After Christmas

Well, Christmas is over and all the excitement of wrapping and baking and being with family is just a fond memory. We came home yesterday after four days in Chesapeake with Susan's family and Cindy's family. It was wonderful to experience Christmas morning with little ones. The joy and wonder on their faces as they first opened their eyes to the treasures under the tree. Priceless!! The breakfast table set with Susan's Christmas china and the yummy smell of the casserole baking in the oven greeted us as we came down the stairs. Wonderful!

Later in the day, we joined Cindy's family for dinner. The beautiful table setting, the smells of ham and green bean casserole coming from the oven, the children laughing and enjoying one another's company met us as we came through the front door. Lots of happy times and delicious food and good conversation lasted the afternoon. So much for which we are thankful.

Missing the three who were not with us. Eric, Sarah and Jesse in Baltimore having a great day with Sarah's family. Dale and Al and Kevin and Jodi, Kevin, Jr., Nick, and Kahli in Wisconsin. We talk with each of them and hear about their day, thanking them for the treasures they have sent to us and hearing how our gifts to them were received and our day is complete.

Two more days of visiting and cuddling with the little ones. A little after-Christmas shopping and lots more eating and it's time for us to come home. Sad but satisfied, we drive home in the sunshine and find our home intact. Neighbors have gathered our mail and made sure things are safe while we are away.

As soon as we unpack the car and put everything away, a neighbor stops by and we have a nice visit over a cup of fresh coffee. Catching up on all the latest home town news, he leaves and we begin to prepare our supper of soup and freshly baked bread. Things are back to normal and it's nice. We glance across the table at one another and smile.

Time to think about the upcoming Holidays!

I love Thanksgiving the most. We usually spend the day with two of our daughters and their families and it feels like "home" again. We do a little shopping the day after and it just feels good to be together making memories and sharing traditions we've had from the past. Christmas has special memories. As a child, it was all about Christ's birth. We had a gift or two but the focus was always on church services and programs and the true meaning of Christmas.

As a young woman, I fell in love at Christmas time. Every year when I begin to hear the carols play I feel that warmth and happiness that began when I fell in love with my husband 53 years ago. Our first dates were spent at family gatherings and other celebrations and those memories are as fresh as today. Our children are grown and have their own family traditions now. Sometimes we feel like an extra spoke in their wheel of activities. In the next few days Wally and I will spend some time planning what we'll do and where we'll be throughout the holidays. We will enjoy friends who come to our porch and sing carols every year. I love to bake and share with our neighbors and family. These are all fun things that don't take away the real meaning of the season. We decorate as we've always done but it does get harder each year to lug the boxes down from the attic and it takes longer to get things set up and then taken down. Well worth it though.

I'll miss the snow and cold weather that meant Christmas was on the way in my younger days but the spirit will still be with us - as we plan for cantatas, special community events and the reading of God's Word that makes this season precious.
__________________Ruth

Well, another rainy day in southwest Virginia. Worse in southeast Virginia! This morning we woke up to a flooded room in our basement. Thankfully, the water stopped at the door leading to our carpeted finished basement rooms. We finally think we have figured out where the rain is coming in - hard to tell when the entire floor is covered. Now to get our builder to come and fix it before it does damage in a future rainstorm.

Life has been a little tough recently. Overshadowing the joy of having family here with us are all the "bumps in the road" that keep popping up. First, a problem with our refrigerator. Still keeps things cold - just no ice. That's manageable. Then the car starts acting up - new steering column, brakes and wheel bearings. You can imagine what that bill came to. As we prepare for the Moody family's visit, we find that there is no water pressure. Another call for service - another bill. The flooded basement is the most recent in a week of troubles that have taken away all we had set aside for Christmas and so much more.

Still - we are healthy and warm and well fed. Can't ask for more than that, can we? God is with us protecting us from serious harm. I have to wonder why all the attacks at this time. It seems in times past we were attacked when God was preparing to use us in some way. As in times past, we will not be discouraged or change our direction. He will lead us where we are meant to go and we will follow.

This is my first post on my brand new blog!! I'm excited to be able to write down my thoughts and then share them with my children and other family members and friends who may be interested in what's going on here at home.

We had to say "goodbye" to my sister and brother in law this morning after a wonderful three day visit with them. It's wonderful having them here and then driving to visit them in their beautiful home in sunny Florida. The best of both worlds we always say. They get to see the fall color and casual living here in Virginia. We get to enjoy some sunshine in the early spring when we're tired of winter. It's always sad to see them go though.