I Am Resolved, Approaching With Joy

 Good Tuesday morning! A very cold Tuesday morning. We opened up The Inn on the Catmore Estate for our Feral Fam. They have taken advantage of warm beds and breakfast served up early. Even the orange cat I call Deadbeat Dad is behaving. We preset the dishwasher for a 2:00 am run to keep the water moving besides dripping faucets. Then came the 5:15 am washer machine usage. 

I participated and plan to do this again for 2026, The Bible in One Year with Chad Bird. After six and a half years with an unhappy pastor and family, unhappy leadership and a general malaise or would that be mayonnaise...of course it would be Duke's but I digress. Anyway, several times over those years I would often be taken by surprise when he'd say, you cannot approach the scriptures in wonder. Many times you'll come away disappointed. He also never encouraged although I think he thought he was, but his approach to a daily Bible reading plan was so pedestrian. Yes, one can get bogged down in Leviticus so maybe find a plan that doesn't go chronologically. Today in CB's plan, Luke 24...The Road to Emmaus. 

In other words, we have sought to ask and to answer the very question Jesus answered as he walked with those two disciples on the day of his resurrection.

In just a few days, as we begin 2026, we will do it all over again, not as drudgery, but with joy, energy, and a holy curiosity.

Approach with joy, I think I like that thought and want to put this in practice in 2026. It is a joy to approach and then wander and wonder those pages of scriptures.

I got Roy an electric tea kettle and he LOVES it. I have also been making hot tea as well. I always liked the Harney Tea, the hot cinnamon flavor. I also got a holiday flavor. He thinks the cinnamon is too spicy so oh de joy, more for me.

Wednesday morning, the last day of 2025. This year has gone by so quickly. The sunrise is beautiful and our coffee is really good this morning. I slept in a bit, by twenty minutes but hey, sleeping in is something I rarely do these days. We have a couple of errands to run when it warms up a little more.

Feels like the song, I Am Resolved should be one of those hymns sung on the first Sunday of the year. Growing up it seems like we sang, The Church is One Foundation for the first Sunday of the year. Have no idea except maybe it was just a good reminder for us. I usually do the One Word thing but I haven't given it too much thought. Stopped doing resolutions years ago. Maybe resolved should be the word...I think I am going with it because it means firm in purpose or intent, determined.

1. I am resolved no longer to linger,
   Charmed by the world’s delight,
   Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
   These have allured my sight.
   • Refrain:
     I will hasten to Him,
     Hasten so glad and free;
     Jesus, greatest, highest,
     I will come to Thee.
2. I am resolved to go to the Savior,
   Leaving my sin and strife;
   He is the true One, He is the just One,
   He hath the words of life.
3. I am resolved to follow the Savior,
   Faithful and true each day;
   Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
   He is the living Way.
4. I am resolved to enter the kingdom,
   Leaving the paths of sin;
   Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
   Still will I enter in.
5. I am resolved, and who will go with me?
   Come, friends, without delay;
   Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
   We’ll walk the heav’nly way.

Much More To Remember

 2025 is wrapping up and all in all, it wasn't too bad of a year. I am of the opinion that our best year in the recent past was 2019 and I came to that conclusion looking at pictures and remembering all that we did and experienced. It was that last year before Covid. My memories have nothing to do with that although while in Houston that year I got some kind of a cold or crud before leaving to come back home. 

This morning we are having our first strawberries of the season from Florida and they are quite tasty. The familiar life cycle ends and begins this week. Barbers Orchard closed for the season on Christmas Eve afternoon but then a day after Christmas the Florida strawberry season  begins at Publix. 

I officially stopped seeing ads from Jen Hatmaker on skincare. My goodness always in my FB feed. Years ago I had a bad experience with that particular brand so on top of kind being aggravated by her book because of her self absorption and self centeredness, now I no longer have to see bits and pieces of her skincare regimen with a product that didn't like my skin. I don't know if it takes care of the other merch she is selling and yes, I am totally aware of how many times I referred to me in this paragraph. Ha!

2025 is the year I rediscovered reading, like all the way through, books. Several years of a devastating short attention span has taken toll. I have always had a selective attention span but even that is shorter than usual. Although, the shortened attention span never seemed to affect the love of buying books. Guess I'm practicing from yesterday's post, the intentional clutter, no matter, always a trend setter. Ending this particular thought with a HA! 

