Small Town Life In Big L.A.

Christmas Memories...'Tis the Season

I have enjoyed using the Christmas cookie tin I made at church family camp back in July. This Santa looks just like our good friend from church....What do you think Roy???

Every year we are blessed to receive the most delicious homemade cookies from Sylvia. It wouldn't be Christmas without them. Look at how she lovingly wraps and labels each kind.

What fun we had at our party for the Sunday School class. So glad Crystal came to help!

It's always nice to have surprise visitors from faraway places! Thank you Paula & Jerry for a copy of Jerry's new CD!

We sold out of our tree topper piks at Mountain Rose. Check out the new creative one Dale did! This guy has talent!

This HUGE box was under the tree! What could it be???

Our Christmas breakfast started this way. You MUST try these frozen croissants from Trader Joe's! They rise overnight and are the best! Thanks M&W for the delicious jam!

Oh goodie! MERLE NORMAN!!! And look how beautifully it's wrapped!

Marie is one happy little dog!  YES, she is smiling!

Christmas Worship & Fellowship At Chatsworth Lake Church

What a joy it is to worship the Lord at Christmas. We have been enjoying all the traditional carols this year in many varieties. We were so blessed to have Pastor Alexander Hamilton & The Gospel Institute come out and lead a Christmas Worship Service. So many of us had tears of joy that night as our little church was full of praise.

Pastor Alex, pictured left, loves the Lord and is an exhorter. He has been leading this group for 37 years.

We were blessed with traditional Romanian carols, sung in the native language, during our Christmas candlelight dinner.

We are so thankful for our Chatsworth Lake praise team that led us in worship before the dinner. Their rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy" was fabulous!

After the Alex Hamilton group we had a barbecue. Thank you Daniel & Tamara for the delicious sausages, Ana for homemade sauerkraut, and all of your diligent planning & execution, and to Bill for the barbecued chicken, regular & spicy. Yes!

What a beautiful set up for our Christmas dinner!!!

Each table had homemade coleslaw, chips & salsa, and bread pudding waiting. The buffet included roast chicken, ham, mac& cheese, and baked beans lovingly prepared & served by Ana, Sylvia, Tamara, & Colleen. Everything was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!

I had fun making this dessert.

Thank you L.V. for taking this pic of Dale & I and for getting the tree in!

All of us at Chatsworth Lake Church wish you a Merry Christmas and invite you to join us as we celebrate the birth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

The Ronald Reagan Library at Christmas

We are so fortunate to live near the Reagan Library. Simi Valley is next door to our home town of Chatsworth. Here is the view as you ride up the mountain to the library.

All along the way up there are banners of the former presidents.

The vistas from the library are spectacular!

A gingerbread White House.

You can actually get on Air Force One.

Just like old friends.

Here's the view from one of the restaurants.

There were dozens of trees decorated for various time periods.

This was my personal favorite.

This White House replica was awesome!

A piece of the Berlin Wall.

What an enjoyable visit this was!

Chatsworth Lake Church Women's Christmas Fellowship

 

It was a chilly Christmas night as we gathered for our 3rd Annual Gifted Christmas.

Our time starts with prayer and then the feasting begins. This year we served party foods.

The Jalepeno & Berry Compote we sell at Mountain Rose Gifts was a big hit, served over cream cheese.

Goat Cheese with sunflower seeds, drizzled with honey.

Ana's Cheescake Squares

Warm Bean Dip.

Greek Yogurt Dip

Potato Tomato Casserole With Fresh Bay

Next was sharing a message on ENCOURAGEMENT, " Let us not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but ENCOURAGE each other ALL THE MORE as you see the day approaching" (Hebrews). Those that know the Lord and have had their sin removed by the power of His blood have an eternity in heaven with the Lord and His saints to look forward to. Encourage means to lift up, to give hope to. It is getting our minds off ourselves and being aware of others. It can be as simple as eye contact and a smile...a kind word...a thank you.

This night we further encouraged each other with gifts. Everyone brings a gift they would like to receive. We place them under the tree and then draw names. It's so fun to watch them being opened.

Our evening ended with Lynette reading "A Cup Of Christmas Tea". A fine night with my sisters in the Lord.

The "Happiest Place On Earth" At "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"

The Castle

The Monday before Christmas we did something we have not done in the last 10 years, or more...We went to DISNEYLAND for Christmas. Since we opened our store in 2000 we have just not been able to go as Christmas is such a busy season for us. This year the Lord has provided such good help for us. We had the day off, we had the energy, and so we went!

New Orleans Dancers Right In Front Of Us

It was an overcast day and the park was packed. We had a great time nonetheless. The music and costumes were amazing!

Santa In The Christmas Parade

We arrived just in time for the Christmas Parade. It was spectacular. We saw it a second time at night.

The Princess Float

One of my favorite floats had Cinderella & the prince, beauty & the beast, etc.

Mickey Gingerbread

Anyone who knows me, knows I love food pics and Disneyland did not disappoint!

