So many things!

I wish I'd been more self-disciplined these last few days, as I have a lot to post . My year-end countdown, by Christmas holidays with friends and families, my New Year's frivolity, the Johnson anniversary, the Spurs, and so on. It has been a busy season, and it's hard to get it all into words.

Many trips to Houston for wonderful events; Matt and Summer's wedding, B's first birthday, Liz turning two.... Christmas Eve with the family and Christmas Day. Delicious times with the LaMore clan - thankfulness for Mom's continued improvement - a game with nephews I rarely get to interact with.

So, as 2011 begins, suffice it to say that I am a contented, happy woman. Andy shows me more and more how truly much he loves me (maybe he always has and I just didn't see it!), and my friendships grow dearer to me with each passing day. My daughters and sweet son give me hope for a great future for them all.

To quote a line from the movie "Hope Floats," my cup runneth over. May I never forget how God has blessed by life with His goodness.

So, to you and yours, a Happy, Healthy, and Fun 2011.

Now, if those Spurs will just bring home Banner 5!!!

The Day After Christmas

This weekend, we celebrated Christmas in Houston with Andy's family and our own. Everyone was present, with the exception of our niece, and so it was quite a crowd three little ones - a new generation - added plenty of joy to the season, as did having Mom and Dad still amongst us.
Christmas Eve found us enjoying a quiet day, capped off by a beautiful church service where Dana worships. Even little Bladen sang; his words known only to him, but his little voice joining in with fervor. They were captivated by the images on the large screen above them, and the candles lit during Silent Night mystified their little minds.

Santa came bright and early. We enjoyed delicious Gingerbread cake and Sausage Balls while we opened gifts. Too quickly, it was over. Later, we joined the rest of the LaMores for a wonderful dinner, games, and a giftcard exchange.
After worship the next morning, we enjoyed breakfast together, and then we headed home. Christmas was over, again.

So, we're home now, watching gift movies and finding places for Christmas treasures. The Seasonal music cds are stored away for another year, and soon the tree and stockings will be put away. Tomorrow, Andy returns to work. Life goes on.

I hope you all had a great holiday; I have had one to remember for a long time. Loved ones happy, well, and safe. The best gift of all.

Now, to the New Year!!

Joy Renewed

I have always enjoyed Christmas, as have most people. The sneaking around, the lists, the choosing of wrapping paper, and the overall optimistic attitude of the folks around me.

All the years I taught, I loved the excitement of the children in the school. They were sometimes harder to keep a handle on, but children anticipating Christmas is contagious, and I often felt like one of them. This has been a different year; being retired I was not on a school campus to "catch" their fever.

However, I do have two little elves who are making this holiday season even more precious than ever. The presence of Liz and Bladen around the tree and opening their stockings and gifts will add a new level of joy to my life in a couple of days. I always look forward to seeing Dana, Erin, and Gregg open theirs, and this year is no different - I always sneak in a gift they weren't anticipating to liven things up!

So, to you and yours, Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holidays to all. I'll be thinking of you!!

Over the hills and in the woods, to Elaine's house we go!!

This past weekend, after Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Andy and I headed north. We traveled up Hwy 281 to the small town of Millsap. There, we spent the weekend with my cousin Elaine and her family. I got Erin's middle name from Elaine because she is one of the sweetest people in my family, and I wanted my girl to take that from her. She has.

Elaine and Royce, who married while in high school, live in a little cluster of homes with their son and daughter and their families. All weekend, one person or another would walk in and visit or borrow something or bring over whatever it was that Elaine needed. And then, there were the father and son weiner dogs, Woody and Tag, who were very entertaining! The house smelled of delicious foods and the leaves blew softly down from the trees outside. It was peaceful.

On Saturday, we met up with Randall, Linda, Mike and Deeann for the reunion in Cool, Texas. It was a lovely little church down a windy road with the cemetery in back. Elaine's mother and stepfather are buried there. Andy disappeared, and I found him out back, visiting with Mike as he fried fish. Soon, lots and lots of other cousins showed up; some I know well - others, not. They all enjoyed seeing pictures of my brother and hearing about Liz, Bladen, Erin, Gregg, and Dana. After eating, we enjoyed a wonderful slide-show (power point) that Deeann had put together, and played some games. We had an auction to earn money for my aunt's scholarship fund, and then it was over.

Some of us returned to Elaine's for more visiting; Elaine brought out Mamaw's bible with all the history of our family in it; and then it time for them to go. We watched some sports until we couldn't stay awake any longer, and it was time for bed. The road home is always longer than the road there, but the scenery was magnificent - hills covered with leaves of many colors. We stopped along the way in Dublin, so Andy could replenish his supply of Dublin Dr. Pepper, and then headed home. It had been a great weekend.

Andy told someone Sunday night, that when he is with my family in Millsap, he wants to sell our house and move there. He loves them as much as I do, and we play with the notion. They remind me of my heritage and my family's worth and values. I am better with them. I feel grounded and peaceful.

So, thanks Deeann and Elaine for keeping us together as a family, even if it's only one weekend a year. I love you very much!!

The Cecelia Girls

Growing up, my mother and her sisters were called "the May girls". Feisty, flirty, smart, and beautiful - they were a force to be reckoned with. Nobody better ever try to split them up or cause them grief, for it was all-for-one in the truest form. They are all gone now, and their memories are strong within our family.

Yesterday, I met "the Cecelia girls" - 4 sisters eerily reminescent of my mother and her sisters. I spent the day of Thanksgiving with them - together for the first time since their mother's passing 3 years ago - one lives in Missouri, one in Lubbock, and two here. My dear friend Jackie invited us to spend the day, and it was a full one. I got to observe her in a whole new dynamic, and it was delightfully enlightening.

Raucous laughter, competitive games, serious discussion, lots and lots of teasing, and mostly, love. Lots and lots of love. I felt honored to be let in to such an intimate setting - nothing held back. I almost felt like one of them.

So, thanks Cecelia sisters for a great day - one I'll remember for a long, long time! I hope you return to Pleasanton very soon!!

Happy Easter to all

Posting from Dana's apartment, where we've had a lovely weekend. While Andy was visiting with his mom and dad, Dana and I did a little running around the area where she lives, finding a neat resale store for children. Picked up some pretty dresses for Miss Liz, and then came home. Have been working on a puzzle with Dana of the globe - the continents came together pretty easy, but the oceans are giving us fits. Hopefully, we will complete it before we leave tomorrow.

After dinner tonight, we went over to Andy's sister's to visit. They are great fun, and we had an enjoyable visit. Seems like lately, all our visits have been over Christmas or some other special occasion, so it was nice to just relax.

Worship with the family at West Houston is always enjoyable, and tomorrow should be no different - but will miss our family in Pleasanton. Then, we'll do lunch, pack up, and head home. Monday will be a day of rest.

So, to all of you dear ones, enjoy your Easter. Even if it's just another day to you, I wish you a grand one. Sundays are the best!!

Well, the semester ends tomorrow. I have a few students strolling in and out - the kids at Primary are being treated to "The Polar Express" at the local theatre, and so I am having an easy day here. Elementary will be my regular groups, except one class will be out on a field trip. YIPPEE - it's the class that gives me a headache every single day. They aren't bad boys - they are just LOUD when they talk. I really don't think they mean to be, because as soon as I close my eyes, their volumn goes down!!

I'm really looking forward to the break, however it is filling up with only one day before Christmas not booked with errands or invitations somewhere. After the big day, and Lindsey's wedding, the week following should be nice and quiet. Someday, I want to go somewhere snow-filled for that week!!

Have a wonderful, Christmascy day!!