We found them in great spirits! Mom and Dad were so happy to have a house-full of energy! Dad is so contented just having us in the house! He spends a good bit of our visits napping in his chair, but he enjoys listening to our conversations with Mom and he gets a kick out of the antics of the great-grandkids when they come! It was a windy day, so Dad didn't go outside, but I entertained Austin by taking him on a long golf cart ride! What is it about kids and golf carts?!!! We always spend a little time checking Mom and Dad's emails, even though she had already read some of them earlier in the week! Mom is so proud of herself that she can do that now! A computer is still pretty intimidating to her, but she 's a trooper! There's not much Mom can't do if she sets her mind to it!!! Sometimes that's a problem!!! We have to gently and lovingly remind her from time to time that she's not a spring chicken any more! She laughs and totally ignores us! If any of us are stubborn, we certainly came by it honestly!!!!!
Even in his silence, Dad is still such an icon to all of us. "Everyone has their own special gift. In some, silence. The world has need of small perfection as well as great achievements." Certainly we miss his speaking, but his presence is respected and revered. When we all gather, the excitement level goes to max when Mom and Dad arrive...all the kids and grandkids hardly let them in the door before they are overwhelmed with kisses and hugs! Someone said, "Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old." Well, you'll never see Mom and Dad's faces brighter than when they are getting lovin' from their grandkids or great-grandkids! However, someone also said, " An hour with your grandchildren can make you feel young again. Anything longer than that, and you start to age quickly." I thought that was pretty funny and so TRUE!!!
Mom had her Christmas tree up! She has a beautiful artificial tree that she has moved to one of the buildings between seasons. She keeps the lights and garland on it and wraps it in plastic until the next year! Then, all she has to do is have someone move it to the house, hang the ornaments and plug it in! To me, a Christmas tree is a great spirit booster! The lights and the decorations just do something to warm up a room! Our family loves Christmas! We will all gather at Glenda's house outside Oak Hill on Christmas Day. There's always a lot of commotion, but it wouldn't be the same without it! ~ O come let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him ~ We'll have a big lunch and then spend most of the afternoon watching the kids open gifts and play with them! After all, Christmas is about Christ and children!
Christmas is my very favorite time of year! I love focusing on the birth of Christ as well as the Christmas parties and the hustle and bustle at the malls and stores. The season seems to give everyone an excuse to speak to a stranger, smile at the kids in their Christmas outfits waiting in line to see Santa and share God's love with everyone! I feel so privileged because I have a Christmassy name and I take full advantage of it! The day after Thanksgiving I become Sandi Claus!!! Sandi Crinkelmeyer already sounds pretty Christmassy to me, but it's so fun to be Sandi Claus!!! My favorite thing in the whole world is buying people gifts, or as I call them, "prises". Not prizes - 'prises! That all started with my oldest niece, Jennifer. When Jennifer was a toddler I didn't work on Fridays and I spent almost every Friday with her and Jean. Each time I came I brought Jennifer a surprise! However, she couldn't say that word, she said 'prise! She'd say, "Aunt Sandi, did you bring me a 'prise?!" To this day, Aunt Sandi loves to bring all the nieces and nephews and the great nieces and nephews 'prises!!! It's what makes me happy!!! Daddy used to tell Ollie that he felt sorry for him because I was going to give all our money away!!! Well, I can think of worse things to be known for!!!
"Christmas gift suggestions...
to your enemy, forgiveness,
To an opponent, tolerance,
To a friend, your heart,
To a customer, service,
To all , charity,
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."
I'd like to add...To God, praise.
I pray that each of you has a very merry Christmas and a safe and blessed New Years! "Come freely, go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring."
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