Christmas party...

Yesterday, our parish had a Christmas party following Liturgy...the children took turns performing, dancing, singing, reciting poems.  It was very nice!

Hannah sang the Winter Song written by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson.

Irish folk dancing, 4 hand reel ...Olivia, Sasha, Hannah & Ella.

Several children recited poems, this was my favorite one...the little girl told this story, while her brother passed out candy canes:     

The  legend said that a candy maker in Indiana designed the candy cane to tell the true story of Christmas - a story about a virgin giving birth to a baby, who would give up His life for our Eternal life.

Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Savior
Who’s sinless and pure!
“J” is for Jesus My Lord, that’s for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!

In one way, it looks like a "J" for Jesus, meaning Savior, because He was meant to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Turned the other way, the candy cane reminds us of the shepherd's staff. The first people to hear of Christ's birth were shepherds guarding their flocks at night (Luke 2:8-20). Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd,  the One who is  searching for his lost sheep, feeding them, gently leading them, (Psalm 23; John 10:1-18; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 31:10; Micah 5:4; Hebrew 13:20).

 That's my Godson, Timothy.

 Taking a bow. Two of my nieces did Russian folk dancing.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a video, but I did take some photos!

My other sister and her husband, little daughter and baby son came from Canada for a visit.  It was our first time meeting the baby, who is named Nicholas, but they call him Kolya for short.

Last year, my parents couldn't stay, but thanks be to God, they were having a good day and they got to watch their grandchildren yesterday!

Little Sofia, who I've mentioned many times, in the middle, with her mom on the right and father on the left with Timothy and grandma who is visiting from Ukraine next to her.

On a sad note, our dog, Lusy, has been doing very poorly.  She needs prayers.  Our vet put her on Baytril on Jan. 2nd for her cough, it seems she has fungal pneumonia (he looked down her trachea, after giving her anesthesia, and also took x-rays), she was coughing up blood!  Now, she is dizzy and can't walk (just this morning)...and doesn't want to eat.  Please say a prayer for her.