Family Christmas Celebration - 2025

Today is December 27th, but it is only one day past our family celebration.  We gathered here at my Christmas wonderland.      I was all decorated for the occasion, but my kitchen was unfortunately out of service...or the cook was. So everyone got to choose his or her own Jersey Mike's sub and even chips! I know...so special!  But just wait for the dessert!

Susan had bought me a wonderful book, and Susannah sat right down to read it to Bear. I wish I could include a video, but it might be next Christmas before I succeeded. This was definitely a highlight of our Christmas--TO MIMI's HOUSE WE GO"

My favorite picture! The little angel looked up at me and smiled.

I will never forget this moment.

My grands gave me, drumroll please, a Nespresso machine! Madeline has one and has made wonderful coffees for me with it! Coffee has become a highlight of my days, and this opens up a whole new world of options!

Maddie gave Jay and Terri the cutest Funko characters named

Jay and Terri and resembling them! 

We had a good laugh over Terri's and Rob's matching gifts from me! They are mugs that say "Being your mother-in-law seems like gift enough...but here's a mug"

The only thing is that they go on to say,

Merry Christmas 2024.

Terri noticed! Rob said, "Did you forget to give them to us last Christmas?" "Why yes, I believe I did! I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

Terri and Jay gave Bear all the coolest toys du jour, including a fabulous book he's going to love, and this fascinating teether,

and, of course, his Mickey ears which are monogrammed

Barrett!

Susannah's and Nick's anniversary is coming up on New Year's Eve! People still comment on how good their wedding cake was, and it was made by Creme de la Creme. The bakery sells sample boxes containing small pieces of all their flavors. I got a couple of these for our dessert, and here Susie and Nick are "cutting the cake," sharing all their favorite flavors. Just the best cake ever! I was proud of my idea, if not of my baking or cooking!

I had enough for everyone to have at least two pieces, but we didn't even eat near that much. But never fear. I'm enjoying the rest.

One of the most exciting thing about my Christmas was having the lights shining in the 75 plus year old doll house my parents gave me as a child. My precious niece Diann and her wonderful husband Patrick analyzed the problem, bought the parts, and sent an electrician to fix it. It made my Christmas bright!

This is the sweetest, most loving, most generous family, if I do say so myself, and I do.

I'm certainly glad Susan is in this picture, since it seems to be

the only one which included her. And she's the one who always makes sure everyone has photo memories!

Insert shame face.

The Mimes may not have cooked and for sure had lots of help, but she was still as tired as if she had been Mrs. Claus. Here are just a few of the pretties that she didn't have the energy to snuff.

The Metzgers came and helped me plug in and switch on all of them and offered to come back and undo, but I decided to just let them shine away.

This was the first thing I saw when I walked into the kitchen this morning.

See the candles in the little houses?

All the little votives still going!

And this brightness operates by remote!

And to all a Good Night!

                         

If I Had My Life To Live Over Again

I haven't given this a lot of thought, so it may not be all that comprehensive, but there are a few things I would do differently, in no particular  order.

I would at least attempt to be bilingual. It would have been so beneficial in my life to have been able to speak Spanish. I marvel at people who can just fluently switch back and forth!

I would NEVER stop playing piano if I learned how as a child/teenager, which I did. I played Bach and Beethoven and Debussy.  I would hope my teachers would allow me to play something else which would be more fun and pure enjoyment throughout my life!

I would also learn to play an orchestral instrument--specifically the violin. When I see older folk playing in orchestras, I am so jealous. Jack gave me a violin for Christmas one year, but I had only 2 or 3 lessons, and my teacher up and moved away. (Not because of me I don't think.) Anyway, I never found another teacher.  There is just a different kind of joy and comraderie found in a joint venture of creating musical beauty.

I would travel to the Holy Land sooner. My life was changed by a visit there, but I was in my seventies before I went. My major benefactor, a.k.a. husband, Jack Stovall, was more cautious than I, so I did not press him to go. I was never afraid on my trip with   Gary and Sandy Smith and 17 other Fielder friends in 2013. It was the best trip of my life. Gary and Sandy are leading a trip next year, May of 2026. If you can, you should go! I would go again in a heartbeat if I could, but my old heartbeats aren't that dependable any more!!! Really...don't pass up an opportunity to go with the BEST--Gary and Sandy Smith from Fielder Church, guided by the incomparable Yuval Shemesh. 

 I would study the Bible more. And go to Bible Study Fellowship when I was younger (and thought I didn't have time.) And, like Billy Graham answered when asked this question, "I would pray more." But guess what? The Lord gave me another opportunity to do that today, and I'm ready if He grants me another tomorrow!

All in all, it's been a pretty wonderful life if these are all the changes I would make, hasn't it?

and...

At 88, it's not too late to

                                             AMEN, Mark!