Barely Made It

Christmas seemed to sneak up on me this year. I usually have my cards done and sent out the first week of December, all the presents bought by week two... but my cards went out really late and I was still shopping on the 23rd! 

 

There were doctor's appointments, and dentist appointments, and one of the busiest seasons at work, and a new grand baby, and snow, and ice... but we were able to get everything done just in time.

We ended up getting a good amount of snow (for our area) on the 18th, then more on the 21st. Then the temps dropped into the teens and everything was covered with ice!

 

Beth had a party to go to and after DART picked her up they called to cancel her ride!

 

Chuck helping her out to the bus

 

Too late! So we ended up canceling her return ride and we just picked her up ourselves. Chuck drives city buses in this stuff for a living so this was nothin' for him.

 Our yard and street covered with a layer of ice. We had it very mild compared to other parts of the country!

 

We went to Sharaya's on the 24th to give Ally her traditional Christmas Eve pajamas. It's been a tradition in our family for more than 30 years.

1994

2013

2022

Chuck, Beth and I had a quiet Christmas morning. Beth was a little concerned about the change in the Christmas routine this year but she was pretty happy when it was all over. She even played Santa and handed out the gifts.

 

 

 

You can see what I got on the coffee table, a turntable! I had one quite a few years ago but it died. I'm so excited to be able to play my records again! Oh wait, they're called vinyls now. I'm excited to play my vinyls!

 

 

New slippers!

 It was around noon when we headed to Diana and Peter's. We played trivia, opened a few gifts, had a delicious Italian dinner and everyone held Adelaide! 💖

The Brunos and the Andersons. The Brundersons!

 

 

 

 

Peter's mom

 

Ally and Sharaya. And Poppy

Me and my granddaughters. It was the best day!!

Absolutely Adorable!

 On Saturday, December 17 Adelaide Noelle was born!

 

Diana and Peter had their baby! 

She came just 3 days after her due date and she's absolutely adorable!

They had her at a birthing center and all three are doing well.

 

She's got that precious 'new baby' smell.

She fits perfectly in the crook of your arm!

Just a few days old and already loved and cherished by so many.

 

I haven't asked for permission to post everyone's picture yet -

so I'll just show you these for now.

 

 This one was taken right after breakfast.

"Got milk?"

 

 I'm SO in love!! 💗

Where Was I?

Look at me sitting at my computer writing to all of you! It's a Christmas miracle! Things haven't slowed down one bit since I last wrote, but I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

So, where was I? Oh yeah, "Then the snow hit."

 

I know weather is relative. A day of rain is a deluge to some and barely noticeable to others. Two inches of snow is armageddon to some and t-shirt weather to others. On Tuesday the 28th we got the first snowfall of the season and church was canceled, city busses were put on snow routes and schools shut down.

 

 

 I know some of you are trying not to laugh. And I appreciate it. Tuesday night our power went out and was out for almost 24 hours. I was so grateful for my tea kettle! Peter bought it for me for Christmas last year because our power had gone out earlier and I couldn't use my electric kettle. Hot tea is good any time of year but it's crucial during a power outage! Diana invited us over to her house on Wednesday so we hung out there for a while. It was warm and toasty!

 

 

Diana and Peter's dog Poppy

 

Eventually the temps rose above freezing, the snow melted and we were all back at work by Thursday. Decorating day for us. The entire staff spends the morning decorating the church, it's fun. Then we all eat pizza and head back to our desks.

 

 Plus I've had a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment - all routine stuff. I've got my Christmas cards almost done; I'm getting some gifts ready for the custodians, havng Christmas dinner this week with a friend in assisted living... but all-in-all I think things are beginning to slow down. 

 

Peter's family is coming out here for Christmas this year so the gift-giving is a little different. We've actually decided to only buy gifts for the kids. No adult exchange this year, which I'm okay with. Takes the pressure off. Chuck, Beth and I will exchange gifts Christmas morning, then we're all going over to D&P's for dinner and games. We haven't seen his family since the wedding a year ago September so I'm really looking forward to that.

 

Dinner is about ready so I'll close this. I miss you all! I haven't been reading - or writing - it seems for a couple weeks. I'm taking a week off over Christmas so I hope to do a little more blogging during that time. I hope you're all doing well! God bless!

The Busiest Week of the Year Turned Into a Little More

We've been doing these Thanksgiving Outreaches for more than 25 years and every year is different. Pastor R's wife J, who organizes and plans everything was sick this year and for the very first time wasn't there Thanksgiving Day! She's in her 70's and is just pushing herself too hard. (That's what Pastor R told me.) I believe him.

 

But everything went well. There were so many extra people that came to eat we had to set up 9 additional tables! Everyone eats, we clear and reset the tables, then the next group - or seating -  comes in. We have three seatings every year. We were completely exhausted by the end of the week / day, but it was so good to serve the community. We have a reception area for families to have snacks and play games while they wait to go into the dining room; there is a place to have photos taken; we have translators, prayer counselors, a clothing bank... and everything is free.

 

I spent Friday watching the parade and just recuperating. Then Saturday morning Beth and I headed back to church to clean up and reset everything for Sunday morning. I brought donuts, granola bars, bananas, McDonalds egg McMuffins, orange juice - anything the custodians might need to keep them going all day! We worked for a few hours, then headed home for our family Thanksgiving while the custodians finished up at church.

 

 

Our dinner was delicious and afterward we took a walk, then played cards. Poppy rested on the couch and watched us play.

At 5:15 Sunday morning I got a text from the custodian saying he was sick and couldn't work. I started getting ready just in case and at 6:00am began texting other custodians to see if they could work but it was a holiday weekend and no one was available. So I worked an 8 hour shift as a custodian, lifting huge cambros filled with coffee, moving tables,

needless to say I was wiped out by the end of the weekend. Thankfully we had Monday off so I rested that day too.

 

 

Tuesday I was back at work and that evening, the snow hit. More on that later!