Merry Christmas !!
So - I am a blogger -- I write but have not written too many blogs over these last few years.
I reread my letters of 2022, 2023, 2024 and I hear a woman that had great intention, and has been busy, and I hear a woman who has been writing many different things, but this year.... it is different!! I am usually disappointed in myself that 'blogging' which was so dear to me - has become a thing of the past.
However -- this year is different.
Freedom baby. 🙏 I think I have become a woman of a 'certain age'.... 👀. Or, I just got over myself. 😄
If I actually get this written - it will be a labor of love. Yet, if I don't, I really won't worry or be upset. As my thinking has changed. I have 😆😋😀😍
I am turning 60 years young, in ... TWO months... IN TWO months... OH MY... on the 23rd of February and MUCH that I deemed important or felt the NEED to do -- has changed.
Oh how I want to just blog about what transpired ( and changed ) a few months ago and maybe I will -- but for now, let me focus on Christmas!
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Ok, enough about me - I may just start blogging again in the new year - let's see what the Lord asks me to do.
Meanwhile -
Our Christmas Letter - or at least an update to share and send, but I don't send this anymore, I just post it.
I DO still send cards, and SO love those that keep that tradition alive, there is something just so endearing when you go to a mailbox and get a card. Precious, and now, with the price of cards -- they are indeed a labor of love and a sacrifice in the pocketbook!
And, for those of you that have sent me cards this past year -- THANK you, they have meant a lot!! Even when it was just signed with your name.... the thought and words expressed in the card - MEANT much to me.
I am a lover of words and words of affirmation or thanksgiving come when the Lord knows I need to hear from HIM and when it comes via, -- You -- it is a sweet thing. Very Sweet.
Celebrations -- we had several this year - My Dad turned 81, my mom was 80 - Brendan's dad was 85 and his mom was 86!! We did our best to celebrate them all. Some of my sisters and I hoped on a plane and went to Denver to be with our Aunt Gloria and Aunt Deb this last July and celebrated our Mom. BTW, our time there was spent walking, visiting with each other, playing Tripoly, laughing, and eating Aunt Gloria's farm to table delicious food - it was a week of heaven! And the company was Awesome as well. You only turn 80 once you know! That was very sweet.
You can see Lowell and Marilyn ( Mom and Dad) surrounded by their original kids as well. We enjoyed lunch and sharing some memories. Brendan is retired, but Becky and Quenten still teach in the school system. Each of their families continue to grow!! I think Becky now has six grandkids? Did I count right? And Quenten has a few more years before that happens with his girls, but we did get a NEW little cousin this year. Cinco de Mayo brought Micah! Micah belongs to Cuyler and Kaiden, both terrific parents, and we get to enjoy a little one at family gatherings!
Ava ( granddaughter #1 ) was 10 last month and Sawyer or SJ ( granddaughter #2) will be 8 in a week!
She is our New year kid! Celebrations -- many were had and enjoyed this last year!! Ava, Sawyer or SJ, and Bode belong to Taylor and her hubs - Jake. Grayson belongs to Hunter and Cindy.
Speaking of Grayson, you can see him with his little cousin Micah in a photo I posted with this blog. He was enthralled with him and has enjoyed watching him grow! You can see the proud momma, Cuyler, in the back of the photo - we love her.
In one photo, you will see Grayson peeking around some bushes - he is a very clever little one and loves to make you laugh. The photo was taken at Thanksgiving and then the donut shot -- is from a typical Friday when he and his dada go for a 'donut'.
He loves to talk with his hands and adores his daddy, but don't take him too far from "mamadada" and that is how he addresses his folks whom he can't get enough of! He attends a local preschool and learns about Jesus and loves to act out David and Goliath as well as sing, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man". He keeps Cindy and HP busy and occupied. They are only about 7 minutes away, in the house they moved into a year ago - January 1st! It has been fun to watch them add their touches and make it a home. Cindy continues to teach 2nd graders in town and HP is at the Insurance
office with Taylor and Brendan. I am so very happy that they all work together and well. And it makes for some daily phone calls, but I love to hear them all work together.
