Christmas Season Begins

From looking in the stores, you'd think the Christmas season already started almost before Halloween. Stores have had decorations and gifts out forever it seems, but tonight was really the first night of the Christmas season for us as we celebrated with a dinner with our church family. After the dinner, there was a lovely program, featuring this group, among others.



To the right you see an energetic and angelic choir. In the center, Mary, Joseph, the wise men and an angel observe baby Jesus. To the left are the shepherds with their flock of sheep and various other animals.

Even the teens came up and sang a song for us, along with several other music numbers. The program ended with Silent Night, sung by guest singers in German and Spanish, followed by the rest of the audience joining in for a verse in English.

On our way out, we had a chance to choose a card from the giving tree, to have an opportunity to share our many blessings with another family.

Now I feel like the Christmas season has truly begun.

Last Rose of the "Summer"

We live in a northern climate. Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and the yards and gardens are pretty much all put away for the winter. Temperatures have dipped below freezing a number of times and we have even had a couple of snowstorms. So yesterday, while visiting my mother, I was a bit shocked to look at her rose garden which had long ago been trimmed for the winter, and see these two roses just opening up!

We are thankful

Today, about 2/3 of our family was able to gather together for Thanksgiving, which in itself is something to be thankful for. The turkey was huge...and we were thankful that it was free!



It was accompanied by mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, green beans, sweet potatoes, relish tray, stuffed celery, jello, homemade rolls, cranberry sauce and such, and, since it is our family, it ended with pie...lots of pie!



Many of us were thankful that these two decided to snack early and then sleep through dinner.



When we weren't eating, we had a good time visiting, catching up and watching the children play.















It didn't take long to demolish the feast as many of the group participated in the town 5k 'Turkey Trot' first thing in the morning to work up an appetite.

Just so you know, everyone there was thankful for something...although some needed some assistance in writing down their thoughts.

What I am Thankful For:

Roma: Everything
Roger: family and free time
Nancy: Roger, 5 great kids and their spouses, and 18 lovely grandchildren
Dwight: family and the Gospel
Kristin: health, employment, family
Rachel: spending my time on earth with my friends and family
Cassidy: life and books
Jocelyn: family
Robert: werewolves
Benjamin: Halloween pie and cake
Susanna: blocks
Jeremy: Kathleen
Kathleen: soft food
Garrett: peanut butter
Julia: cake and pie
Aubrey: toes
Ron: lovely family, house, job and pizza
Jana: Baby Amelia, home, bacon
Amelia: Mommy, Daddy, milk, tiny moose toy

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Empty nesters....for real

Our five children have really been gone for home for some years now. Our 'baby' actually left home some years ago when she went off to college. She got married the day before we went to live in West Virginia for 18 months. After she finished her degree, they moved to a student housing complex near our town while her husband finished his degree, which happened last spring. Then they moved to an apartment off-campus while he began looking for a job.

Recently the job happened, which necessitates a move to yet another town 2 hours away from us. He has been working and coming home on weekends while she packs up. She and new baby stayed the last week or so with us while they waited to move.

Friday was the official moving day, so we supervised the loading of the moving van as they were busy down south signing papers for the house they bought. I guess they are officially on their own now. We came home Saturday.

All five kids now have jobs, a place to live and are launched. Whew! In this economy, I think this is a major accomplishment for them all!

Now we just have to figure out how to be empty nesters.

Thanks for your service!

Tonight we went to the local buffet restaurant which invites military folks, active and retired, to a special military appreciation dinner. As every other year, the place was packed!





There was a new addition this year. A local scout troop, complete with cool hats and sharp uniforms, greeted everyone at the door and then carried trays to the tables for folks. They did such a great job!



Thanks to this restaurant for their annual military appreciation dinner, and a special thanks to all who served their country.

Afloat in Soda

Today we were shopping at the local Walmart when we noticed the fellows checking out just next to us. We were amazed at the content of their shopping cart! Look carefully! It is not just the cart that is full. There is a stack ready to be checked out as well. I surely hope they are planning a huge party, because I can't imagine drinking that much soda in a lifetime!