Saturday afternoon my daughter and her three sons traveled the hour from ‘Almost West Virginia’ to visit.  They shared their Santa photo with me and I was excited to see them dressed in their best!

After watching Snoopy Christmas Tales DVD, we bundled up and went over to the Word of Life Church to see their production of ‘Return to Bethlehem.’  We were greeted at the door by a display of wealth, compared to that which the wise men may have carried on their journey.

The journey to Bethlehem was amazing – we visited the people traveling to pay their taxes; we saw the shepherds in the fields, huddled around a warm fire, watching their very noisy sheep.  We listened while the three kings spoke to Herod, seeking the birthplace of the baby King.  Then we walked the crowded streets of Bethlehem, talking to the merchants and hearing of the couple who had arrived the night before, the young woman being great with child.

The boys were wide-eyed with wonder as the Roman soldiers moved the crowd along, and humbly paid their taxes with the shekel they had been given earlier.  But the best and most amazing sight was the stable, complete with live animals, where Joseph, Mary, and the new baby sat snuggled in the hay.  The baby slept peaceably against his mother’s chest, his tiny fist clutched against her cloak.  It was all very moving and impressive, and Peyton, Logan, and Chase loved every realistic moment.

We walked back to the car, past the spotlight that cast the bright star into the heavens (Chase insisted it was a spotlight; I insisted it was a star!).  Crosby the camel stood serenely, greeting guests and munching on hay.  We had a great time there, traveling to another time, another land.  To see their faces focused on the bustle of the city and the drama of the presentation was the highlight of my holiday to date.  I recommend that if you have not already done so, next December check out the Word of Life on Route 136 in Hempfield Township.  It’s the first weekend of the month and is well worth the trip.

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday, December 7th, my best friend from high school – Gen Morris – celebrated her birthday.  She is such a special person, and I am so honored and blessed that we have stayed friends and kept in touch.

From the first day we met – at lunch in the cafeteria at Youngwood Junior High School – when we shared a Lebanon bologna sandwich and a snack – we have been (as Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables said) kindred spirits.

When she moved to Rochester NY the year after my divorce, I was broken hearted.  But we sucked it up and made a pact to keep close even though far away, and to this day we have kept that pact.

When my dad and sister had horses, Gen was ‘in love’!  She so enjoyed riding and caring for them – I preferred my 63 Chevy!  But Dad treated her like a daughter, and we had great times growing up together.

Even though I went through some tough times, made some really stupid choices, and lost my way a few times, she stuck with me and by me and picked me up when I didn’t deserve to be picked up.  I am thankful for her life, for her friendship, and for the strong, fine Christian woman that she is.  So Gen, I wish you a wonderful, happy, love-filled life, and know that I am always there for you!  Happy, happy birthday –  Love you much!!  

Well it’s that time again – time to unpack the dozens of boxes that are stored in my garage for 11 months and DECK THE HALLS! It’s quite a task, and normally takes a solid week of lugging and placing and arranging.  But in the end, the house looks like a Christmas wonderland.

The biggest item on the list is usually the Peanuts characters.  Not a room is left untouched, and little clusters of Snoopys and Lucys gather to celebrate the season.  Everything from Snoopy Santa hats and tea towels to cookie jars and nativity scenes – Perfect!

My favorite piece is the hand-painted nativity that my mom made, a gift from not only her hands but also her heart.  This scene has had a place of honor every year since its origin, and is one of the first boxes to be unpacked!

So even though I love the glitter, lights, music, twinkle, and festive atmosphere of Christmas, it is the Reason for the Season that brings it all together, and – as Tiny Tim would say – God Bless us, Every One!   May your Christmas Season be happy and blessed!

Last night we were able to totally surprise my sister with a party in honor of her 60th birthday.  Her husband Paul did a great job with all the planning and arrangements.  She was, indeed, unaware of what awaited her behind that door!

My sole responsibility was to provide him with a photo of a very young Kathy to put on the cake.  I found one of my favorites – she wanted to be involved in MY first day of school, and since mom was busy with me, she dressed herself.  And since she could not manage the buttons and tie belt, which belonged in the back, she put the dress on backwards and handled the whole thing herself!  She looks adorable, cuter than I did, in fact, and has grown into a wonderful friend and the best sister I could ever wish to have.

Paul, of course, always makes crazy faces for any photos, but aside from that, you can see my radiantly beautiful sister, and her happiness shines!  So a very happy 60th birthday to my precious sister – and wishes for many more to come!  Love you!

These little guys are growing so big!  I’m so proud of them, and love seeing them so happy.  They had FEAST day at school, and could dress as either a pilgrim or an Indian.  I think they look terrific!

Of course, I have two little Pocahontas girls that did not have the opportunity to dress up for a school celebration, but I’m thankful for them, as well.

Wishing everyone a blessed Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends and way too much food!  Don’t forget the treadmill afterwards!

