Christmas Cards

Creating one of her detailed card designs can take Angie Hall up to one and a half weeks. It may sound like a lot of work, but for Hall, it's more like a labor of love. "I draw little and small, so everything takes a long time. I love it, but it's time-consuming," Hall said. Hall began designing her custom-made cards back in 2002. A self-described "doodler," Hall has always been interested in art and drawing, but it wasn't until seven years ago that she started to take her work seriously.

The Joy XYZ group from First United Methodist Church was invited to the home of Boo Baldwin, 160 Casa Landa Way, group coordinator, for a special Christmas luncheon. Each member brought a special salad that was well-prepared and very delicious, including homemade candies and white chocolate bars filled with special combinations. There were also very beautiful candy Christmas trees. Boo Baldwin and Bibby Anderson passed out Christmas bags to members filled with many Christmas items, such as jar candles, handmade Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas candies and special loaves of friendship bread.

It's no secret that many Americans are facing hard times. With a slumping economy and purse strings drawn tight, the upcoming holidays are sure to do anything but lessen that burden. Your list of people to buy for likely has not shrunk from this year's list, but your disposable income may have. Julie McAllister, creator of Artcycled, makes personalized and unique cards for every occasion. Her card-making started when she tried to come up with creative ideas for a pretty Mother's Day card.

Fairview's Sunday school attendance on Sunday, Dec. 16 was 109 with 22 in the outreach program and 152 in the morning worship service. There were 15 in children's church. The third candle in the Advent was lit Sunday morning by Danie, Vickie, Danielle, and Lydia Rice. They read from Luke. This purple candle represented the shepherds. The choir sang a special, "The Little Drummer Boy," with Ricky Manning playing on the drums. Tiffany Davidson sang a special, "Mary, Did You Know?"

Family Christmas Celebration planned LANCASTER - The community is welcome to celebrate an evening of live Christmas music and fellowship at the first annual Family Christmas Celebration, which will begin 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Christian Care Center of Lancaster. The evening's music will be provided by Melvin Price and a host of guests including Donnie Ray, Dan Waters, Fredda Jocobs, Crista Obsborne and Richard Horton. Complementary refreshments also will be served. For more information, call Kristi Short at the Christian Care Center of Lancaster, located at 308 W. Maple Ave., at (859)

At two meetings this week, Danville City Commission offered the community an opportunity to speak out on issues of great importance to taxpayers. The first was about a fee that will be levied beginning early next year to finance federally-mandated improvements to the stormwater sewer system. The second was less defined - a "neighborhood meeting" designed to make it easier for citizens in a particular part of the community to address the commissioners.

The Joy XYZ Group from First United Methodist Church meet at JK's Restaurant for a Christmas celebration Tuesday, Dec. 12. Boo Baldwin, the coordinator, gave all members hand-made Christmas tree ornaments, homemade pastries, candy, home-baked cookies and book calenders. Christmas cards were exchanged. Bibby Anderson asked the blessing for the meal. Others present were Lucille Creech, Mildred Gallaher, Ethel Vance, Beunice Roberts, Agnes Lowry, Edith Myles, Alice Tucker, Dorothy Foster, Hazel May and Mary Rowe.

All God's Children kicked off the first of two days of its "Living Christmas Card" on Tuesday. "First and foremost, this is for the girls of the house," said volunteer and planner Ben Prewitt, referencing the women who occupy the All God's Children home. "They looked out and said, 'Wow, they did this for us.' Second, this is truly our Christmas card to the community; a way to reach people, give them a great time and let them know a little bit about us. " The event includes a stroll through an old fashioned Christmas village, complete with thousands of lights, music and street scenes from the past, including a street vendor selling Christmas trees.

I do not have time in my day to get in touch with all the people who wish to converse with me. I find myself on the land phone the most. I don't really like e-mail and my "mail box" is full. (Darned efficient form of keeping informed!) Who has time to get back to all the folks who wish to get "face time or voice time directly with me?" I simply have too much other stuff to do. The answer machine on the land line is the best invention. No goofy kid can say, "I meant to tell you that the doctor called and you have five days to live, sorry if I forgot to tell you sooner.