Merry Christmas! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

I meant to post yesterday or first thing this morning to wish everyone a Merry Christmas but time slipped away from me as I prepared for today’s festivities. So, now I will just say I hope that your day was lovely and that you spent it with someone you love. I did and more than one someone as our house was full and overflowing with friends and family. We had enough food to feed a third world country. Nine different vegetables, including two different kinds of sweet potatoes, turkey, dressing, rolls, jello salad and a whole table full of desserts. We just rolled onto the floor moaning and holding our stomachs after the meal was consumed. This year, I used paper plates because some family members are so compulsive that they cannot relax until the last plate is washed. So, the meal was quick to clean up as well. Despite the weatherman’s gloomy forecast, the rain held off so people could go outside and walk off their dinner. As usual, Miss Julia provided the entertainment. She announced that she LOVES horses. After feeding Trucker an entire bag of carrots, she asked for a ride. Last year, I saddled him up only for her to refuse to go near him, but this year, she let Uncle Glen put her right up on him with no saddle or bridle. She kept hollering “Giddy Up Horsie” and demanded to hold the lead rope saying, “It’s the brake!” After much laughter and photographs, we pried her off his back with a bribe of cake. Another horse addict created. Then, she went after her cousin, my youngest son, insisting he clean his room and wash his feet. A mom in the making as well. For me, the whole day was really a second Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for starting with the baby who became our Savior. Looking around the room, I saw two people who had dodged cancer scares, my own husband who had a health fright this year, but is also okay. All four of our parents, healthy and happy. Sisters, brothers in law, cousins, friends. Everyone was there, but oldest son who could not leave Pensacola. For the twenty-fifth year, we have hosted Christmas dinner at our house and we were all together again for another year. One of the best reasons to be thankful, youngest son found out yesterday he passed the state license exam for firefighter so now he is really and truly certified! Yes, we have much to be thankful for. In keeping with that theme, I did not ask for anything new this year as a gift, instead, keeping in consideration how much I already have, just asked for repairs to some broken things, a new laptop battery and power cord, a blade for my glass saw, reconditioning of my grandmother’s sewing machine. I am content with what I have. Who wouldn’t be if they had as much as I do to be thankful for?