The best $4.00 I spent this Christmas for myself, earrings with four different color of Christmas bows, red, green, gold and silver. Got them from Penland's in Marshall. I'll put them away just and have them for next year. We just finished getting our Christmas decorations put up. We didn't do much outside and only decorated the dinning room. These rambunctious kitties would have demolished the tree if we had put one up. We did get a few things this year and while putting it all in containers I came across Christmas decor from our first year living in Cinco Ranch. Bought it on NYE day when they were pricing everything to go. Now, I just need to remember these things next year. I also found a jacket that I totally had forgotten about. Now, to keep or not to keep, that is the question. 

Sometimes we get a little help putting thoughts together when we read a story told by another, even another we haven't ever met. Our circumstances are nothing like the story but the emotions and feelings are. These past couple of years we have noticed that familiar places and people have expressed their wishes not verbally but with silent heart wrenching actions. You know where one can feel like there isn't room to fit in or even not desirable enough to let one down easy. Gee, I am guilty of doing this in the past, especially my tennis days and because of that I try not to behave that way. It used to be that I would pursue an answer, push for it. Of course the answer would hurt me but at the same time the feelings not to be expressed are and so there is that uneasiness. In those Covid years a friendship was lost that I would have bet money on never losing. Basically, on the political scene meshed with the harsh symptoms I was experiencing from the Co Vac caused a misunderstanding. We talked some but there was no rescuing anything. I stopped. It hurt too much to try. That comfortable ease in conversation was long gone. Then last year some family news came to me and dang it hit me hard and then it didn't. We made adjustments and moved on. The last paragraph of the story I read, "Don't wait for someone to make room for you in a life where you don't fit. The highway is long, the map is wide and the best seat in the house is wherever you decide to park."

Today, is the last Monday of 2025. I'm looking forward to the holding some wrap up on projects and taking some time to read for book club. I am also reading Theo of Golden. It got rave reviews and so far I like it but don't love it. Of course I am just a couple of chapters in it. 

There is a woman at church who looks just like my Grandma B. Same hair, profile and glasses. I wanted to take a pic to send to my brother but thought of her privacy and I am not one who usually takes pics in church. My goodness it felt so good to see someone who reminds me of some of the best childhood memories because of her. We didn't do anything special like trips cause my goodness she couldn't drive. But spending summers there at her home, exploring the apple orchard out back and reading her Reader's Digest Condensed books in that little nook off the dining room. That nook was just some white shelves underneath the windows filled with books and magazines. Plants were thriving on the top shelf and her outdoor metal and wood rocking chair was just right even though it was rather spartan in comfort. I have a picture I found in a magazine of a warm, inviting space with comfortable oversized chair and a small table nearby. That isn't how it was at grandmas in real life, but in my imagination it was that picture and so much more. 

2026 Trend, Intentional Clutter

 This is just such great news, anytime or Christmas time. The two trends for 2026 is antiques...okay that's good but the best is the new trend of intentional clutter. Behold, this shall be good news unto thee, stacks of books and such is back in style. Could this mean multiple TBR piles to enhance our cozy home? Well, I am ahead of my time cause I already gots all this going on. Good decorating tips rejoice! There is another term for this new trend as well, but I forgot it but it means to have things in your home that you love. When we were working with a designer for our home in Cinco Ranch, I had a difficult time with some of the suggestions that were made. What was what we liked verses what the designer thought it should be. After a bit, I just went with what I liked and incorporated some of the other suggestions. I read this morning if you lived through shiplap, millennial gray, modern farmhouse, customizing Ikea stuff and the like, if you love what is warm, storied and filled with what makes the home your home, go with it. Until I started downsizing a lot of our stuff, our home was filled with quirky treasures that translated into rustic chic...or something. Clutter is in! Well intentional and most of ours is. 

Our home is split, on the first floor Christmas Carols and on the second floor, WWII documentaries. Roy is in his WWII history world this winter season. It used to be me that watched all that because I love history but Roy enthralled with this new knowledge of Patton and Monty intersperses WWII with his comments on what his quiet time gave him. I love it! 

We just had a lovely surprise, Jon and Audrey stopped by to wish us a Merry Christmas and they brought chocolate. 

December 25, 2025

Merry Christmas!

This morning we are taking it easy. A delicious breakfast started us off and I slept till nearly 6:30am. Wow, these days that's some late sleeping in. We have been invited to some friends this late afternoon for Christmas supper. We will be bringing the green beans portion. 