We couldn't get a seat for dinner at The Blue Bayou, our favorite, so we had dinner outside the Park. When we got back the crowds had thinned out a bit so we got on some rides. The Haunted House was our fave, just like being in the Tim Burton cartoon.

Then we came upon Splash Mountain. I was seated in the very front, Dale behind me. We both got TOTALLY DRENCHED!!! Ugh! Thus ended a memorable & fun Christmas escape.

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS From Chatsworth Lake Community Church!

The Sheep Side

The "Goat" Side

It was standing room only at our church Christmas Celebration. And what a joyous night it was! We began with caroling led by our talented Praise Team. Beautiful Words, full of life, telling us about the birth of Jesus, our Savior!

The Praise Team

Then Michael presented Pastor Dale with a brand new Bible signed by the congregation. His last one was falling apart. He likes to start with a fresh one every few years. No lines, no notes.

A New Bible For The Pastor

Then it was time for the children's Nativity Story told in word & song. Crystal did a great job putting this together. The kids were very focused and they did an excellent job. Thanks to all who helped Crystal with costumes, rehearsals, & programs. The play was such a blessing to us all!

The Nativity In Story & Song

The Angels

Crystal Heads Up The Children's Ministry

After great applause and enjoying the presence of the Lord it was time for our Candlelight Christmas Dinner, lovingly organized by Ana. This is the lovely room that awaited us, full of Christmas warmth and cheer.

An Inviting Room

Anna, Kenny, Colleen, Sylvia, and Jo did such a wonderful job serving us delicious grilled meats, roasted to perfection, grilled apples & pears, and a variety of side dishes & desserts made by us church women. What a memorable evening it was for us all. Thank you Lord!

 

Our Women's Fellowship Gifted Christmas

Chatworth Lake Christian Women's Fellowship

Last week we all piled into my home for our second annual Gifted Christmas celebration. I LOVE getting and giving presents so I look forward to this each year.We started with dinner, Italian Artichoke Chicken with Sherry and Pasta, Little Italy Salad with Parmesan, Oregano dressing, Sesame Bread Ring, and Old Fashioned Sherbet Punch. After a relaxing time of food and fellowship it was time for our story, A CUP OF CHRISTMAS TEA, beautifully read by Lynette. This best selling story tied into our message from 1 Corinthians 1, how God uses the simple things to confound the wise. He came in a lowly manger, not with all the empty "flash and dash" of the world. Pam did such a good job reading the Word for us. This is one of her gifts.

Presents!

Then it was time for our gift exchange. Each woman brings a beautifully wrapped gift that she would like to get and puts it under the tree. We put all of our names in the hat, draw out 1-3 names at a time, and watch as each one picks a gift from under the tree and opens it. It's SO MUCH FUN!

Sylvia's Lemon Strawberry Cream Roll

In the midst of the gift opening we had one of the best desserts I have ever tasted in my life. And that's saying something! This year Sylvia outdid herself. That is also saying something, as she is one of the most talented chefs in our church. We also posed for our annual Christmas portrait. Crystal did the honors this year. She took a great pic don't you think!

What a blessing these women are in my life. I thank God for them!

 

A Christmas Wreath Coffee Cake

Christmas Wreath Coffee Cake

I always wanted to make one of these and today was the day. I made the dough the night before in my bread machine, using the "knead and first rise" cycle. Then put it in the fridge until this morning.

Ready To Go In The Oven

When I got up I took the dough out of the fridge and let it come close to room temp before proceeding. You can use any yeast sweet dough recipe. The filling is just melted butter, nuts, & cinnamon. The real "kicker" is the icing. You mix 1C powdered sugar, 1T water, and 1/4 tspn. almond extract and drizzle over the cake with a spoon, while it's still warm. The hint of almond is the perfect touch.

Our Victorian Tree

A nice treat for a chilly December morning!

Harry Relaxing

 

A Camera Lesson With Michael Chiklis

Me & Michael Chiklis

Dale and I visited THE AMERICANA AT BRAND for the first time. This is the newest SoCal outdoor lifestyle center built by Rick Caruso in the City Of Glendale. No expense was spared in the Christmas light department here. There is a 5 story Christmas tree covered in lights,

Snow & Crystal Chandeliers

a street with crystal chandeliers and scheduled snowfalls,

Fake Snow

and a fountain that lights up, sings, and dances!!!

Wow!

Amidst all this I was snapping pics like crazy and saw a familiar face in my lens. It was MICHAEL CHIKLIS, star of THE SHIELD, and THE FANTASTIC FOUR. Dale asked if he could take a picture of he and I, and wouldn't you know it, our camera batteries died. No problem, Michael said he was a camera buff. He loaded in our new batteries and then asked if he could take our picture so we would have one of us. What a nice man!

Photo Taken By Michael

After this we wandered over to The Cheesecake Factory and were given the best table, right next to the water fountain!

What a fun and memorable night!

The Scene