I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go." "Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas. That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were -- ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95. May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care... And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus! Have a blessed Christmas and that 2012 will be prosperous for all!   I took this from an email I received......and I want to explain how you can tie Santa to religion.  You see, Saint Nicolas was born in the third century of our era, and died in the year three-hundred and forty-five. As a young boy he was made Bishop of Myra, patron saint of mariners, money-lenders, thieves and children; protector of travelers, turners, dyers, coopers, boatmen, bootmakers, sayers, seedmen, mercers, merchants, Greeks, cities, Jews, packers, spinsters, pirates, Russians, pickpockets, haberdashers, children, fishermen, pilgrims, prisoners, parish clerks, sailors and unwedded maids; defender of the Faith and maker of many true miracles.  In those days, families would often put their stockings outside to dry and St. Nicolas was known to put money, fruit or trinkets in the stockings of children.  For the years that I read my "Night Before Christmas" books to elementary and Jr. high students, I always asked if they believed in Santa Claus and when a few said no, I explained why they were wrong.  Sure, like so much that we modern day people touch, Christmas has become commercial and gaudy....but it's up to you to put the Spirit in the Season.  Today, you can ask my own children if they believe and they will tell you yes! (They are 25 and 30) Because when you stop believing.......he stops coming. I'm a Helper.....and I believe..... do you?

Tis The Season.....

The weather outside is dreary, no rain, no fog, just bleary. Don't think we will ever see rain, maybe snow, I don't know, I don't know.

Getting into the Holiday Spirit has been difficult this year, but, the cold weather is certainly helping!  Now if the stores would have the things they advertise, people wouldn't be rude, gas/diesel prices would go down, and I could win the lottery.....ahhhhhh it would be grand!
For today..... I will settle for my loving family, healthy and happy and anticipating Christmas.

Get in the Spirit! Life is too short to be Scrooge!  Merry Christmas!!!

Be careful what you wish for.......

Hmmm.... is this how it began 50+ years ago in Russia?  Did the people there play into the hands of the elite few who were leading that country?  Did their pride and honor get so tarnished that they gave up the idea of being their own person?  Why are Americans getting angry at their brothers and sisters who have been fortunate enough to aquire great wealth and prosperity?  Isn't that the American Dream.....to achieve all we can achieve?  Where do you think the ipad would be if Steve Jobs was born in Russia?  Why are Americans angry at rich Americans?  Jealousy and greed, not that of the rich, but that of the misguided so called "middle" class will be America's down fall.  Do I think government should have let the banks fail? Hmmmm...I'm not wise in the ways of economics, but I do think they should have stricter accountability for the bailout money.  I didn't think it wise to give large bonuses to those high up the coporate ladder while lay offs were rampant in the lower rungs.  But people, think about what these rioters are asking for......."Socialism -1. theory or system of social organization by which the means of production and distribution are owned collectively and controlled through the government."That's where these peoples ideas are heading.. and when you go that direction you can omit two words and get to this: "Communism - system by which the means of production and distribution are owned and managed by the government and the goods are shared by all citizens."  Is this really the direction America and Americans want to go?  Do we really want to give up our dreams and be soley controlled by the government?  The government which is made up entirely of the rich people they are so set against?  There are jobs in America.  Some  people think they are too good to do them but I know if it meant keeping food on the table for my family....I would do anything.  No one is too good to wash dishes or scrub toilets if it keeps your family fed and together.  America needs to stand up, quick sticking it's hand out for a "gimme" and put those hands to work.  If field work is the only work you can find.....what's wrong with rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty.  Minimum wage is a wage.  America needs to get off Uncle Sams payroll and stand up for itself!  This country was founded by people who wanted to be independent not dependent.  Do you really want to share everything you have worked for all your life with those who haven't worked at all?  Socialism, Communism........just saying......be careful what you wish for.

Pick me up.....

Sometimes we just need that....a pick me up.....I do today so I looked for my friend Nancy's blog. It always does the trick and it did again today.

The first day of school, wow! How many of you thought you would be checking on Grandchildren now?  We had our first day traditions, a picture of my kids all dressed for the day.  My Mom met with Mrs. Hodgin for coffee even after John and I were grown.  In fact, I think they only missed once.  Mrs. Hodgin called me on the first day of school after Mom died.....it was sad.  I suppose they had coffee yesterday and watched my grandson go to school.

Can you remember the smell of the Nifty Notebook, paste, chalk, new pencils and THE best thing of all.....a new lunch box!!??  I know we got shoes three times a year....school shoes, church shoes (winter shoes), and easter shoes....and hoped our feet didn't grow much in between times.  One year Mom cut the toes out of my saddle oxfords cause they got too short.  I think Hayes Sammons and Ben Franklins were the school supply places.  If we got new clothes (not homemade) we went to Mission Dry Goods or Ben Sams (if we had the money) and we didn't need a ton of back to school supplies.  Paper, notebook, pencil, satchel (to carry it in) crayons (which we probably had already).  If we had a runny nose we brought our own kleenex or handerchief.  Lunch money consisted of milk money and sometimes an extra dime for an ice cream.  Bryan School had the best ice cream sandwiches!  We had to take care of our school supplies, cause we used them again the next year.  Remember how excited you were when you got to change the size of your notebook paper in Jr. High?  Remember your first locker? (also in Jr. High)
The only free lunch anyone had was if someone brought an extra sandwich.  We had recess and play time after lunch.  After lunch we put our heads down on the desk to relax (while the teacher prepared for the next lesson). We didn't have a/c...lucky we had heat.  We didn't have a/c until High School, well they said we did in Jr. High but it didn't work very well.  Remember all the songs we learned in elementary school, especially the patriotic ones?

Things change.  That's one thing we can count on.  Sometimes change is good but these days I wonder. Has technology jumped us too far ahead?  I miss recess, jungle gyms and playing red rover red rover with all my friends.  Guess that's why they call 'em "the good old days".....you always remember the good.

The latest photo of my grandkids! Morgan & Caleb!

Cool off.....



Susie & Morgan



Morgan & Ryan



Alex & Caleb



Bill keeping everyone cool.

 The Frio was low but not our quest to have fun!  We played in the river, had ice fights, smore's, lots of good food and time away from work. 

and this is how it turned out....

Here is the last photo......

It was a wedding well done.

and the time goes on....

I know, I'm slow...but I'm back to posting about the wedding and events leading up to it...If you read the previous blog...the first day they tried to take engagement photos was VERY windy...but I took a few and I like 'em.

Caleb has really learned to pose (when he feels like it)

He loved their trampolene.....

and Morgan....well.....she loved being free!!!  They didn't get the exact look they wanted that day, so their photographer scheduled another try ( I didn't go) and those photo's were amazing.....she captured their love so well .

If you looked at the pictures or were at the wedding... you may have noticed that the bridal portrait is a different dress.....Susie's expression in this next photo tells it all.



This is not what I want.....

Although she took it home, took her bridal's in it.....on her own.....she found her dream dress....and it was beautiful.  Running out of time...but I will finish this story in the next blog....with photo's and all the oops and oh no's....