Our 2014 annual Christmas party with friends Jan 9, 2015

Our annual Christmas party with our friends turned into a Epiphany party on January 9th, 2015.  The theme was "WE THREE KINGS".

We have had this party for many years and I will share the themes from previous years.

This is a list of the parties since I started keeping track.  I believe we had parties several years before that.

2000 - - - - - -2000 ornament                      2009 - - - - -Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2001 - - - - - -Patriotic                                 2010 - - - - -White Elephant

2002 - - - - - -In glass container                 2011 - - - - -Joy to the world  

2003 - - - - - -White Elephant                      2012 - - - - - Old fashioned Christmas

2004 - - - - - -Nativity                                   2013 - - - - -Piece on Earth

2005 - - - - - -Home Made                            2014 - - - - -We Three Kings  

2006 - - - - - -WINGS                                      2015 - - - - -What in the heck is it?            

2007 - - - - - -Let you light so shine           2016 - - - - -Angels we have heard on high

2008 - - - - - -Sound of music 

We started the evening with a Epiphany devotion from
 Higher Things and prayer.   We also discussed the meaning of the"THREE GIFTS" of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. 

                            Then on to the food.

I cheated this year and served Subway sandwiches.  It didn't seem like it bothered anyone.  Everyone brings something delicious to share.   

The food!

We took some time to just visit and catch up on things.  it had been quite some time since we had all been together.

For the last 11 years, since our 2003 White Elephant party we have had one gift that is passed along every year and turned into something that goes with the "Theme" of our party.  It has also been given for birthdays and anniversaries. 

This year Rich got the "BEE" as it originally started out as.  It had been changed into one of the kings.  A wonderful job and he even had a Treasure box full of Gold for the "Baby Jesus".   It came with the other two smaller wise men.  Latter Jim Snyder who created this masterpiece gave Rich the whole nativity set that had been purchased by his mother-in-law at a garage sale. 

GREAT JOB JIM

Another unique gift, very neat Wise Men,  "THREE KINGS". 

The front!

This was my gift,  I was a bit confused at first thinking this was a "real" Wii game.  Now that would be a great idea.   It was made up, printed and put together by our friend Rich.  The inside had a CD with a doz or more burnt recordings of  We Three Kings by different groups and musicians.   

The back with "game" description.    Nicely done Rich!

Another gift was a  nice picture of We Three Kings.

After everyone had their anonymous wrapped gift by picking a # and having the chance to trade with one of the other un-opened gifts,  there was one final twist to our gift opening.  

I brought out this nice large red wrapped gift and ask if anyone wanted to trade for this gift that could be a simple tooth pick or penny or maybe something really nice.  It took some contemplating but finally we  had a taker, Nancy went for the trade.  

OH MY,  It's another wrapped gift.

And yet another smaller gift!

And yet another very small gift.  Oh no, what could it be?  

A Target gift card with the "THREE KINGS" on it.




I will share pictures of  many of the 
"BEE" make overs/creations through the years.
 I hope you enjoy seeing them .

2005  "Home Made"

2006  "wings"

2007  "LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE"

2009  "Let It Snow"

2010   "White Elephant"

2011   "JOY TO THE WORLD"  

                               2012   "OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS"     (the BEE was the tree.)

 2013    "PEACE ON EARTH"




2014    "WE THREE KINGS"