Christmas revisited!

(The girls with Dramuh and Ollie in the new Gazebo!!)
I can't start the new year without at least mentioning the wonderful Christmas we had. We had Christmas in our little rental...the best ever because I took the girls with me this year to pick out their goodies...they shopped with Marc for me...and they wrapped 90% of the stuff....very very relaxing. Then, we traversed the country...well, kinda....We left sunny Florida, it was 84 degrees...we were dressed for Southern Indiana...so we were all sweaty by the time we packed the Volvo. Dog, luggage, presents, 2 girls, Ma and Pa set out for Grandmas...or "Dramuhs" as we call her. We decided we'd drive an extra 2 hours (for our stopover midpoint) and stay over in Chatanooooooga (sounds like a horn)...and have breakfast with Marc's cousins & Aunts....we bedded it down in the only room available in a Pet-friendly hotel...use your imagination..yep, that's it. The girls got to sleep on a pull out couch...facing us...the dog leaped from 1 bed to the other all nite because he had slept allllll day thanks to his doggy tranquilizer....he wanted to go out at 2 am....my mind considered it...then realized it would involve full body clothes, an elevator ride, not to mention the frigid TN temp....I made him wait until Marc woke up at 5...gotta love that man.

(Tennessee family)


We had breakfast at one of those all u can eat places (secretly we loved it) had a good visit and headed north....arriving at my Mom's....the first time I've been home when my Dad was not sitting at the kitchen table waiting to greet us...his absence was a constant. I've mentioned before...he was kinda cranky...but even cranky is missed because it always had its place in the family dynamics...I've never been there when he wasn't. I missed him every minute. It was kinda like the Aboriginese' tradition in the movie "Australia"...once someone passes away you are to never mention their name again....We weren't trying not to mention his name....we just couldn't bring ourselves to talk about him...it's too soon, too raw...the tears were always about to overflow. That was difficult.
Dan's new ride...and willing passenger.... )


But soon the family started pouring in...we ate all the traditional stuff that is served up in So. Indiana...."Italian Spaghetti"...made with lots of onions and bacon....cottage cheese at every meal...rivoli's (stewed tomatoes with homemade dumplings) etc., etc. Christmas dinner took place there on Saturday...everyone in attendance minus my brother Chris' family...they celebrated in Texas. A total of 25 sat down for a feast...then 25 opened presents ...1 at a time...it's tradition...and each gift is graded...."good present"...everyone says it in unison...and they are!

Miss Ava plays "Santa"

After a fun weekend there full of 'guy movies (hellboy II) and chic flicks (27 dresses) and HOURS of visiting from alll the extended relatives, and Marc singing at Dan's church...we headed SE....to visit THE house....we stopped off in TN to pick up Adrianne's honey then continued on to the mountains...arrived, turned the heat and water back on and voila....it's our home again....we even hosted (kinda) a New Years Eve party....lots of friends came out....we are such a party crowd that everyone was able to make it because no plans (besides family dinners) had yet been made....I love our friends.



NC gals....buds for life!!










We made it back to Florida in time to have 2 more days at home before returning to work...and a few more days before the girls headed back to school.

I loved this Christmas. We celebrated in Florida on Christmas Eve with our newfound friends and church family...then our visits in IN, TN, and NC with family and friends was full of quality time and "love".


This was a very good Christmas indeed. Happy Birthday Jesus!

The Miller-4 plus a drugged pup...in the traditional family photo op at Grandmas...in front of the tree!

Happy New Year!!

Gotta love the south...all year...but especially in Winter. Yesterday, January 4th...I laid out at my pool...it was in the 80's...bright, sunny, blue sky with scattered puffy white clouds...mmmm delight! Thank you Lord for sunshine and warmth...ain't nothin better....nowhere!

More about Christmas later...I'm still basking in the love of having both kids home for 2 more days...hubby went back to work today...we won't hear from him til tonite...that gives us a day of just girlness...we are deep in the midst of watching The Thornbirds...mmmm, my girls' first time thru....one of my most favorite movies...or moovah as we've come to call them. By the way...have you seen Australia yet? It's as great as "Gone with the wind"...but with eye candy. And, what about "Marley and Me"...loved it...but cried at the end...hated the part about when they left south Florida for Pennsylvania...talk about a death wish...who does that? Why would you? You could tell Jennifer Anniston was cold....check out that awful sweater she was always pulling around herself....back in Florida she just wore cool shorts and a tank.....

A Charlie Brown Christmas....

Luke 2:8-14

...And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the LORD appeared to them and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the LORD. The will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest."

A Savior has been born indeed....good thing...because we need Him so desperately!

Merry Christmas 2008!

Christmas laughs....for dog lovers

watch this:

http://www.dogwork.com/dogsnow/


Thanks to my mountain buddy Kah-roll for sharing!