Next is Bode, his face and expressions will catch you by surprise and when he catches your eyes -- and looks into them -- YOU are smitten for LIFE. Bode means "messenger" and if you have read or followed us; he is teaching us much !! His words or babbles are few - but he communicates a LOT! He loves puzzles, Blippi, and order, and we get tickled each week to see his progress in his preschool. He has wonderful therapists and a RBT that adores him and she was God appointed.
Spending time with Bode is priceless and watching him communicate as his brain works - keeps one tethered to the Father, who we believe and pray will loosen his tongue one day and he will be talking to us all! And probably letting us know "how wrong" we were or maybe "how right we were".... God knows.
He lights up when his sisters are close, and he has begun to interact with a few of us. He still moves, runs, and dances, and keeping an eye on him is a 24/7 act, but watching him develop and teach us - is a blessing.
His sisters - Ava, is now a 4th grader and SJ is in 2nd grade. Both girls are active in sports, with Ava playing soccer and SJ being in softball or and just in her room playing! That girl has an imagination. We enjoyed extra time with them both this summer in the pool and get face time calls from Ava when she is bored or wants her dad!
Both girls traveled to TN this summer for their "camp time" with their Miss Kerry and usually head back up there right after Christmas. Often, family gatherings or dinner after church will include their cousins: Brinlee and Zander-- they are usually playing VERY well in the pool, or we have to referree them.
Either way -- to see Taylor and Jaiden's kids enjoy playtime together fills my heart ....as it seems Taylor and Jaiden were just at the Indian Hammock pool playing, last week? Wasn't that so? Time is but a vapor! Grayson and Bode are in the wings - watching and wanting to play with the BIG kids, but they are still a little short!
Taylor and Jake stay busy working - Taylor at the Insurance office and Jake at his school and he has a few side jobs as well! His Lawn Care Service kept his afternoon time limited. Taylor and Jake are the ones to motivate us into better health - always. Taylor has a SALT group that she guides and manages to counsel and lead at the office too!
Jake's parents are dear friends , ( Will and Kerry ) and spending the holiday or just birthdays with them here or in TN is a blessing. 😍
WE have a few other friends that are also blessings and the fact that they are connected to FAMILY, is a BIG plus!
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| Sweet Bobo and his Momma ! |
It is a JOY to live and work within this life and have like minded friends and family to DO life with. 😁
Brendan still works at the Insurance office but he also does ministry and together we host a SALT group.
Basically that is a group of adults that "serve and live life together" !! I guess that spells, SALLT, but you get the point. WE meet weekly and Brendan does most of the teaching. This last year we did Samson and Jonah, as well as several other topics. These precious people become like family and we enjoy our weekly gatherings. And Brendan plays pickle-ball and of course - Gator Football and sports take up a few of his Saturdays. Or, you may find him on the phone asking a scam marketer if he knows who Jesus is!
We enjoyed some mini staycations in Orlando and Fort Myers throught the Insurance office. We took time in Wisconsin and TN this last summer and I made a trip to Wisconsin for a wedding and some ministry. We enjoy traveling and having time together - especially on the Harley - motorcycle. We have also enjoyed time on the water with my brother- n -law, Craig and my sister, Jeanette, and we have had some visits from an Uncle or two as well as cousins -- and aunts. ALL such a sweet time sharing food and
BTW, my folks are good - both still working. Brendan's folks are retired and enjoying their 'city' home. They keep busy with their ministry as well. Dad, Lowell, still has 2 bible studies plus Sundays he is a part of the teaching rotation with a men's group. He also joined the Gideons this last year.
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| Bode loves the water! |
Me, I am still at PECS, which is the Indian Charter School and I am at year 15, there. I LOVE my job and trust I will be there a few more years. This is year 38...but, again -- it is a mission field that I get to work at and I really do love the people I work with.
