Whew, it's me catching up AGAIN…

Catching up is something that I am doing A LOT lately:)  We celebrated our Grandson Austin's Birthday on the 23rd.  He flew in from Florida, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner together at Tracy and Derek's.  Happy Birthday sign welcomed us.

We sang "Happy Birthday to YOU" and loved being together...

I visited my Sister-in-law June on Christmas Eve.  I always stop at the end of the driveway to video the windmill.  It twirls and I know that my Brother Marshall was saying "Don't stay gone so long" or "come back every chance you get or even if you don't get a chance"!

I visited Marshall's gravesite, the girls had put the prettiest Christmas decorations, I had a little chat with him and left this little angel ornament.  Marshall, I miss you EVERY DAY!

Christmas morning breakfast and gifts with Tracy and family minus Autumn and family.  They had the flu in their house and we delayed celebrating with Autumn, Seth, Brooklyn and Jameson until this weekend.

We packed our sleigh again  headed out to Knoxville to celebrate Christmas with Marc's daughters and families.  We had lots of fun, ate too much good food and back home yesterday.

The sunset was gorgeous from Richard and Anna's front porch...

The sky was saying "safe travels" back home family!

So you see why I haven't been blogging, lots of family time!  I hope you all are happy and healthy as we close out 2021.  Stay safe everyone.  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

PEACE JOY LOVE...

Christmas cards are coming every day!  This one is from my Niece Suzanne and her precious family with a picture enclosed.  Don't 'cha love getting pictures at Christmastime?  I sure do and I save them!  Christmas is 3 days away and I have never been more ready.  All of the gifts are sorted by family and ready to load up to be delivered.  It is always exciting to see everyone opening their gifts.  I really love the smiles.  SO... here is my pretty card that I plan on framing.  Something about this card, WE all need more...

 

PEACE 

JOY 

LOVE

My Nephew Bradley and his wife Tiffany welcomed a little baby girl yesterday.  Her name is Sadie Mae and I will share a picture really soon.  Now they are a family of FIVE!

Enjoy your day dear friends, I have to run out for a couple things or am I just getting out to be getting out:)  Either way, it's going to be a great day!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

It's a different kind of Christmas...

It rained pretty much all day yesterday and since I didn't have to get out, I didn't.  I have a little table that I use quite often and one of the things that it is used for is wrapping.  So I wrapped ALL of the gifts that were waiting to be wrapped, several still coming today but for this morning, it is done.  Lots of the packages are still waiting to have ribbons, some won't be opened until mid-January but they are ready!  Since we aren't having our usual family get-togethers this year, I will have a few gifts to deliver.  Christmas day and the day after will be the most togetherness that we will have.  Sitting peacefully in my chair very early this morning with a hot cup of coffee, my tree is glowing!  

It's a different kind of Christmas and for the most part my heart can't seem to be completely happy.  I try... I really try but there are too many missing in my life this Christmas.  I am not whining and I know how blessed that I am to have those still with me, but just being honest... I miss 3 of my people terribly.

Each day I find something to be happy about!  I choose to keep keeping on, I hope you all have a wonderful week before Christmas!  6 Days left.  Enjoy this day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

This week...

Where did the week go?  HERE is a look at my busy week because this is my journal and I am lagging on posting.  BUT, it is a busy time of the year.  Monday, we celebrated Tracy's B'day with some shopping and lunch.  We enjoyed our time together.

Tracy and I try to get a pic together, sometimes we forget but today we remembered.  My beautiful and OH SO SWEET daughter on her 48th Birthday!

We stopped for a picture with Brooklyn and Jameson.  There were many tries to get this one where they were both looking in the same direction:)

Tuesday I had lunch with my friends.  We all retired at different times but have met for Christmas lunch for as long as I can remember.  We had a delicious lunch, exchanged gifts and did a little shopping.

A peaceful picture to finish my post, the sun was setting behind the trees and the lights on my little house had just come on.  Sometimes I just go out there to enjoy the peace and quiet...

