Lance & Associates Real Estate was overflowing with the holiday spirit this morning as guests gathered for the business's annual Christmas Community Coffee. The log-cabin office (as many in town lovingly call Lance & Associates) was decked out with holiday decor, as well as an appetizing spread of savory and sweet hors d'oeuvres catered by Amigo Juan. Participants mingled to the jingle of Christmas music playing in the background, and HeBrews 11:1 proprietor, Arnetta Bradford, even shared a holiday tune with the crowd with her soulful rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

Lance & Associates began hosting this Christmas Community Coffee in 2006, and Owner/Principal Broker Steve Lance said the team was delighted to be continuing the tradition. "It's overwhelming and humbling to look around and see this office full of friends and people in the community," Lance said. "I think back to when we first moved here in the 80's when people like Novaline, Mr. and Mrs. Kidd, and Earl and June Downs accepted us right away without knowing anything about us. Everyone in the community has been very supportive, and that is the foundation on which we built our business. This is a people business."

Lance said his agents (Lindsey Townsend, Trenace McGinnis-Stuart, and Gayle Dixon) are like family to him. "That's the way we operate," he said. "Hopefully, we treat folks that same way and they feel it in our everyday business, as well as here today." Executive Broker Lindsey Townsend shared in the appreciation of community festivities. "Every year, we look forward to hosting this Coffee and inviting the community in for a fun holiday event where we can just enjoy spending time together," Townsend said.

By all accounts, it seems the community enjoys this annual event just as much as the Lance & Associates team does. As the Coffee wound down to a close and people cheerfully accepted their parting gifts of an insulated mug and cozy gloves, many could by heard wishing Lance, Townsend, McGinnis-Stuart, Dixon, and fellow guests a very merry Christmas. The joy of the holiday and the camaraderie of community were abundant this morning at the Lance & Associates Christmas Community Coffee.