Merry Christmas

Every year since we have done a blog, I have done a Christmas entry so I will continue the tradition, but it will be short and without pictures.  I think Mike would join me in saying that the last few weeks have been an emotional extravaganza. 

Shootings at an elementary school - we could make no sense of it - who could... since I spent my entire career in an elementary school, it hit too close... and then with all this joyous "crap" about Christmas... it just didn't seem to mesh, still doesn't - for days I just could not watch the news.  I don't know if avoidance is a healthy way to handle stuff but sometimes it works.

On December 18th, we participated in an Outreach to Mexico.  A couple from the RV park in which we stay in Yuma has been involved in mission work in Algodones Mexico for 11 years. At Christmas each year, they distribute quilts and hats, handmade by park members and friends, and toys to families.  We decided to go along... I kinda thought it would do my heart good.  Well, what we experienced changed us.  To say that the need is tremendous is an understatement.  One little old lady to whom we delivered a handknit blanket and cap, kept asking if we would bring cardboard... that is what she needs most as that is what her home is made of and the temperature was dropping to the low 30's.  She invited us in to her home and showed us where more cardboard was needed...And then the children - the looks in the eyes... Enough for now, you will hear much more about this experience when I have the pictures to show you.

On December 20th, the fiance of our granddaughter Megan was killed in a car accident.  We immediately wanted to go to South Dakota and be with her, and then we thought "what can we do" and changed our minds and then Mike's son, Brian (Megan'sdad) reached out and within 2 hours the car was packed and we were headed for Corsica, South Dakota and that is where we are now.  After a 1700 mile drive, we were able to hold Megan, and we knew we were where we were supposed to be.  Tomorrow we will attend the funeral for Jake, a young man we did not know very well, a young man  who made Megan very happy, a young man of only 23 years of age...

Yes, we attended Christmas Eve candlelight services - stopped early last night in Lexington, Nebraska and yes, Christmas is still my very favorite time of the year - we have a homemade ornamnent from Amariah hanging from the mirror in the car along with a carved nativity cross, but this has certainly not been a typical Christmas Season.

This Christmas Season, I have not only celebrated the Birth of Jesus, but I have been stretched and my faith has been pulled... and I like to think it will make me a better person in 2013... I hope so anyway...

So, to each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

12 in honor of 12 - 12 - 12

Since this is a once in a lifetime day, I decided I better observe it in some small way.  So here goes the list of 12 things we have done since the last post.

1. We enjoyed a great late Thanksgiving dinner with people at the park in Roosevelt and then left the next day.

2.  We spent 5 days in Casa Grande at one of our former membership parks.  I enjoyed the new swimming pools four out of the five days.

3. We went to see the movie "Lincoln" and highly recommend it to all - great historical movie!

4. We reconnected with Marilyn and Dale (from Colorado) who we haven't seen for a couple of years - they now spend all winter in Casa Grande.

5. On December 1st we headed to Pilot Knob RV Park near Yuma.   We stopped for milk at a small grocery store in Wellton and found T-Bone steaks on sale for $5.99 a pound - stocked up on a few.

6. Algodones, Mexico was our destination on several days.  Mike now has a very handsome smile (and he can eat those steaks!).

7. Nina and John (from Illinois) are in the park and we have enjoyed spending time with them.

8. The house is now decorated for Christmas and in our last mail delivery we actually received 5 cards - now those people mailed early!  Each ornament on our tree is either from a  special person or from a special place we have visited.  We may need to get a bigger tree next year!

The twisted beautiful creche is wood we "harvested" at Navajo Lake.

9. We have been attending church over in the Foothills - pastor was in Albert Lea, MN early in his ministry - probably before Mike and I lived there - small world

10. We attended the Arizona Western College Christmas Concert - it was so marginal that Mike wanted to leave at intermission.  The orchestra and band performed in the second half and they pulled out a win - very talented musicians.

11. At Bingo one night, I won three pots and the blackout - too bad they were all small pots.

12. Today we baked 12 dozen cookies and mailed the last two Christmas boxes to the grandkids.

 We'll be hanging around this area until the 21st when he head to Colorado River Oasis (membership park) by Ehrenberg for Christmas and New Year's.  Life is good and we are well and that about sums it up. 

Hope you had a memorable 12-12-12!