Our Christmas Eve service had the angel songs, a new Christmas hymn by the Gettys sung to the tune of Holy, Holy, Holy. We heard the Christmas story from Luke and we closed out the service by singing Silent Night. I only knew three verses for almost all of my Baptist life but there area a total of four. Wow, who knew? We exchanged Merry Christmases with our new friends, then headed home. The moon was in a perfect place to take a pic with the sliver of the moon close to the steeple. With the lights on from inside it made a beautiful pic from my phone. Two years ago we came to the Christmas Eve service at First Presbyterian and found it to be so beautiful in word and presentation of the awe and wonder of Christmas. That being part of the December sermons, awe and wonder. 

We ate Christmas dinner with friends from church. There were eight of us invited around the table and what a table and spread of Christmas goodies. Ham, yams, lima beans (love em), corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, homemade bread, deviled eggs and three desserts to choose from. We all were members of the clean plate club. We laughed and shared stories. And the icing on the cake, I got more info on the church book club. As we were leaving their home I looked up and in a moment's time, my Houston brain kicked in with when did a high rise happen? But closer inspection and remembrance of where we live, it was the mountain and all the homes lit up the sky...

Oh happy day of Friday after Christmas. Cooler than yesterday but the bottom should drop out on Monday...I think. We made a trip to Publix this morning. I was happy to find some ceramic Christmas trees half price. All kind of decorative items, more than usual it seemed filled tables and buggies. Kind of like not as many homes had Christmas lights this year. The marketing of clothes for JJill looks as if they misplayed the willingness of customers to pay full price. They held on for as long as they could and the past week or so, prices are cut in half. I took part of those sale items this morning. Nothing special just key pieces like blouses to take the place of items in the closet that are worn out. I have almost all my Christmas clothes packed away. I wore almost every item but December was more of a social month than the past few years. Social was always a big part of life for me and then the quiet came and I loved that season and continuing season of life, but now it feels like a perfect blend. You know not too isolated and not too peopled out. 

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing, is the Christmas carol line I have thought about so often during the holidays. It holds so much meaning and now finally at this ripe old age it means so much to me. So thankful that the Word came into our world, He is with us always. O Come Let Us Adore Him. Not just in this season but also in the coming one as well. 

Christmas Thoughts Not in Order

I lost the Christmas contest with CourtneyS this year. Two years in a row, she has heard Merry Christmas Darling first. Drat!

This morning while getting ready for church, I was streaming KHCB and the start of the five days of Christmas. One of the first songs I heard this morning was the overture the orchestra at Houston's First Baptist played before each Pageant performance. The memories of finding my spot for the first act flooded in, remembering different parts over the years. Now, the music KHCB played is from different church orchestras and different singers from various churches all over the country but oh those long ago times complete with orchestration and voices, if I didn't have joy already, I had a little bit of a scoop more. 

Our friend Katrin came to our church this morning. So fun to see, visit and laugh with her. We had a brunch before the morning service. It was wonderfully done and so tasty. Roy made his biscuits. He hasn't made them in quite a while but the biscuit making doesn't leave, it's like riding a bike if you've done the proper learning and training. The church service itself held beautiful music, prayer, Lord Supper, ordination and a wonderful sermon. This month I have been thinking that changing churches and joining a new one is more of a full circle thing. The reverence, the purpose of praying, singing and hearing The Word in a setting that reflects more of the pilgrimage I began a long time ago is truly predictable but totally joyous. I read an article the other day by a, please brace yourself for an old person description, young person, embracing hymns whether they be the original version or ones that has been updated. He remembered his grandmother who didn't know who she was or anyone else, but she could sing hymns and know their meaning. He thought of some of the more modern praise and worship songs and couldn't imagine himself singing those when loss of memory sets in. I wanted to respond to just keep the song, You're A Good, Good Father at hand cause you can sing that song ad nauseum and nobody knows what verse you are on.    

We welcome this bright, sunshine overflow on this Monday morning of Christmas week. Think the low was 24. The Feral Fam was hungry this morning and are members of the clean plate club. I love having days where I don't have anything I HAVE to do or HAVE to be at. Christmas gifts have been ordered and delivered mainly supporting local or small businesses. I even got some cards in the mail. My friends, that is a huge accomplishment for me...mostly because, if it isn't late, it's not from me is the usual mantra. 

This is one of those Christmas seasons I am treasuring. Because of family issues while growing up and the years beyond were just so stressful. The energy it took to navigate the usual traps drained me. The narcissist in our family was at least consistent in using sabotage, anger, gaslighting, and then their being the victim when they didn't get the results they wanted from their behavior. It became so predictable if one paid attention in the weeks before Christmas or remembering anything from Thanksgiving, their behavior kind of gave a hint at their first offensive Christmas campaign. Of course they passed away a while ago, but changing our mindset is a continual victory of trusting in the Lord and experiencing or observing the Lord in the ordinary details of a celebratory season. I heard the term the other day, emotional incest, when a narcissist dumps their emotional baggage on their children to keep them small and the attention diverted. Believe me, I knew more about that kind of thing growing up than I should have.  

