If you need menu and decorating ideas for a December luncheon, this blog is for you.  The hostesses for the monthly Round Table meeting at First Baptist Church Richardson created a lovely nativity themed luncheon.  We had a delicious food, and enjoyed a delightful speaker.

Author Wanda Vassallo Griffith shared thoughts about the characters in the Christmas story.  What if Mary had said, “No”?  Or What if Joseph or any of the other characters had said, “No”?

Since the program focused on the nativity story, each table was decorated with a nativity scene.  Be still my heart!  There were so many fantastic nativity sets.  I do not know if they are from one person’s collection, or if all of the hostesses brought their creches.

Beautiful Christmas music played  by Diane Driscoll greeted us as we arrived.

Delicious hot chicken salad and a congealed cranberry salad were served.  Both of these dishes were fantastic.  I will try to get the recipes for you.  I loved that they used their Spode Christmas Tree dishes.

Hot rolls were then delivered to our tables.  Yummy!

The dessert was a major success.  Everybody enjoyed the White Chocolate Macadamia and Cranberry Cookies.  (I do have this super easy recipe, and will share it with you soon.}  The cookies were bagged and tied with red ribbon.  I do want to remember this dessert idea.

Wanda and her husband Weldon have a unique love story.  They were longtime friends who both lost their spouses.  A friendship turned into love.  On Thanksgiving Day in 2007,  77 year old Wanda married 81 year old Weldon.  They thought they might not make it to their Golden Anniversary, so they celebrate their anniversary every month.  How cute is that?

Wanda’s books include devotional books, a novel, and a “how to” book for devotional speakers.  

I would love to read her novel Junia – Woman Apostle.  In Romans 16:7, Paul commended Junia as an apostle.  Junia – Woman Apostle is a fictional account of this story.

Wanda is also the author of three children’s books.  I loved the true story of a baby duck that thought Wanda was its mother.

What a way to welcome the Christmas season.  We were blessed.

Blessings to you and yours,