Happy Birthday Beauty!!

Ocala Lights...at Christmas...

Today is the day we celebrate Miss Adah's birthday...woohoooooooooooo!!!!!

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday dear Adaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Happy Birthday to yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

And many moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooore!

A day of birthday shopping in Orlando, dinner at the Melting Pot, presents and cards at home followed by a "Betty Cake" (mmmmm)..what a "wild" birthday was had by this 20 year old! ha hahahahaha

Life is WAY better because you were created! We love you doll!

amusement

I have a new friend...she passed this onto me...and she's really quite crazy ....if you would like to amuse yourself too....check out this website....just in time for Christmas.....www.elfyourself.com GO!

Christmas time...mmmm

Ring-a-ling, hear them sing....it's Christmastime in the city....even in little slowcala!!! Today, Miss Whitney finished up the last of her finals and she is F-I-N-A-Y....til January...and...SO IS ADRIANNE!!! Delight...starting tonite at about 1 AM I will have both my girls home, under 1 roof...and all mine for a month. Hurray!!! Adah has a b-day tomorrow...She will be 2-0! No way, how can my kid be 20 when I am still holding on at 25? Hmmm??

moving on.....I have a new outlook on our President-elect....my Pastor passed it onto me...and so did Chuck Swindoll this morning on the radio. My Pastor, when reading us the Christmas message in Luke 2:8-19 reminded us of Isaiah 9:6-7...which says, "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (mmmmm , breathe out) of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. HE will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

Now we know all this is yet to come...but what a wonderful reminder...yes, we do have to live under this government now...but there is a day coming...when all evil is in hell...and Believers will be with the Lord...under a government that is upheld with justice and righteousness....forever....that gives me hope!

Chuck Swindoll was talking about our "thinking". I like Chuck S....maybe because he is calm...speaking like a soothing balm. He used Phil 4:6... the verse that says, "do not be anxious about anything but in all things with prayer and thanksgiving make your requests known to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds...." then he goes on to tell us what we are to do once we've "unloaded that burden onto the Lord"...we are to think on (Phil 4:8) "whatever is true, noble, right, pure lovely, admirable....if anything is excellent or praiseworthy....and the God of peace will be with you".

So, no more complaining about B. Hussein Obama....this is his heaven on earth...I choose this day to think on "lovely" things. When I say that I like to say it with a British accent and make it have more syllables...luv-uh-ly!

Today, as my Pastor says...."relax, let God put his arm around you and save you...for His purpose". He uses the example of a Lifeguard swimming toward a drowning person...they are to stay at a close distance from the flailing swimmer...then once they relax (or stop trying to save themselves) the lifeguard can approach and safely put his arm around them and pull them to safety! mmmmm, comforting word picture.

Breathe in, .....out......relax and think on good things...it's Christmas time in the city....ring-a-ling!

Simple Christmas

Ok. Now, it is time for Christmas and all that it entails....always in the past there have been "Christmas Spectaculars" to perform, trees (plural) to put up, lights outside and many tables to cover in Christmasy things...this year....in what we refer to as "The Unit"...there will be none of that. We have a 4 foot tall and 1 foot wide fake tree that was given to us by a sweet, sweet friend.....I spent $4 at Wal-mart decorating it...no there is no wedgewood, or lladro, or swarvoski anything on this tree....just jingle bells, ha.....no tables are being filled with stuff...I do wish I had my Nativity Scene from home....but it feels good. When I braved Super Wal-mart to spend my $4....everyone was there hustling and bustling FILLING FILLING FILLING their carts with that strained look on their faces that I used to have...with the pressure of making "the house" look Christmasy....all I had to do was pick up 3 things, pay my $4 and walk out....big deep breath in and then out....house is decorated. This Christmas will be calm.

I love Holidays

MLS #406460 buy me at www.beverly-hanks.com

Well, well, well...another holiday has come and gone ...and we are better because of it. We traveled back to the land of ice and spent Thanksgiving in the "Big House"....and nearly froze to death....we are quickly becoming Floridians!! Yeah!!

The thing I like best about vacation is the "doing nothing" part....being quiet...reading books, looking at magazines, watching the fire, and sipping hot things in mugs. I like waking up slowly, drinking coffee until I'm finished...eating when I finally think about it...and never, ever rushing getting dressed...then when I do...it's something sloppy...mmmmmmm

I like moving from one room to another in the "big house"....deciding which room I want to relax in next. See....where we are now...there are no choices...and I KNOW that is temporary...but it does feel like forever....but coziness is good too....I think!?!

So this holiday was spent relaxing, taking walks, seeing movies, eating and visiting with some friends....but mostly just "doing nothing"....my favorite thing!