2020 ALMOST OVER...

So long 2020!  What a difference a year has made, some bad some good.  BUT... it is almost gone and I will flip the page on the calendar tonight.  My next few days will be spent in my Santa Clause mask delivering gifts.  We have waited long enough (my husband's words), so the sleigh will be filled and we will be making a trip.  I hope there will be cookies for Santa and Mrs. Clause:)

I pray that you all will have a safe New Year's Eve and we will start trying to write 2021 on everything tomorrow!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Soon and very soon...

Of course I stayed in yesterday, it is just the way things are these days.  I decided to take Brooklyn's little stroller out of the box and put it together:)  I dressed the baby doll and can't wait to see what her new Mommy thinks about her.  She looks pretty cute in front of the tree with all of the other gifts yet to be distributed.  As the song says "Soon and very soon" we will celebrate a belated Christmas.  

I will perhaps finish my coffee on this Monday morning and get busy or not:)  Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Merry Christmas "DAY AFTER"...

Merry Christmas (day after actually), we were busy on Christmas morning and blogging had to wait:)  Tracy and Derek hosted our Christmas morning breakfast and gift exchange.  We didn't get to see the little ones due to sickness but will do it all over again when they are all better.  Flexible is something we are all having to be, even during Christmas.  We really enjoyed our time together, good food, great gifts and relaxing with loved ones!

Grandkids decide what they will call you and that's who you are.  Brooklyn calls Tracy Nina, first it was Mimi and then Nana and now Nina.  I found this book (upper right)  "A Christmas Sweater for Nina", and I think it was one of Tracy's favorite gifts:)  Austin, Alex and Avery loved all of their gifts and that always makes me happy.  We had lots of good food and treats to take home.  I hope you all enjoy this day after Christmas.  I am having my morning coffee and about to sort thru some gifts left to distribute and will have leftover Christmas casserole for breakfast, YUM.  

Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way for a safe and healthy New Year ahead!

Happy B'day to our Grandson Austin...

Today is our Grandson Austin's 22nd Birthday!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY Austin!  I hope your day is perfect.  I remember when we were waiting for Austin to be born, seems like yesterday.  Time sure flies by!  It is hard to have a birthday this close to Christmas but we always make sure we celebrate.  Austin is so kind to me and his Pa.  We love you Austin to the moon and back.  You will always hold a special place in our hearts!

Is everybody busy with last minute doings?  I got out yesterday to replace a few gifts that are obviously not going to make it in time for Christmas.  USPS should stick to delivering letters, I think they are overwhelmed with all of the packages being dumped on them.  OH WELL, I am sure they are working hard to get them delivered.  Enjoy these last few days before Christmas.  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

The Christmas Star...

You can barely see the Christmas Star in this picture but it's there!  We walked out behind our little cottage to get a glimpse of it.  We live in the woods but I found a gap in the trees to get a picture and gaze upon this star.

Perhaps if you missed it last night, you can catch it tonight.  It was pretty!  The Christmas star!

Matthew 2

King James Version

2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

I am busy finishing Christmas things.  I hope you all are well and enjoying this most wonderful time of the year!  Have a blessed day, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Lights make it better...

When the temps get really low, my little house needs some warmth.  I drip the water and turn the heat on, open the cabinets etc.  When I walked out to do that, the lights just make me smile.  I look out the window to see them even though they look the same as the last time:)  Just little things during the Christmas Season that make me happy... year after year and miss them when they are gone.  I will enjoy them while I can.

Perhaps this has already made it to my blog but if not, these lights and little glass tree are glowing in my "WE NEVER USE IT" dining room:)  I am enjoying the added lights throughout the house.  Staying home hasn't been so bad:)

Enjoy your days dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

My snowman says...

My Snowman says that it is 8 days until Christmas.  He reminds me every day:)  Yesterday was a rainy and cold day around her so I stayed in.  I gathered stacks of gifts and wrapped until my fingers wouldn't work anymore.  Oh what a wonderful feeling to accomplish so much in one day.  I have more to wrap but a lot less than when the day started yesterday!

We had pizza delivery for dinner because the grocery store just wasn't gonna be visited by me in the cold and rain.  That was just fine with me but today I will have to tough it out and buy some food.  I hope you are enjoying a peaceful morning in your home.  My Christmas lights are glowing and my coffee is hot.  Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Fun days together...

Tracy, Autumn and I made a plan to be together and have lunch, and that's what we did.  We enjoyed a little gift opening to start the day and off we went to the mall.  Masked up and had a great day.  Brooklyn and I rode the carousel.  We smiled as Brooklyn talked to the puppies at the pet store:)  She said while peeking at one of them "Oh my goodness"!  Jameson was content to hang with his Mama, he just doesn't like riding in the stroller these days!  It was a fun day! 

And another fun day, my brother Marshall's B'day party!  He turned 77 on Sunday and his daughters always throw him a dinner to celebrate his birthday.  It is one of my favorite days of the year.  

Today, I plan on staying in and getting some wrapping done.  Amazon needs to stay away from my porch, haha!  It has been my way of shopping this year, safer that way.  Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

TWO special birthdays today...

