Santa Came Early

Santa came early this year and brought this beautiful baby boy to my nephew and his girlfriend. Isn't he precious? Jason came into the world weighing 7 lbs. 15 oz. That sounds like a good size baby, but I'm always so surprised by how tiny they are when you see them. Seven pounds isn't that big in real life.

Proud dad

Grandpa


Grammy

My sister looks too young to be a grandmother! But she's head over heels with Jason David (who's also named after his grandfather) and is already making plans for his wedding (just kidding!). She'll be keeping him during the day while his parents are at work and is really looking forward to having him all to herself.

Grandkids are the best thing that could ever happen to anyone. They keep you y0ung. They make you look at the world through new eyes and notice things that you normally take for granted every day. They're a constant source of laughter and joy. Congratulations, Grammy and Grandpa!

Books I've Read

The Time Traveler's Wife

I've been able to do quite a bit of reading lately. I wasn't sure about reading this book at first; but after reading the first couple of chapters, I was totally hooked. It's a wonderful love story between Henry DeTamble, the time traveler, and his wife, Clare Abshire. You find out what causes Henry to time travel and how it affects his life and Clare's. Don't try to figure out the why or how of how the time travel works. Just let yourself be carried away. I promise, you won't be sorry. The only caveat I have is that if you plan to see the movie, see it before you read the book. I don't think the movie does justice to the intricacy of the characters as time evolves, but then again, how could it?

The Lovely Bones was another great book. It's heartrending but beautiful at the same time. A young girl is murdered, and her family is left to pick up the pieces of their lives as they each deal with the loss in their own way, in their own time. The book is the dead girl's view as she watches over her family from heaven or the "In Between." When she is able, her family experiences very brief glimpses of her, never sure if her image is their imagination or reality.







The Shack is a very thought provoking book. Although it does deal with the spiritual, I found it refreshing in the way it defined (or didn't define) religion. I've never considered myself a religious person, but I do consider myself as a spiritual being, tied to our Creator in many ways. It's an echo of how we should treat each other, with love, respect, and acceptance. ". . . and the greatest of these is love."

Happy Birthday

Happy, happy birthday to my oldest grandson. I can't believe you're eight years old! Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that I was holding you in my arms in the hospital the day you were born. I miss our weekends together, cuddling with our hot water bottles, having our special tea in the evening, watching movies, filling up the birdfeeders and cleaning the bird baths. I miss our breakfasts at IHOP. Before I know it, you'll be taller than me and giving me dating advice. Hahaha. Until then, know that I love you and that you'll always be special to me.

You Can't Go Home Again

Looking forward to the new year and thinking back on the year that's passed has me contemplating some of the experiences gone by. I've decided that "you can't go home again." What I thought was a possibility by reaching out, I realize now, looking back, was a huge mistake. I've evolved and changed in ways that some will never be able to understand. Respect and consideration will always be important, respect and acceptance of differing opinions. You can't go back. Embracing the future and looking ahead, not back, is the only way to grow and welcome what may lie ahead. Old ghosts are finally laid to rest, and dreams of new possibilities are on the horizon like following the light in a darkened room.

First Snow of the Season

My son and his wife decided to come and visit this weekend, and I was so looking forward to it. They arrived late on Friday, and we stayed up talking until after midnight before we all decided to call it a night. Yesterday, we woke to a snowstorm outside. We were all SO EXCITED! I LOVE SNOW! It was a winter wonderland. It snowed all afternoon and into the evening -- big, fat, beautiful snowflakes! We spent the day watching it snow, playing games on the Wii and watching Christmas movies. We had a warm breakfast of biscuits and gravy and eggs. Then a terrific dinner of home made chicken, mushroom, and wild rice soup. I had the perfect company for what I consider a perfect winter day.

Snow Watch

They're predicting snow for northern Virginia tomorrow afternoon -- 2 to 4 inches!! I know, Nat, that's nothing compared to your bounty of the white stuff. But for here, it hardly ever snows; so I'm VERY excited. It's supposed to start tomorrow morning sometime. I can't wait! Come on, snow! Show us your stuff. Get us ready for Christmas, a white Christmas.

Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful for my wonderful family and extended family. We're blessed to be able to spend this holiday together every year at Jamey's mountain home. This year the guys fixed the turkey, and it turned out perfectly. It was a bountiful feast for everyone there, where we enjoyed each other's company, the crisp mountain air, the beautiful scenery, and the incredible wildlife that was everywhere you looked. I love the mountains.

Church near Boone, NC

Turkey vultures perched nearby

Three little elves waiting for Santa

View of mountains from back of cabin

This little buck walked right up to the car to have his photo taken. If you look closely, you can just see the nubs of his horns coming through.

Watch geese, calling out their alarm

Cows from a nearby farm