sermons seem to increase our feeling of expectation as we rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The service itself was so profound: the singing and readings of the choir in a candlelight setting, the quiet but reflective feeling as we quietly took communion following Dennis' reminder of why we were celebrating. Added to all of this peacefulness of the evening was the sadness in the fact that Chaplain Dennis and Sally announced previously that they will be leaving us in the spring to follow God's plan for them. "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11. As we are sad to see them leave we praise God for these last 7 years and wish them well. We also are CRM chaplains, so will see them often (we hopefully pray). Dennis is International Director of CRM in charge of Sanctuary Outpost of which we are a part.
Christmas day brought the park Christmas dinner, where we were invited as guests of Norb and Ardis Gauerke. It was a festive time, as all the tables were decorated for Christmas and wishes for a Merry Christmas were heard throughout the hall. The food was so delicious, but way too tempting. We went home content in the fact that we ate all of our food allotment for the week in one day!!!!     
Norb and Ardis, our host and hostess
just a few of the residents, waiting for turkey and gravy
Later that afternoon, we picked up Karen and headed up to the hospital where her husband Dean spent Christmas Day- the first one in 52 years away from each other. Thanks to God's healing power, Dean was released the next day to return to the
park with instructions to rest and relax for awhile.
our Helping Hands sewing group here at the park presented Dean with a cozy quilt, which they do for all those who are sick and/or hospitalized.
We ended the Christmas celebration week with a tour to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de Valle National Shrine. The Basilica has an absolutely amazing manger scene, almost lifelike, as well as a multitude of poinsettias and other stunning decorations. Sister Rose lead the tour, telling us about the history of the Basilica (which means a church where the members work hard). Go to www.olsjbasilica.org to read all about this shrine. Sister Rose informed us that this parish is the poorest in the United States, but covers 63 acres with a plethora of buildings, including a hotel, cafe, gift shop to name a few. There are also life size bronze Stations of the Cross which cover about 3/4 of a mile. Amazing that all of this, plus additional building, is supported by the poorest of the poor parishioners, filling the collection baskets with plastic bags of pennies, nickels, and dimes.
When I heard this, I thought of the verse in Luke 21:1-4 "As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I will tell you the truth," He said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth: but she out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on". I pray that we can always give and give willingly for the purpose of spreading the Word of God.
   
the almost life size manger scene
Sister Rose - certainly not the nuns I knew!!
Our Lady of San Juan
the candle and flower room where prayers are said
We hope you all had a blessed Christmas and that the Lord will bless you in the coming year.
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