The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This truly is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!! Cleo and I really had a great Christmas and enjoyed spending it with family and a few friends. We started it off on Christmas Eve with just Cleo and I having a "Thanksgiving feast" at his request. I made a turkey breast with stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy and rolls (nothing like a little starch!). We then went to a beautiful candlelight service at church that was truly magical. We came home and opened one gift from each other as has always been our tradition. On Christmas morning I was so surprised to find that Cleo had purchased an antique ladder that I had seen months ago but was told was for display purposes only. Well Cleo, being as thoughtful as ever, went in and sweet talked the lady who owns the shop. She originally told him that she wouldn't sell it but would look for another one for him. After weeks of looking, with no success, she called him up and said she remembered how much I loved that ladder and she wanted to make this Christmas special for me and that she would indeed sell it to him. Is that not the sweetest gesture ever??? I am just amazed at how much thought went into that gift and I think it made him just as happy to see my delight. I got him a double trail cam to put in the woods behind the house and a heavy duty spotlight. He was just like a kid in a candy store and couldn't wait to "play" with his new toys. The spotlight didn't work after charging all day and we had to take it back on the 26th, but found one that was even nicer, with a carrying case, so that was a pretty good deal. The trail cam works perfect and takes pretty good pictures so lets just hope now some wildlife will stumble into its path. Jarod and Lindsey came down on Christmas day around noon and we then opened gifts with them. They did way too much for us and we just really enjoyed spending the day/night with them and Georgia (the dog). We are so thankful to live close to family and only wish that our other kids lived as close. We enjoyed a really nice roast pork loin dinner with them and some friends who recently moved here from Miami. After our friends left that evening, we played Skip Bo with Jarod and Lindsey and had a really good time. I had never played that game before and now I want to go buy it! On Friday morning, Cleo and Jarod got up early and went hunting for a couple hours (no luck) and then I cooked pancakes and bacon for breakfast. It was just really a great Christmas---but honestly the greatest gift this year for Cleo and I both was being in our home and finally feeling settled. We feel blessed in ways too numerous to mention and I pray we can keep this magical feeling alive throughout the coming year.

This is my antique ladder with all my quilts displayed on it. I really LOVE IT!!!

This was how Cleo left it after I went to bed Christmas Eve. I was so surprised on Christmas morning---just like when I was a kid and couldn't wait to see what Santa had left.

Cleo playing with his spotlight and trailcams.

Jarod and Lindsey with Georgia. Jarod was going for the "Griswold" look this year---don't you just love his sweater?? He actually didn't think the sweater was tacky enough and it's now Lindseys' mission to find a gaudier (is that even a word?) one for next year. They are both great and we are lucky to have them so close. Thank you both for a wonderful Christmas!

I hope that each of you had a truly wonderful Christmas as well and that we'll all try and keep a little bit of that magic in our life all year long.