The countdown to Christmas is moving a little fast to suit me.  I have a few gifts to wrap and need to make a grocery shopping trip to beat the crowd.  Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

December 13th Birthdays...

Today we celebrate December 13th Birthdays.  My precious daughter Tracy and my Brother Marshall.  Sadly we lost Marshall in March and my heart misses him every day.  Marshall will be celebrating his first Heavenly birthday and I will spend the day with my beautiful BFF Tracy!  We will do some shopping and eat something yummy, whatever she chooses.  I will miss being together at my Nieces to celebrate Marshall's birthday but will remember last year and all of the years before!

When Tracy was born, I was 19 years old.  I had no idea how to take care of her but I quickly learned.  With my Mama's help, I went to work every day and my little girl became my little sidekick and my forever best friend!  I love you Tracy and thankful that you were born on your Uncle Marshall's birthday!  It has, and always will be special to me and it was to him too!

I chose some of my favorite pictures to share...

Sweetest little girl...

AND... MY Best friend!  Always kind to her Mama!  I love you Punkin and thankful that God gave you to me!

This picture was taken last year on Marshall's Birthday!  You just never know when it's your last:(  I love you Marshall, but you knew that and I knew you loved me!

Have a blessed day dear friends, I will be enjoying spending time with my Daughter, Granddaughter and great-grandchildren!  Making every day count...  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

My week of visiting...

I am determined to do more visiting this year, less stressing about shopping.  One day this week, Tracy and I went to visit Autumn and the babies.  While Jameson was napping, Brooklyn and I had some reading time.

Sister Cindy, Sister-in-law June and I went on a road trip to do some visiting...

While I was at June's, I took some pictures of some of the precious decorations.  Same Santa that I have!  It was gifted us by my Sister Barbara SO VERY long ago.

Beautiful Nativity scene...

And this is where we went.  We visited our Brother Leon and Sister-in-law Becky.  We enjoyed our time with them, they served us homemade vegetable soup and sandwiches.  It was delicious but the fellowship sitting around their kitchen table was the best  Here we are, the last 3 Siblings of the 6.

My Nephew Bradley and his family are safe from the tornadoes that moved thru Kentucky overnight, I am SO thankful!  Prayers for all in the path of the storm!

I am almost finished wrapping and with just a few things left to buy, YEAH!  That leaves more time for visiting:)  Enjoy your day dear friends,  sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

18 days HO HO HO...

Are you all busy getting ready for Christmas?  I have only a few gifts left to buy but wrapping has been how I have been spending my extra (haha) time.  I set my little table in front of my favorite chair yesterday and pretty much wrapped all day.  Oh it felt good and gave me a little back ache too.  This picture is from a year ago, Tracy and I having fun together at an antique store:)  It made me smile and thought it might do the same for you!  HO HO HO

18 days until Christmas!  I want to do some visiting and less shopping/wrapping in the last two weeks leading up to Christmas.  I hope you all are well, not many bloggers posting these days, including me.  Just busy!  Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Christmas is 22 days away...

The little snow people say that it's 22 days until Christmas:)  I guess they know!  Anyway, I have been busy but wanted to say HI!  I have been doing a little shopping, had lunch with my Daughter Tracy, Sister Cindy and Sister-in-law June earlier this week.  We had Chinese buffet which was SO delicious, shopped together and laughed a whole lot.  Laughter is good for your heart!

I always love putting these out...

I have been steady wrapping gifts when I have a moment!

Here is a picture of my precious nutcrackers collection!  My Sister Barbara always loved when I put them out.  She gave me all of them over the years, I am thankful and sure hope that she can see them from Heaven.

What else I did this week, Alex's Boyfriend Timmy had a birthday and a basketball game.  We went to celebrate and watch him play.  WOW what a great game, Timmy played hard the entire game!

Timmy's Mom snapped a picture of us after the game!

AND whenever there is a statue to pose with, well I pose with it and Tracy took our picture.  WE got a good laugh!

I hope you all are having a wonderful December.  This time of the year just flies right by to me and I am trying to enjoy each day that the Lord blesses me with.  Have a blessed day, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!