Women's Christmas Dinner Part 1

Every good and perfect gift is from above! James 1:17

The Women's Christmas Dinner at my church is an annual event that has taken place for years. It is such a wonderful way to start the Christmas season- with beautiful decor, a delicious dinner, and great entertainment with friends, neighbors, and family! It's a great outreach and a sweet reminder of the reason for the season. This was my 2nd year to coordinate the event- I have to say, having a year under my belt (and having 15 monthers rather than 3 month old babies) made it less stressful.... a little. :) Planning, preparing, and praying go into this year round, but the planning really takes off around June/ July. There's a team of my AMAZING friends that help make this even happen- they are truly truly amazing, talented, lovers of our Lord and I love them to pieces!

We began ticket sales for at the beginning of November. This was our Ticket Sales Table:

Every year, the proceeds of the dinner, go toward a cause that our church (and women's ministry) support. The past few years, we've given money to the African Women's Initiatives- a ministry of ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries). AWI empowers African women through offering education, business training, and micro-finance to start their very own business in order to afford to care for their families. What's so amazing about this initiative is, I have personal friends that KNOW these ladies we've been able to bless. That have TRAVELED to Africa, spent time with these women, hugged these women, prayed with these women. It makes it so real and so special.

This year we added a little something to bring in more money for AWI. We had a RAFFLE. 11 women generously donated either their entire table decor or centerpiece from the dinner for a lucky winner to bring home to use at their own house! We sold tickets for $1 the night of the dinner and it was a success- praise God! We raised nearly $2,000 that will go directly to AWI.

This table below was a Raffle table we displayed during ticket sales to show everyone... to give them a taste of what they might win the night of the dinner!

Another part of the preparing that started WAY before the dinner arrived, was my mom's job! She is SO TALENTED. She was our decorator (she did the above tables!) and prepared 17 tables for the dinner for women to sit at and enjoy. (Some women buy an entire table and decorate themselves, some just buy a ticket or two-- those tables, we... well mom... decorate). Here are some of her tables... AMAZING and SO creative! I don't think pictures even do them justice! (Some of these pics are from her dining room)

The Snowman Table:

The Peppermint Table

The Candycane table

The Girly Table:

The Beach Table

The Paris Table:

The Italian Table:

Another Raffle table she put together with some donated dishes- love it!

Part 2: The night of the dinner, decor, and more coming soon.......