God Bless!

(PS – if you are curious, I found the fall garden flag under the potting bench!!!)

Weather report:  Windy with a chance of flying Snoopy flags.  Take cover!

I have a small garden flag holder half way up the stairs from my lower deck to the top deck.  I change the flag for most seasons and special occasions, and currently my Snoopy/Woodstock ‘jump in the leaves’ flag was on display.

Until tonight.

I went outside to throw a can in the recycle container, and alas!  No flag!  I got the flashlight and tramped around the yard, peeked under the deck, and checked in the bushes by the fence.  No flag! 

Needless to say, this is very disconcerting!  I will look in the daylight tomorrow, but two years ago my Valentine flag blew away in a ‘micro-burst’ as it traveled through Ft. Allen.  I even had the fall flag clipped to make sure it would NOT blow off.  I think the rabbit that lives under my bottom deck secretly snuck off with the flag and is either using it as a blanket or has it hung in his study. 

So if you are anywhere around Hempfield High School and see a blue and brown fall garden flag flying through the air, grab on to it and let me know.  Because for now, I have no flag!!!

Last week Autmn and her friend Kaitlyn and I made Candy Cane cookies.  The girls got very creative and only a few turned out to be candy cane shaped.  I was a little short on the Almond Extract, so this week we decided to try again.

So that’s what we did yesterday.  We had the right amount of almond flavoring and plenty of candy cane shapes.  HOWEVER…. Autmn decided that we needed to be creative in another way!  Instead of red (pink) and white, our candy canes were Turquoise and Candy Apple Green!  She counted out the exact number of drops of food coloring, and wouldn’t you know!  We now have several dozen green and blue candy cane cookies!

I do admit that they look WAY out of the norm, but they are very yummy.  Autmn did a good job rolling and shaping and creating.  She wants to open a bakery with two of her sisters when she grows up, and call it ‘Three Peas in a Pod’!  I’ll put my money on the fact that she could do it!

Tonight – after supper and my 2 miles on the treadmill – my adopted project was mall shopping.  There were a few things that I needed that seemed to only be available at specialty stores. Only trouble was, those special shops were not at Westmoreland Mall!

After I got over the fact that I wasn’t going to accomplish much, I walked around and looked at some of the unique and interesting items in the store windows.  I especially liked the holiday toys and crafts, and drooled a little of the Peanuts village in the Sears display. 

The little ones on the train were having a great time, and Santa’s line was busy enough at that hour.  The trees sparkled with twinkly lights and the snow glistened underneath.  One thing for sure, it’s like a winter wonderland.

So even though I didn’t cross anything major off of my shopping list, I enjoyed walking around, soaking in all the cheer and holiday spirit.  Peace on earth, goodwill to all people!

My sister and I take a lot of trips together.  We’ve been to Williamsburg, to visit our cabin and Skunk Hollow family in Home PA, to Erie to see Mom, and even local trips, like today.

No doubt it’s fun to walk on the shores at the lake, looking for unique stones and shells and driftwood in the warm sunshine.  But today, it was a different type of walking.

Today we went Christmas Shopping.

We left the house at 8am, starting at Target.  We probably put several miles on the shopping cart.  From there we went to Ollies, Dollar Tree, Barnes and Noble, Chick-Fil-A for lunch (yum!), K-Mart, and Walmart.  Oh.  And Big Lots. I dropped her back at her house about 4pm.  My trunk and back seat were both tumbled full of packages and presents!

Having grandchildren to buy for adds spice to the adventure, and we roamed the toys, books, clothes, Spiderman and Frozen aisles, candy, and games.  My favorite purchase, though, was not for the kids but for me.  I found a Snoopy Santa hat, complete with floppy ears!  I can’t wait to wear it!  I think if I go shopping on Saturday or Sunday I will do just that.  There’s nothing like a cheerful Snoopy to add joy to a project! 

If I manage to get out again on the weekend, I’ll take a ‘selfie’ and post it.  Stay tuned!  🙂

Several years ago, after a particularly heavy snowfall, a friend and I drove up to Seven Springs just to see the sights.  I can honestly say I have seldom seen such snowy beauty.

The trees sparkled with a silvery-blue glitter, and the fields were almost untouched.  It was like looking at a perfect painting: snow covered branches, frozen waterfalls, miles and miles of unspoiled landscape.

It was like we were transported to another world; another time, far away from everyday life and the normal places and events of day-to-day activities.  We had hot cocoa in the lounge in front of a roaring fire, and sang harmony to oldies music on the way home.

There are not many times in life where we can go to escape the ‘average’ and really get lost in a special moment.  That day was one of those times, and although it would be impossible to recreate, the memories that sparkle at the thought make me smile, and help me to realize that yes, God is on his throne, and all’s right with the world (a favorite quote from Anne of Green Gables).