We had Christmas party at our house last night for my husband's and my Bible Study group. Several members of the group will be spending the Christmas holidays on a medical mission trip to Mexico. The trip is an annual event, and they always take cookies to give away at the clinic. So last night's party was a cookie party. Everyone who came brought a small plate of cookies to eat at the party and a large tin of cookies to send on the mission trip.

I was responsible for drinks. A norther blew through yesterday bringing with it cold, damp weather. No one would want cold drinks! I fixed hot apple cider, using the simplest of recipes. Instead of the three cans of water normally recommended to reconstitute frozen apple juice, I used four. For every can of juice I put in 1 stick of cinnamon and 5 whole cloves. I left it simmering on the front burner of the stove, and served it with a soup ladle. I just love it when people say "How did you make this, it is so good," to something so easy.

I also served hot tea. Celestial Seasonings has four tea blends just for the holidays. I bought Candy Cane Lane and Gingerbread Spice at the health food market. Candy Cane Lane is peppermint and green tea with flavors and herbs. Oranges are avoid for Type O, and this tea has a bit of orange peel for flavor. I don't know if orange peel is also avoid, but even if it is the amount is so small that I'm not worrying about it. Gingerbread Spice has ginger and chicory, both Type O beneficials. Near the bottom of the ingredient list is roasted barley, a Type O avoid. Again, the amount would be negligible for a healthy person. It was fun to watch my guests try to choose between two unfamiliar teas.

Everyone had a good time talking and visiting. I did not eat cookies! It was a wheat free night for me. My daughter's piano keyboard is in living room. We gathered around the keyboard and sang Christmas carols. That may sound old fashioned to you, but it was so much fun.

One of the ladies had on a sweatshirt that I will buy if I ever see it for sale. It was dark blue with a gold silhouette of three men on camels under a star. The words said, "Wise men still seek him."