Friday, December 23, 2011

McDonald Girl's Day - Christmas 2011

Mom McDonald started a tradition a few years ago that we daughters just love. Mom saves, prays and plans throughout the year, then blesses us girls in a special way. We go to lunch, then somewhere to go shopping - typically window shopping, and just enjoying the Christmas decorations & spirit. There's usually a theme which weaves through the entire day that Mom comes up with. This year, the theme was Gingerbread Men. We met at Santa Barbara Italian Cafe in Alvin, for lunch. It was SO yummy!!!! Mama and I shared the Mediterranean Salad & Chicken Parmagiana! (sp) We also enjoyed a yummy spread of appetizers!

At lunch, Mama shared a short devotion on have the Lord's eyes, ears, mouth, & feet...and the applicable quality was Discernment. She read "The Gingerbread Man" story for the little girls, then turned it around and reminded us all that we are to not be like the gingerbread man, but discern things from the eyes of the Lord... It was very well done, and convicting. :) I'm sure Mama would share her notes if you ask...it'd probably make far more sense than me try to explain it.

Mama gave us gingerbread ornaments, cookie cutter, hot mat, and cake tester to remind us of the devotion and special time together as ladies. The cookie cutter reminds us we are to allow the Lord to shape us. The hot mat & tester helps us persevere when we're bring refined by our Heavenly Father, and to trust that He's in control.

I wish I had pictures from lunch!! But, I failed to take them! :( Becky wasn't feeling well, and couldn't go on our shopping adventure to The Strand in Galveston. We were very sad she had to go home.

At the Strand, we enjoyed walking, talking & just being together. It was a very sweet time. We ended our shopping time at La King's which is a ice cream shoppe/ candy store. Mmmm! It's historic, and super cute. The girls enjoyed licking giant lollipops, and us adults sipped our holiday beverages. Let's see...Mom had, :) a gingerbread latte, Rebekah had :/ um...I think a mocha something or other... :) I had a very, very yummy Amaretto Almond Frappe. (def a new favorite of mine!) Aspen very badly wanted to lick her cousins "colored sticks" but, they were always just a bit out of her reach, as well as mommy's straw. :) Next year.... :)

While we sipped our desserts, Aspen discovered a chair her size. She LOVES pushing it all over the little area that we were sitting in.

Thank you Mama for such a special time together! The day was so sweet, and I can't wait for next year!

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