Day Three Hundred Fifty Nine 2011

My family enjoyed our annual Christmas get-together this evening at my sister Ann's and her husband Terry's house. There were 21 peeps in attendance. We enjoyed a fabulous feast of turkey and ham with all the delicious trimmings. After dinner, we played a mean game of Dirty Santa which is always fun. And of course it's always a treat to get to visit with nieces and nephews we don't get to see very often. The picture here is of my 90 year old mother surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren (with three missing in action this year). Ann and Terry are always gracious hosts. They know how to deck the halls. Christmas is everywhere in their home. Thanks, Ann and Terry for hosting again! What a blessing it is to be able to be together with loved ones on Christmas Day! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Eight 2011

We had ourselves a merry little Christmas. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, too! From the Ranft, Myers, and Kimbrough Families.

Day Three Hundred Fifty Seven 2011

"Christmas is a time of little time.
How we get there is a mystery.
Racing madly mall-to-mall, we climb
Into fields of sunlit harmony.
Shopping, cooking, clearing walks and yards,
Trimming house and tree while working, too;
Making phone calls, wrapping, writing cards,
As all worn out we do what we must do
So that this day of joy might joy renew."
- Nicholas Gordon
(Hubby Neil and I braved Wal-Mart today for some last-minute shopping, as did the rest of the free world--and this picture is the view from our parking space, seemingly in a galaxy far far away from the store. I think we finally got it together. My feet hurt.)

Day Three Hundred Fifty Six 2011

Grand daughter Shelby has been playing the Wii version of the video game ‘Zelda’ this week at my house. She’s been playing for quite some time. She also has the Nintendo DS version. This week, she’s been making huge leaps in the game, and when that happens, you just can’t quit. This is literally all she did Tuesday and again today, except for a break for lunch and the occasional bathroom break. And maybe once to eat a Nutty Buddy. Amazingly, her brother Elijah has been content to sit by her side and watch her play. He gets just as excited as she does when she finally conquers something. He has even helped her out at times when she couldn’t quite get it done. I can only hope that  playing the quest game creates new brain cells (problem solving) and doesn’t destroy them. At any rate, these two are having great fun in the process.
PS~Looks like I jumped the gun yesterday on the shortest day of the year.  Hubby Neil says it is today.  So Happy Winter Solstice, y'all!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Five 2011

"So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!"
- Susan Cooper, The Shortest Day
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Wishing my brother in law, Terry Sissom, a very happy 55th birthday!