The time between

Ted's days off are filled with work!  He gave a day back to his company to make sure things were shipped correctly.  He works in the garage on various projects.

Getting the running hours built up on the generator.

And a brake job on Alisa's car...hoping and praying that the car will last as long as the new brakes.

Fixing a problem with one crumbling tile due to the remodeler's incorrect installation...meant all around new caulk as well.  When the hat goes backwards, there is serious work going on here!

I met the appraisers at the rentals...thus putting a whole 3 hour work day into the week.

More Christmas baking shows and puzzling...

Trying out a recipe for baked donuts...that were too dense.  If I were being judged, I would have been sent home because they didn't rise...even though I followed the recipe.

Trying out my new art easel from Teddy...I started with a black background...we will see what happens!

 

A Merry Christmas for Dad and Mom

A visit with Sean and Becky and all their children and grand-dog.

Frosting Christmas cookies...

A happy gathering and sharing special times!

Mom had a break for December from chemo treatments.  We are so grateful to see her up and around and able to enjoy family!  And able to go to the Christmas Eve service!

Time with brother and sisters...what a gift to see Mom strong enough to gather with family!

 

It made me think!

Last night, we went to bed and talked about how special the weekend was.  We drifted off to sleep with thankful hearts.  We were sleeping hard when an alarm started going off at about 1:03am!  I stumbled around trying to figure out where it was coming from...and Ted said "It's the carbon monoxide detector...grab it..."  I was trying to get it to stop (knowing the dogs would freak out and Alisa and Grandma were sleeping) and read the code at the same time.  Wow!  We both had been sleeping so hard it took us some time to grasp what was happening.  We were awake...so that was a blessing!  Grandma and Alisa were ok too.  The dogs were awake.  After my heart stopped beating so crazily, I was so grateful for the detector alarm!  We all have heard the stories of people that didn't wake up.  "What do we do?  Do we call 911...oh...that would be...a mess."  No, we are not going to do that...we are going to follow the steps...

We spent the next hour trying to figure out if there was a problem or did the brief power outage make the detector malfunction.  We brought in fresh air.  Ran the blower without the furnace.  Not being quite sure...but after following all the steps to reset and recheck...we did not get any readings or another alarm.  Ted still turned off the furnace.  I am thankful for a level-headed husband who went through all the steps methodically.  We couldn't get it to go off.  We headed back to bed.  

"I never really thought about this...we just go to bed each night...thinking all is well...with the faith that we will wake up the next day!  We hear about the concern and warnings and need to have the detectors...but then...when it actually goes off...that is a whole different mindset." 

Ted went today and picked up two more (Did you know you should have one on each LEVEL of your house?) to test against the one we have, in case it is defective.  He ran the furnace.  He has checked and re-checked things.  In all the years that we have had a carbon monoxide detector in multiple places, it has NEVER gone off.  We have lost power multiple times, it has NEVER gone off.  So...we were and are more prone to be pro-active right now.

Poor Chica was shaking so bad during all the checking that I held her.  If she could have crawled in my sweatshirt, she would have.  There is a beeping sound that is an alert for the collars they were for our yard.  All beeping sends her into anxious mode and the shaking begins!  All is calm now...for now.

But we will be on high alert for awhile to make sure all checks out well.  I am thankful for a God who watches over us.  I am thankful for smart people who can make gadgets we can use to alert us to danger.  I am thankful for a husband who takes good care of all of us!  A first for us...a date watching the detector and monitoring conditions for an hour in the middle of the night.
 

Christmas Day 2023

Ted and I got up early to make sure there was coffee and some breakfast for our TN travelers.  The quiet of the morning was comforting...

and smelled so good...till the sensitive smoke detector went off in spite of our best efforts to prevent that!

Ted was rigged and ready!  I just think it was so neat that he thought of this as I was trying to be quiet in the kitchen.

Half of the sleepers didn't even hear the beeping!  The other half were already awake and lured by the smell of the candied, Cajun bacon.

Taking time to wake up and mentally get ready for their return trip to TN ...

getting all the cuddles and playing in before a quick breakfast.

Aldi for the win!  Frozen pastries that I baked...MMMM!  Too bad they were just for Christmas time.

