Christmas Craziness!

Kiley and my nephew Jacob enjoyed having cans stacked on their heads.

Ever the hams, but such beautiful ones!

Kiley's self portrait in front of the kitchen wreath. How sweet!

A Wonderful Christmas

Going in to this Christmas, I wasn't looking forward to it. My son is moving to Iowa on Monday, and with hindsight and regrets, it was just one huge depressing season. What happened, it turned out to be the most beautiful one I will ever remember. Have you ever felt you could have done things differently, wondered if you did things right? I have felt this way for some time, but found out Christmas day I did . My son Chad presented me with the most beautiful ring, two hearts intertwined in rubies, his birthstone. Through my tears he whispered to me that the hearts were him and I to symbolize that we would never be apart. My grand-daughters spent the night with me, and when we got back to the house they handed me a poem from my son, speaking of our relationship and our life as mother and son. These two things I will cherish for the rest of my life. The ring will never leave my finger, the poem will be read 1000 times.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Z_ypUnnqr8Y&autoplay=0
Beautiful. Peace to all of you.
Laurie

Merry Christmas

To all of you, my friends, I want to wish a very Merry Christmas. I look forward to a new year with all, and also anticipate meeting more of you. You have all been like family to me, and it feels like I know all of you personally. Gods' blessings to all, have a safe, memorable holiday.

Laurie

Gift Bags for Marwood

Becky and Robyn came over yesterday to help ready gift bags for a local nursing home with many residents who receive no visitors or have no family. For the past 15+ years, our family has gotten the names of some of the most needy, and put together these gifts.
Ken and I find this to be the highlight of the Christmas season. He helps assemble, and we go together to deliver the bags.
This year we put together 23 gift bags, containing a throw, socks, lotions, powders, candy, hankies, a stuffed animal, (we were going to stop that one, but were told the animals were very well received and loved.) and usually an item that the recipient is in need of.
This is just a sampling of the bags that were delivered this year. We really look forward to doing this, and for Ken and I, this is what we do instead of exchanging gifts. Neither one of us needs anything, so this just feels right for us. Seniors have a very soft spot in our hearts, and it just wouldn't feel like Christmas if this tradition were to stop.

The Stick Tree

Becky and Robyn came over, looked at the decorations, and the first thing Becky said was "Beautiful Mom, but it's not Christmas without the stick tree." What is the stick tree? When I first met Ken, in 1986, I also met the tree. At that time, it was 8 years old. Ken was not into Christmas. So the eccentric soul that he is, he had kept his last live tree, and each year cut off the dead branches from the previous, and set it up in the living room with a strand of light wound around the now bare trunk. Thus the tree became a tradition. I took off the lights, and re-decorated it to at least resemble a Christmas tree. Every year, along with the regular tree, the stick tree goes up. This year, it didn't, and I really caught it for not doing so. I didn't think I could find any more room for one more thing! But out of necessity, the tree is up, and yes, it does seem more Christmasy with our tradition in place!

Thank-you To All

Today was the funeral for Becky's father. It was a beautiful service, and she read a very moving tribute to her daddy. We were all in tears, but everything she said about her father touched everyone's heart, he was one of the most selfless people I've ever known. We want to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and condolences. You prayers have made this very difficult period easier to bear. Bless all of you.
Laurie