Friday Five

Once again it's that wonderful day of the week -- Friday!!  There can be so much hustle and bustle around this time of the year, but I hope each of you have a little room for some calm this weekend.  Some plans changed for the mister and me this weekend, so we will get to enjoy a pretty relaxing weekend filled with some fun holiday traditions!!  I'm linking up with these fabulous gals (Natasha, Darci, April, and Christina) once again for their Friday party.  Here are 5 things I'm loving this week!

{1} Cookbooks
My placement this year for Junior League has been the cookbook committee and it has been so fun getting to work on this project.  The other gals on my committee are so sweet and it has been so great working with them to think up knew marketing strategies for the book, so we can raise some funds for all the projects we are doing to help the women and children in our community.  I even made this little flier to do a little advertising!

Let me know if you would like to purchase one!  As I've served on this committee, I've found that some women actually collect Junior League cookbooks from all over and think that sounds like such a neat idea.  Some of my favorite recipes in our cookbook are a chocolate chip bundt cake and pecan bars.  We had the best green chile chicken at our meeting on Monday, too, and it is from the cookbook!  I can't wait to try it myself. :)

{2}  Chamber Singers Christmas Concert

On Tuesday, I had the joy of listening to the Chamber Singers sing Christmas music at Armstrong Browning Library.  Armstrong Browning is where I had my bridal portraits taken and so it was even more special to return to this glorious place and hear it filled with gorgeous Christmas carols.  The acoustics here are amazing and the space is so beautiful that it is truly a feast for the senses.  Ten years ago PBS aired a special called "Christmas at Baylor" with groups singing in special places all over campus.  Here is an excerpt from that special:

{3}  Christmas Service
On Wednesday, I got to take part in the most glorious Christmas service that really prepared my heart for the season.  I struggle with pausing and stilling my soul much of the time and this service was just what I needed to pause and allow God to prepare my heart for this Advent season.  I've been loving the She Reads Truth Advent devotional series (here's a link to today's reading) and if you are looking for an Advent devotional, I highly recommend this one.  You can sign up for the series on the YouVersion Bible app.  The postlude of the service was a fantastic organ piece and I was immediately reminded of my precious Aunt Betty who has gone to be with the Lord.  She was an incredible musician and played the organ at our church in my hometown.  I was amazed at the challenge playing an instrument like that is and how coordinated you must be to play with both your feet and your hands at the same, but playing different things!  My heart filled with a thankfulness that I had been able to know this gracious woman and for the influence she has had in my life.

{4}  Family Time
This week the mister and I got to spend some quality time with the in-laws, watching the Duck Dynasty Christmas Special.  I just love getting together with them and am so thankful we live so close.  My father-in-law had a fire going and it was so nice to enjoy a hot cup of cocoa and time together.  Christmas specials are another favorite part of the holidays for me and I can't wait to watch some Christmas movies over the weekend!

{5}  Christmas Wrapping
I'm looking forward to getting all of our gifts wrapped this weekend!  Since our online Christmas shopping spree last weekend, we have started to get some of our presents in the mail.  I'm looking forward to cranking up the Christmas tunes and wrapping away.  I may try to use this awesome bow tutorial from Nina to give my packages a little extra panache and also look to this gift wrapping guide by Fancy Ashley for more cute wrapping ideas.

I hope you enjoy your weekend!