A few Highlights.

 Christmas Eve around here was a tad bit different from those in the past.  Not everyone could be here, but it was "face time" to the rescue  that evening.  Goodness....isn't it nice to have Face Time?  

I mentioned last year how I always hide a pickle ornament on the tree.  The first person to find it gets a special gift.  This year, Trista found the new wooden pickle!!  She was so excited because this was her first time to find it.  

I purchased this WOODEN pickle when I was on my trip to Branson.  This pickle is a carved pickle and has a hole in the bottom of it to slide your money gift into.  All of the kiddos searched and searched...I'm guessing it took them at least 20 minutes before Trista found it.  

I did a new thing this year....  I had a candy cane hunt!  The candy canes were wrapped with different denominations of money.  I hung them outside (after dark) on the trees, shrubs, the swing and in all kinds of places in the front yard.  They all had to use the flashlight on their phones to do a night time candy cane hunt.  They all had a GREAT time doing this.  I know it will be a request for next year!

The next morning, I went outside to check around to make sure they had found all of the candy canes.  I actually found two, hanging in different trees.  Finders, Keepers!!

This little guy made our evening so full.  He rode his horse, his scooter and throughly enjoyed playing with all of the discarded wrapping paper.  The Ginger Bread Cookie was what he loved the most!!  Imagine that.

This one is actually a Gingerbread girl.  I had both the guy and girl. William loved eating the eyes and all of the decorative icing off first...

We also played a little drawing game.  Each person had a blank snowman.  They had two dice to roll, and a pen to draw the details on their snowman.   The instructions were like this......roll double 1's and you could put a hat on your snowman.  Roll double 5's and you could put buttons on your snowman.  In other words, you had to roll a certain number for each item needed.  At the end of 2 minutes the person with the most decorated snowman won!!  Emily T.  WON! 🥇  I'm not sure what happened to the picture of Emily holding her drawing, but here is one of Carson and his snowman.

Why did I say Emily T. ??  Because 3 of our 4 grandsons married an Emily/Emalee.  We have three granddaughter in-laws with the same name. 

This year, I gave all of the couples plus Mylee Jo a large "Hulken" bag and I had all kinds of goodies stuffed in there.  Aside from their gifts, I filled the bag up with toiletries.....good household items, plus a game for each one..  Games like Uzzle, Wheel of Fortune, Crowns, Mexican Train and such.  They all seemed to be thrilled... Needless to say, these bags took up a lot of space in our living area.  

Would you believe that I even gifted MYSELF with one?  I sure did and I love it.  

We had a little party at the Nursing Home for Sam's dad on Sunday afternoon and I loaded my bag up with all the goodies....Cake, Cookies, Drinks, Napkins, Plates...everything I needed to set up for the party.  I rolled my bag into the party room...unloaded everything and when it was over, loaded leftovers back up and took it out to my car.  

EASY PEASY!!  I needed one of these bags a long time ago.  

Sam's dad enjoyed his Christmas party with family and to top things off, the kids (not really kids anymore) got up and sang for him.  

The joy on his face and the clapping of his hands was priceless.  

These are just a few highlights of time spent with family... 

We have no appointments until Friday.  Woo Hoo!!

Everyone have a good one today!!

Shug...💛

December 29th

 December 29, 2025

This year of 2025 is nearing an end.  However, I am still very excited....our Military grandson and family will be here TOMORROW!!  I cannot wait to give them all big hugs!!  

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

Cooler temps have finally made their way into our area.  Late last evening, I went outside and covered up my "Fox Tail" ferns and it's a good thing that I did.  When we got up this morning it was 30 degrees and felt like 26 degrees.  I know this isn't really cold for those of you who live in snow country, but this is Winter temps around here.  

Don't laugh...🤣. Somewhere underneath all of this are my Fox Tail ferns.  LOL..It was the best I could do late last evening.  At least they got covered.  

On the stove, I'm cooking a large pot of homemade soup!  Vegetable Beef! Oven is heating and in just a bit I'll have a black cast Iron skillet of cornbread ready to go.   

Other than cooking soup, this is a perfectly good day to do nothing.  Am I sounding lazy?  Today is just a good day for breathing in the last few quite corners of December.  I am making progress towards my New Years goals.  And... I have a certain word that just keeps knocking at my heart for the year ahead.  I don't fully understand yet, but I can feel it.  

New Year's EVE.....We will go to our oldest daughters home for dinner and will just spend some time visiting with family.  New Year's day plans are whispering in the distance.....nothing big though.  My menu will include BBQ Ribs, Black eyed peas, cabbage, Cream Potatoes, and cabbage.  Dessert?  to be determined. 