Happy Birthday to my Daughter Tracy, she was born on this day 47 years ago at 4:35AM.  My life and my heart forever changed that day!  I am so thankful to have such a kind and caring daughter who loves me as much as I love her.  Enjoy your day Punkin!  I look forward to spending the day together tomorrow:)

I love this picture, it is one of my FAVES!  FIRST GRADE!

Happy Birthday to Brother Marshall who turns 77 today!  This picture was taken on his birthday last year.  I love you Marshall and hope you have a wonderful day!

Have a blessed Sunday dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Looking back, smiles and tears...

I ran across this picture, Oh how I would love to go back to that day!  Autumn was graduating from High School in 2014 and we were celebrating with family out by Tracy and Derek's pool.  Obviously it turned out to be cooler than we anticipated, hence the quilt:)  L-R My Brother Leon and SIL Becky, Sister Cindy, My Aunt FOO FOO and Sister Brenda.  Both on the right are enjoying their Heavenly home, I miss them SO.  This picture just made me smile, looking back and remembering that happy day!  Enjoy each day with family, we aren't promised another.

When I was making out my Christmas cards this year, I had to skip sending one to my Sister Brenda for the first time ever!  I sure miss her:(

Love you all and hope you are having a wonderful day!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

The glow of lights and coffee...

This is how I start every day!   I am always thankful to have the coffee ready when I get up.  Sitting with my coffee and enjoying the Christmas lights glowing is wonderful!  This cup was from my Dad's place:)  We were working cleaning it out and there were two Christmas cups, perhaps they had candy in them as a gift at one point.  They are now my favorites for the Christmas Season:)

I pray you all are enjoying your days, staying healthy and have Christmas lights glowing where you are.  Have a blessed day, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

A visit makes this Ganky smile...

Autumn and the Babies came for a visit!  WOW, what a wonderful gift!  They came in smiling and made my heart happy!

I have kept all of the old toys from when the Grandkids were babies and this is why!  Brooklyn went from toy to toy playing and playing!  It did my heart good to watch her play with things that her Mama and Aunts and Uncle played with:)  The little sequined skirt B has on, Autumn said "Oh I remember that"!  Ganky smiles:)  Brooklyn wore the cowboy hat that Autumn wore at her age, more smiles.  She played with the stethoscope and checked my heart SO MANY times.  Gotta get her one for Christmas:)  

Jameson took a little nap while we played but we snuggled in by the tree to get a picture of the 3 of us!  They cried as they were driving off, me too!

Happiness is spending time with your Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren too:)

Enjoy your day dear friends, today is a fun day again with my retired co-workers.  Just 6 of us, we meet every year at Christmas.  I am looking forward to visiting with them.  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

House- warming and a beautiful sunset...

My Great-nephew Joseph and his Wife Kelsey moved into their new home recently.  Last night was their house-warming welcoming party.  I planned to drop in to see the house and take a gift.  I didn't stay too long but got to take a tour of their beautiful home.  Kelsey's Grandfather lives on one side and her Mother lives on the other, sounds like the perfect arrangement to me:)  Anyway, the house is gorgeous and this is the only picture that I took.  The clouds got in the way a bit but it is still pretty.

While I was at the house-warming, Marc was busy putting the finishing touches to the outside lights.  I am thankful that he loves doing this and will enjoy them for a few more weeks.  I walked up after dinner to get the mail and stopped to snap a picture of these guys.

The little cottage out back always gets a few lights!  I look out every morning and before bedtime to see them glowing:)  It's the little things in life that give me joy!

I hope your Sunday is perfect and that you feel the love of friends and family!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Wrapping started and some of my faves...

Up and down the attic stairs, that's about done for this Christmas.  Marc says every year that he doesn't know how many more years he can bring all of the decorations down.  Every year I say when you can't do it, we will hire someone to do it.  He doesn't complain much, just a tad:)

This looks like me yesterday:)  I set up my gift wrapping station upstairs so that it doesn't have to be put away every night.  I think I got about 10 wrapped, yeehaw!  This setup works better and doesn't stress me out with all of the wrapping paper & gifts staring at me:)

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...

And some of my favorite things are in place...

The gold poinsettias are glowing, one of my favorites on the tree...

The little glass tree made with safety pins is shining on the mantel...

AND now that there are gifts under the tree, it's looking much better:)  Enjoy your day dear friends I have a much needed hair appointment this afternoon.  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

The tree is up, Nutcrackers are happy...

The tree is up but no gifts wrapped yet, perhaps tomorrow:)  Yesterday was Nutcracker day, they were happy to be out of the attic:)  I have a tub of precious ornaments and they will be added to the tree soon!  I am enjoying frequent visits with my Granddaughter Autumn and these precious babies.  They love to see me and I love to see them.  Brooklyn is so excited to see the Christmas decorations and her Mama had the stockings hung when she woke up from her nap yesterday:)  Well, my coffee is tasty and I will be headed to visit with them again today.  Lots to do around here but it can wait.

Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!