Well Saturday was a busy day of parties that started with our twin grandson's in Brandon at 10 in the morning and then again around 5 with our life group on the beaches at a beautiful condo of one of our friends and members. Food was in abundance at both.
I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my morning routines that start with some quiet moments after posting this ramble to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift up several by name. All seem as well as can be expected. I headed out to hand water the gardens early since we were leaving around 8'ish and wouldn't be back for several hours. Amy and Eliza joined us on the ride over as Tyler and Sam had jiu jitsu and Ava was away with a choir event at Disney world.
The twins party was a huge social event with many families from Element church and kids from many old friends and family members of ours as well. Bobby had tons of hot dogs, pasta salad, chips, veggie and fruit trays, plus two cakes for the boys. There were several kids in attendance and we met some really nice folks for the first time. We bought the boys an electric jeep which every small kid drove and ran over each other in the process. None were injured. It was the hit of the gifts plus they each received a tricycle which was quite different than most trikes as it could be converted to a "slipper" bike with no pedals. Very interesting. They did not go for want of things to play with.
We got back to the house and went into get ready mode for the evening get together around 5. Nancy had made a huge pot of tortilla soup and was taking it to the party. I drove Dan's car as parking was limited at this beautiful condo which was the whole fourth floor of this huge building right on the gulf. The elevator stopped inside their condo. The views were fabulous. It was our naughty Santa event which we did every Christmas season. Many cancelled due to illness but we still have between 30 and 40 folks in attendance. There were many new faces since we last attended before going to the mountains. The close friends still welcomed us despite knowing we were leaving the church for a different place to worship. It was a tough decision but the church has become a seeker church with video messaging and we were not thrilled they were not using this campus the way it should be for the community, anyhow we still love the friendships over the years and hope to continue some how at various group events.
We had a fun time exchanging gifts, of course eating and sharing stories and meeting some new folks but bitter sweet in knowing we would no longer worship with them. Dan officiated communion despite the new campus pastor being there as Dan has done over the past couple of years. He and Carol both left the church over a year ago and I was reluctant at first but the leadership at the main campus is their way or the highway, so we chose the latter.
Today we will visit Indian Rocks Church for their yearly Christmas service and concert which is always a first class event with several from our life group. I think the leaders of the group(the Nymark's) are thinking of leaving the church as well. So many of our once leaders have left or been asked to leave because of the leadership at the main campus. Many campus pastors have left as well who have become great friends over the years, oh well, LATER