My friend from Houston sent Three Brothers Bakery gingerbread men for Christmas. Oh happy day! They are delicious and again I will have to say brings back great memories. I was looking at Christmas memories on FB of going to see holiday lights in the Galleria area and River Oaks. The huge Starbucks on Post Oak and Westheimer open on Christmas Eve. We'd get hot chockies and head out to look at lights. When First Baptist stopped their 11:00 pm Christmas Eve services or maybe it was about the time we couldn't stay awake for the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve services, we began attending the Christmas Eve services at St Martins. Wonderful music and taking communion in the service was a pink slipped offense while working at First Baptist since the Episcopalians use wine. 

I saw a picture the other day on FB and I knew even before reading the caption what I was looking at. It was the Santa house at the downtown park in the city where my parents were born and well I guess me too. Only we moved when I was a toddler but those few times we came back for Christmas while we were younger included a visit to Santa. The house had a choir singing as decoration. 

We have been invited for Christmas supper by some friends at our new church. I didn't even know how to answer because no one has ever invited us for a Christmas meal around here. 

Warmer than usual temps for Christmas but I just read that we will have two winter blasts in the beginning of the new year. This past one has gone by so fast.

Merry Christmas!

Quiet Zones

 I watched one You Tube video on singing alto 2 notes for Shepherds Pipe Carol. Just a fun memory of singing the most ahhhhssss in a Christmas song. John Rutter must not think too much of altos. Anyway, I try to keep that alto knowledge because one never knows when a Shepherds Pipe Carol emergency will happen. You know listening to an in person concert when one of the altos falls sick. From the stage, does anyone know the alto part? I would be able to run to the stage...well, walk briskly and save the song. 

Because I watched this video now my Reels feed is filled with how to develop the voice, most tonality and what to do in Christmas concerts etc...  Too much for me. Fortunately, in my non-musical life set in choir music I have sat in choirs with fabulous directors. So, I know how to look, how to form my mouth for notes, lifting the eyebrows and making eye contact with the congregation. I can do all of that, but the voice never changes. It's the same from year to year. 

While going through books and getting them ready to leave our house I stumbled upon a Christmas book, A Gentle and Lowly Christmas by Daphne Simpkins. It's a Mildred Budge book I think I have read just about all of them and at first, well, wasn't a fan but I loved how she would bring such deep spiritual thoughts in some of the simplest and creative ways in the ordinary of life. This book is one that I have enjoyed the most. Some of the petty issues that face so many churches, changing the time of Christmas Eve service or using battery candles for the singing of Silent Night. What? We're changing to the carol, Joy to the World are covered in such a kind but funny way. Even if you have been or are guilty of these kinds of things she presents them in a way to bring attention not trigger anyone to bitterness. Mildred is not the main emphasis since we have journeyed with her story in the past books but she has come to a place where she doesn't need to be in the center of the church prep for the Christmas Eve service or the reception afterwards. Level headed Mildred is in a quiet zone leaving details to those who are more than capable to take care of things and at a place where she can enjoy dare I say ponder these things in her heart. A couple of days ago I read a devo/article about Zechariah and the after effect of his questioning Gabriel while serving in the Temple. Almost every time I read it or read about it, the emphasis is on the questioning when he should have known better. This time the article is about what God did in Zechariah when he was in the forced quiet, in the quiet zone until naming their baby, John. Think about it, the neighbors and relatives were meddling in family business, Elizabeth says John, but they go running over to Zechariah and in my mind, my comedic mind I see this in a modern day way. The relatives and people probably would say, well, Elizabeth has that Jezebel spirit, she's trying to run the family. The rejoicing for Elizabeth stops so that the fringe can run over to Zechariah asking him about this news. The case is made that John has never been a name used in their family which could be written today as, we've never done it this way before! I don't know if there were family by-laws that said you can use any name you want except John. But Zechariah praised God when he could finally speak and then the family and friends were amazed and they rejoiced. They wondered what plans the Lord had for John, "what then is the plans for this child?' Insert background music of Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be will be. The future's not ours to see. Que Sera Sera. Naming a child should always be left to the man or is it. Case in point, my father. I am named after his 5th grade girlfriend and my brother is named after a news anchor because my father thought his name sounded so distinguished. We don't want women taking over that...well, guess what, Elizabeth didn't name him, the Lord did. 