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| sweet friends and family |
If I am not reading an abstract, I am trying to keep up on my bible reading/study and this year I added "yearbook" to my list of stuff at school, so I have also been learning a program and getting my 'inner scrapbooking self' back up to speed!
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| playing and smiles |
And yes, she sleeps with us....don't all Boston's do that? With our Bella and Whizzer -- they both slept with the kids, so, well -- you know -- she does sleep with us. 😍
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| some of my cousins 😍😍😍 |
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| harley and Taylor |
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| Kristi and ME |
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| She is the boss - Harley! |
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| There is an OLDIE! Circle 2001 maybe! Boy - were we skinny and with no wrinkles! |
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| Ava and Tay walking ! |
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| the cousins having pizza to celebrate |
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| my sisters and me in CO in July |
Today, Christmas Eve we took communion together as a family at our church and then headed back to our house for Steak and potatoes.
Now this is the part of Christmas that is not new for us- juggling the when and where we celebrate!! Navigating all the families and time together - can be difficult but not when we just set our mind to making sure we gather!! Some times we celebrate a holiday on the Sunday before, or we get creative and head out of town...but we are intentional to celebrate and we do!
Back to today --
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| So being creative - at Thanksgiving time, we took off with some family to GA! |
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| And this was the cookie party - photo is a little dark, and Bode is screaming, but its us, and Brendan didn't make it - under the weather. 😟 |
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| I got home for a Peirick Wedding, my last girl cousin to tie the knot! |
Back to today --
No photos were taken, but much laughter and good food was enjoyed. Christmas Eve. A night filled with much peace and love and JOY!! And there was some swimming - only in Florida can you take a night swim in a heated pool! 💗
Tomorrow morn, we will sneak into Hunter and Cindy's and watch Grayson open his gifts and then head to Taylor and Jake's and watch them open their goods. Blessings upon blessings.
And as we drive, Brendan and I will recall the Christmas Eve's with our own kids--
--- and then Christmas Morning when they would be so excited to open but first Brendan would read the Christmas story and we'd speak about Jesus and what Christmas was all about. 🙏. And we will smile and know, this season looks different, but what a JOY it is to see in within THEIR homes now as Grandparents!
Back to Today -- Christmas Eve. And my final thoughts in this Christmas blog letter --
I was thinking of this today -- for most of the year we seek Jesus, call upon Jesus, and He is the Savior that my family and I adore and serve!
We do.
It is our focus when we gather and do life together and this past year -- we, as a family have had MUCH to pray for and about. But God --
I mentioned to some friends last Friday that 'this year' I have seen fruit. I have seen answers to some long prayers and enjoyed watching some people grow in the Lord. Fruit.
I have prayed for some fruit that now - prays for me, and it has been a joy to watch.
Fruit -- what we should see within our lives as we walk with HIM and be HIS hands and feet and 'do' that Great Commission that was asked of all of us.
Now, Mind you -- I am going to continue to pray and there is MORE that I wish to SEE fruit - in and ON---believe me, there are precious ones that I love that have a very anemic relationship with Jesus and there are still even others that are FAR from surrendering to HIM. But God -
Back to thinking about Jesus -- today --
Calling upon Jesus, asking Jesus to provide and heal - etc. And Praying to HIM - all a focus for most of this past year.
But today and tomorrow we focus on the BIRTH of Jesus.
What a miracle - for us. For me -- to come to the world to atone for me.
- the world cried out and a baby boy became the Savior
-endless hope and relentless joy -- started with a baby boy --
- the baby boy was the answer - the FRUIT that God sent, to SAVE us - me....
May this letter make you smile. If you READ all the way to the end, you love me and my family -- or very interested -- what ON earth will she say next??
But God --
Truly, on behalf of Brendan and Myself -- Merry Christmas - Allelujah!
A BABY was born - which is CHRIST the LORD!!
MAY that baby boy be as real to you and yours - as HE is to us --
May your relationship with HIM grow in 2026... so much you want to come and have dinner with Brendan and myself and let's talk!
May you indeed -- be blessed by that baby boy - Michelle 👀😍