So thankful for the 36 hours we had together!  I am trying not to be sad that it was not longer...but they are adults with jobs now.  Our hearts are thankful and proud of their hard work...so we let them go knowing that God has a purpose for them and He is using them in special ways.

I watch Ted watch them...knowing the love and prayer behind the scenes, knowing the experience and wisdom shared in his words, knowing his heart feels like mine...but trusting fully in our Heavenly Father who loves them more than we do...and so we let go...again.

A picture with Grandma and prayer before the hugs...

and the forlorn looks of what just happened?  Where did they go?  Already...they are leaving?  What?

The rest of the day was quiet and restful...naps, puzzle, fire, football, calls with family, naps, football, and food.

Ted tended a comforting fire all afternoon.

The puzzle is proving to be harder than I thought!  It is going to take me awhile!  The dogs still on the look out for the TN kids...it is kind of sad to watch them and they seemed to be very clingy the rest of the day.

Supper was my short cut to fondue...I made steak bites in butter and garlic in the cast iron pan.  We ate some of the other left-overs.  And then...for Alisa and I...I made the traditional rice cream with raspberry sauce.

Another thing to be thankful for...simple traditions passed down through the years that we enjoy.  Other traditions were set aside due to time.  Each year, we do things differently and that is what makes every year special!  

Instead of being sad that our time is over,  I want to be thankful and look forward to the special moments that God will bring in the days, months, and years to come.
 

Then one foggy Christmas Eve...

We had all our special Christmas time together on Christmas Eve.  Everyone slept till they were ready to get up...no rushing.  

The favorite breakfast requests baked up nice!   We shared time around the table.

Alisa made me a Christmas Claus Colada!  I am energized for the day!

Being together with no time crunch...and we decided to do gifts sooner rather than later.

Ted read Matthew 2 this year.  The focus on verse 11, "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mari his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:  and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."  Last year's focus of Make Room in your heart...for God to write His story...continues this year as Ted challenged us to take time to worship God with our lives.

I went from contemplation to tears of thankfulness as I reflected over every month of last year...as we sat together once again listening to the song "Make Room in Your Heart".  This year, we had two people added to our family of five Christmas.  There have been job changes, a move, sickness, challenges, waiting, bills, relationships, worries, and more...BUT GOD has given answers to very specific prayers, new relationships, faith increasing, blessings, opportunities, healing, encouragement, strength...and laughter!

I am so thankful for the family that God has given us!  My heart is full as I look around our living room and beyond!  The memories keep rolling in each year and I try to capture them in picture, so I can go back and remember and preserve!

"Can't you do just one nice with me?"

"Nope, I guess not!" 

Ted and Teddy got t-shirts stating that they "still play outside".  Ashlynn and Alisa got shirts about being "Indoorsy".  My mom humor...I thought it was funny and perfect for each of them!

Ornaments this year captured the latest funnies...remembering a fishing date with Alex that Ashlynn did not totally enjoy and Alex laughing about it!  "Hooked on Fishing" for Ashlynn.

Alex's t-shirt about not working because his arm is in a cast.  This Tennessee guy with a southern drawl enjoyed it.

The dogs always enjoy destroying the wrapping paper.  They got new Christmas sweaters!

Teddy's head lamp...and of course...he had some great entertainment for us.

The best wrap job goes to....Teddy!  He bought me an art set with an easel!  Stay tuned.

Teddy gave his Dad an epic BBQ set!  Things are going to get real serious with all the interesting tools.

Ted found this for me.  So interesting...I had never heard this term before now!  With some of our conversations of late, I see the significance in the idea and the importance of developing this in new ways.

Appetizers for lunch, conversations, relaxing...

A foggy drive to the Christmas Eve service...

Beautiful decorations at Alisa's church...

time together...

beautiful Christmas music...

Home for the Holidays...

Christmas dinner with a full table...

Thankful hearts...

Sharing the stockings...

Game time...and lots of laughter...and treats!

Warm and cozy in my new loungewear from Ted with our favorite cranberry/Sprite drink...

and everyone ready to go to bed.  It was a full and blessed day!