That Jezebel spirit stuff gets thrown about a lot today. If you really think about what you're saying, it can be hyperbole for just being a bossy woman. Jezzy was evil, really evil and you equate that evilness to a woman who buys the Christmas tree without her husband's help? Please! No one is singing, "I want to be a Jezzy girl" Ah, the Rick Springfield song. I read he is 80 years old now. Wow! It could be said that these manly retreats held during hunting season are really not to get men in a closer walk with God but to align themselves with Jacob's brother, Esau. You know he was a hunter and didn't make wise choices in wives and spent time trying to get a blessing that had already been given. He relied on, well he relied on Esau. Said in my best old timey voice, "he just has that spirit of Esau on him." You can add Cain, Nimrod, King Saul, Solomon and his son, I think Jeroboam Rehoboam to the OT spirit on them. Also as a reminder, Esau could have never been a deacon cause of the one wife clause but he could be a pastor. Hmmm....

What a stream of ADHD thoughts. My brain is rolling on the river this morning. Oh to take these ADHD thoughts and guide them to some more useful endeavor...vacuuming or dusting or starting a new book, even finish up the old one, The View From Lake Como. Must be the quiet zone of this morning that lit the flame. 

In conclusion, The Gospel of Luke shows in the beginning and in the ending, women seemed to be a little more spiritual than the men. Like I said, I am thinking of this in a humorous way but sometimes the humor shows the truth. Of course, if one gets really upset over this, well, you just got that spirit of the 10 brothers of Joseph on you. 

When It is Cold, Very Cold, Very, Very Cold

 I'd sing In the Bleak Mid-Winter only that officially, we haven't even reached mid-winter much less winter. December has been a cold one. All the weather reports state that once it is close to Christmas our area will have a warm up. Well, ding dong merrily on high... This next system arriving this weekend is bringing really, really cold temps. Some are saying the feel like temp will be -2. 

Just my observation from new catalogues coming to the house, if one wants to look officially Scottish, it is a very expensive look. Guess it is all that wool and plaid. Last Sunday I had a gray plaid dress I wanted to wear but I felt it was too hot to wear in the choir loft cause the choir loft can be rather warm. This Sunday is supposed to be so very, very cold I just might wear it. 

I've been looking for a particular picture of mine on FB but as I have searched I have found some pics of wonderful memories. I still have a lot of fun but those memories of fun times in Houston remain close to my heart. 

Yesterday, Roy and I ventured out to Pensacola, NC and Burnsville (it's excellent, said in my best Mr. Burns voice.) The past few weeks we have gone places that were devastated by hurricane Helene. Marshall, a couple of weeks ago and Pensacola yesterday. The river along 197 took away lots of earth making the drive a bit scary. One wrong move...you are on the rocks. Much less water than there used to be. Landmarks that I have used over the years are no where to be found. A little old grocery store that attracts men to a wooden stove surrounded by the retired, semi retired and maybe should be working and not goofing off men, made it. Don't know if many groceries are bought but I am sure there are always good stories. Both new but it would seem be mostly old stories that are still entertaining. I was shocked but the old wooden house right behind it looked to be a bit rearranged. There is still a house that slid with a landslide facing face down near the river. Private bridges are still out but a little bitty road has been hewn to reach those far reaching places. We went to Pensacola to see my friend Christy at her father's gallery and workshop. He makes woodcarvings and they are fabulous. We were able to bring a small piece back for our Christmas decor in the dinning room. No trees except quilt ones and we got another one to add to the collection. We have several of Christy's trees. Afterwards as we made our way into Burnsville, we punted our lunch idea and just did a little bit of shopping. Went to The Find and we did "find" a few things that needed to come home with us. We were welcomed home by Chubola and The Boys, not that they missed us but they must have been worried about their next meal. 

This afternoon we put on KHCB radio from Houston. Saturday afternoon is by request and so it has been a joy to have Christmas Carols on for background music. First song was from long ago Christmas Pageant days. Just trying to duck out of Happy Birthday Jesus. SOS-song over sung. Roy had Christmas music on this morning and I promise you in forty five minutes time we heard Away in the Manger and Mary Did You Know about four times a piece by different artists, but still...

