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Arts & Entertainment

Oconee Woman Opens Her Winter Wonderland Home

Every year, Brenda Gober opens her home to the Women's Ministry at Grace Fellowship for an evening of unforgettable Christmas food, fun and fellowship.

The sign on the door reads, "Ring the bell and come in," and those who do step into a winter wonderland.

Christmas lights twinkle from every corner of the house, light radiating off the hundreds of ornaments and decorations that have each been thoughtfully placed in the perfect spot. Christmas music fills the air, mixing with the smell of freshly baked brownies.

Emerging from the kitchen, homemaker Brenda Gober, the tour guide for the evening, greets visitors with a warm "Merry Christmas!"Β 

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This is Gober's third year opening her home to the Women's Ministry at . This year nearly 100 women participated, coming to the house near Butler's Crossing in Watkinsville.

"I had just started attending ο»ΏGrace Fellowshipο»ΏΒ and was looking for a way to get involved in the women's ministry," Gober said. "I love to decorate for Christmas, so I decided to open my home as a way to get to know the women better one on one."ο»Ώ

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Gο»Ώrace Fellowship Women's Ministry Director, Martha Cahoon, enjoys leading the ladies to the open house each year.

"It is just one of those loving touches I try to provide so that women can interact, meet each other and get a sense of family and belonging," she said. "The holiday season adds a special touch."

With help from her daughter-in-law, Georgia Gober, Brenda starts dragging out her boxes of decorations at the beginning of November. By early December, everything is completed set up and twinkling away.

"I usually do the mantels, but everything else is Brenda," Georgia Gober said. "Every year she tries to add a few new items and move things around from the previous year so guests will have something a little different to enjoy.ο»Ώ"

The open house includes more than 27 Christmas trees, 12 of which are fully decorated to match different themes, including a three kings and snowman room.Β 

Gober's favorite tree is her family tree.Β 

"It started when I got married," she explained. "My mother gave my husband and me a box of 100 wooden ornaments that we hand painted for our first Christmas tree. Once our first son was born, we started our own family tradition where we bought him a new ornament every year. The tradition continues today with my daughter-in-laws and my grandchildren."

In the same spirit, every year Gober chooses a new ornament to give guests as they leave the open house.

Gober's family will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together in her winter wonderland home enjoying family, food and fun.Β In mid-January, she will start to take down the Christmas decor -- only to look forward to next year'sΒ festivities.

We'dΒ love to see your interior holiday designs. Upload your photos and tell us about them in the photo cutline boxο»Ώο»Ώ.ο»Ώ

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