Wishing you all a very cozy day!!

See y'all tomorrow!!

Shug

   

Week Update.

 Hopping on to say "Merry Christmas" and I hope everyone has had a safe and Blessed Christmas. 

We were very Blessed this Christmas season!!  I will admit....it has been a little rough though.  

We celebrated with our kids on Christmas eve and again for Christmas lunch.  As always, the food, the games, the laughter and our time together was given and received with tons of love. 

This best part of this Christmas season was in celebrating the birth of "Jesus!"  My heart is FULL in knowing that all of our kids and grandkids know and celebrate the "reason for the season."  They love the Lord and are all beautiful reminders of God's faithfulness to our family. 

Christmas comes and goes so quickly, but the memories we make linger in our hearts long after decorations are packed away.  I am deeply grateful for traditions that bring us together year after year and for a Savior whose birth gives meaning to every season of our lives. 

Even though the past few days have been difficult and even a bit emotional, our family has stood firmly together.  Each one has gone out of their way to surround their dad, grandfather, and FIL (We have the best son-in-laws EVER) 💛💛 with love, patience, and support, doing everything to make this Christmas season a little easier for Sam. 

 In the midst of the difficult moments, I've seen compassion, selflessness, and unity shine through in such beautiful ways. This is exactly what family does.  We all love fiercely through the good times as well as the more difficult times. 

....this is Love and Christmas is LOVE!!   

Shug...

PS:  I'll be back to fully posting and commenting on Monday.  Honestly speaking...I am so exhausted.  I think I'm just going to rest these next couple of days.  Love you all!!

Sharing Christmas Cheer.

One of my favorite things about Christmas (besides the memories and the MEANING) is pulling out the decorations and just letting our home tell a story.  

I normally have a place for everything, but this year, I just kinda winged it.  I want to share a peek into the Christmas cheer that I have sprinkled throughout the house.  

My lighted Santa Train Engine is a new addition this year.  It was my gift from the family Christmas dinner and party that we had the first weekend in December.  It plays Christmas music, which makes it extra special.. 

And then, I added several candles that are battery operated. They add such a soft, peaceful glow, especially in the evenings when the house is kinda quiet.  The good thing about these candles is that they come with a remote control.  Press the "On" button, and Wa-La....the candles are glowing. 

Floral Arrangements!!  I make my own and I usually just add greenery and a few berries....I may tuck in a few sparkly things, but I really prefer the look of nature.  My mom always said that a little touch of greenery brings life to any shelf or to corners that might otherwise be overlooked.  

Christmas....this brings me to the Christmas tree. I would much rather have a real live Christmas tree, but instead, I used our old artificial tree..AGAIN!  This year, the nature theme won me over.  I used some earthy tones instead of the bright colors that I have used in the past. I also added a mixture of creamy whites and hints of muted gold to help blend in with the dried oranges and the white string rope that the oranges are tied on the tree with. 

Sadly, come January it is time to retire this tree...none of the lights on this pre-lit tree work, so I've been adding my own. 

Tiny stems of cranberries are tucked in between the branches and the pine cones.  The lights I chose this year are a mixture of white and red lights....with the addition of lighted candles.  This might just be my favorite tree! 

Wooden Christmas trees are set around in different places throughout my kitchen and living room.....Well, I did add a few to the guest bathroom as well.  

The stockings are all hung and my jars are filled with candy.  Only thing left to do is to fill the cookie jar with my kiddos favorite cookies....what are they??  Oreo cookies of course!!  lol.   This means NO cookie baking for me.  Trista brings her famous decorated sugar cookies each year.  I'll share a picture of them on Christmas eve when they arrive...

Oh....I must not forget to mention my big red Gnome with a polka-dot hat.  I've had "Pip" for several years and he guards all the Christmas decorations around here.  

I'm pretty sure that I have way too many lights and decorations around our home, but Christmas only comes once a year!  In my humble opinion, if something makes you smile when you walk past it, then it deserves a place for all to see.  

But, no home is ever truly decorated for Christmas without the Christmas manger scene. In the middle of all the twinkle lights, candy jars, trees, and cheerful gnomes, the manger quietly reminds (ME) what this season is really about.  It grounds everything else. It brings peace and meaning....and a Purpose to all of the sparkle.  

Our home might be a little overdone with all the decorations, the silly gnomes, the glowing red lights on the outside of the house, but this is the kind of Christmas decorating that I love the most... It's the kind that feels lived in...loved ....and centered around Jesus Christ.  

Merry Christmas my Dear Friends....

Shug and Sam 🎄