I found by accident my childhood best friend who recently died, well her mom passed away with her service in Houston being last Monday. I read her obituary and her father's as well but not one for my long ago friend. She had it all, academically brilliant, beautiful and personable but something tells me it didn't end well for her. I also forgot her birthday is the day after mine. 

This morning, Sunday, with really cold temps and a little bit of snow falling, we are erring on the side of caution and not going over to church today. It's like Roy and I have traded places, he is really leaning toward not going and I thought maybe it might be worth the risk, but alas, he won me over with his reasons. We probably could have gone but he has listened to me when I've expressed concerns and won him over against the odds. 

We opened The Inn on the Catmore Estate last night mainly to get those who are reluctant a bit of a chance to go into the garage without fear. Tonight is the tester of temperaments with the temps going way down and a feels like temp of -2. We put out another large bed filled with blankets and soft fabrics to let them burrow into for comfort and warmth. 

Dave Ward, longtime Houston anchor and newsman has passed away. He was with ABC Houston for fifty years. He was on at our house during growing up years as well as high school, college and young married years. Many times I saw him at Rice Epicurean grocery store, which I called The Play Grocery Store. I just kind of played when I went there, it was too expensive to buy weekly groceries. Took a lot of chicken pot pie from there to pot lucks and tennis luncheons. But I digress. It's another footnote of passing and he was/is still held in beloved memories.  

Oh, the temps are dropping. We will set the dishwasher to run around 2:00 am as well as drip a few faucets. At least it gets above freezing tomorrow but we will stick close by. 

Season-ing

 Our wintery overcast day is flirting with the sun. Kind of late in the afternoon but hey...the gray has never bothered me nor the clouds. Sunday the early sky was covered by freezing fog and our drive to church came with frosted fields and icy boughs on trees. This morning rain accompanies the morning skies. The rich color of golden grasses and some trees still diffuses that soothing sense of the vastitudes of fall exiting the stage it has held since September now to winter's not so subtle entrance this year. Even after ten years I am in awe of experiencing the seasons in seasons timing, not like Houston many a year, three seasons could be experienced in one day. 

Saturday, we met with our pastor and an elder in our church...cause officially we are members of First Presbyterian Church. We gave our testimonies, talked about spiritual growth and all those important tangibles. Roy said to me that Saturday afternoon, "I'm thrilled to see you so happy and joyful." I think he said that because it has been a season or two or maybe six since I've (we've) been excited about attending big church services and being involved. Sunday morning we were presented to the church. 

The Mustang is in the shop and what we thought was noise from the convertible top in reality is a broken shock. Bummer. The mechanics are waiting for the part from Ford and soon enough Mustang Sam will be back in business. I had stopped driving  it and glad I followed that instinct cause we were told it is a safety factor and hazard. 

We are getting used to our low tech washing machine and dryer. And after a less than ideal installation of the dryer and the need for a quicker response than what we got, we took matters in our own hands and got the dryer hooked up with all the correct fittings and such. Really, it was more than an immediate need but the delivery guys kind of scared us. This is the first time I can recall being very cautious and a bit fearful of these guys. Even Roy felt it and we thought what if.... what if they send these guys back out to finish the job? I am so proud of Roy being nimble enough and I summoned muscle memory to be strong enough to help. 

During this Christmas season I have been thinking about our lives and the changes that have come about all because eleven years ago we stepped out in faith, bought a home with plans to retire here and all through the unknowns and knowns God is with us, Emmanuel. It might have been in 2023 that Roy came out on the back porch and we just visited and in that conversation he said to me, I really didn't realize how much I worked, how much I got wrapped up in projects, how much I traveled and how much I left on you to take care of, mostly by yourself. I was shocked, I hadn't really thought about it. It was life and you just do those things that need to be done with a little bit of fun in-between. Then he apologized. What a wonderful man and hubby. He didn't have to do that but it meant so much for me. We always joke that I know how to amuse and entertain myself. I am never bored. That gift helped me as I played softball, volleyball, took calligraphy lessons, tennis, book clubs, collecting first edition southern fiction, lunch and dinner with friends, and all things church including choir and Bible study. Oh, and sometimes those periods included a job or two. I think that now, after Roy has retired I enjoy our mornings. He is a consistent quiet time, early riser. I wish I was but I am not...evening quiet time for me. So as we drink coffee he will often say, I read something interesting this morning in....John or Matthew or wherever his reading plan takes him. And he will include football observations some mornings. It is one of my favorite things in this particular season of life, drinking coffee and talking about the meaningful and the absurd with Roy. 

The Mustang was ready to come home Monday and happy to have Mustang Sam home and road worthy.