December, 2019
December 1 – 23
The first two weeks of December included a lot of routine activities; 5 choir practices and a performance at the 1st Baptist Church of Oneco’s Walk Through Bethlehem on Saturday, December 7, as well as Palm View First Baptist’s Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 15th. I also had lunch with friends, Bill and Ruth Baker and attended a Christmas party with Dad for the North River Care Pregnancy Center board members at the director’s new home in Parrish on the 12th.
There was a raffle for an outdoor patio set and I won it.
On Sunday, the 15th we sang our Christmas cantata and Emma was a hit.
On Thursday, the 19th I drove over to Ormond Beach with Aunt Tillie and Uncle Jimmy. They went to collect their winter clothes from their storage unit and to visit friends and family. I spent time with brother-in-law, Edward and nephew, Mat, who was in town for just a few days.
The Christmas Senior Pot Luck supper on the 20th signaled the end of outside Christmas activities for me and Dad until Christmas eve. I will tell you all about that in the next installment.
In the meantime, let me share the message I received on a Christmas card this year.
My Christmas List of Blessings
My Christmas List is more
than just a way to keep track of
the special people God has brought
into my life to love.
It’s like a treasured scrapbook
filled with pleasant memories
of all the times God’s answered prayer
through friends and family.
Every name’s a touchstone
that leads to a place and time,
where God has used another’s heart
to reach out and touch mine.
It may have happened years ago
or even yesterday,
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but every person on my list
has changed my life some way.
Through simple conversation,
A warm hug or a shared meal,
Every person on my list
has helped me grow or heal,
Or laugh or love or learn or smile …
The blessings never end
As God allows our paths to cross
As family and friends.
So please know that this greeting
Is more than a Christmas wish.
It’s a ‘thank you’ card to God
For putting on my list
Each and every one whose name
I’ve come to hold so dear …
Those who’ve shown me Christmas joy
Each day of the year.
December 24 – 31
On Christmas Eve I spent a good part of the day with my two granddaughters. In the evening, JP, Kellie, Vanessa and Emma participated in the neighborhood’s lighted golf cart Christmas parade.
Dad and I went over to JP’s part of the house for Christmas morning. We had a wonderful Christmas opening presents with Emma, Vanessa, JP, Kellie, Dad and me. Then Vanessa and Kellie made breakfast for all of us. After that, we came back to our part of the house until about 5:00 when we went back for a roast beef Christmas dinner prepared by Kellie. I heard via text from family and friends all day long and thank you all for thinking of me. And, thanks to those who were not here but sent me a Christmas gift, like this lovely rendition of a Swiss Chalet from nephew, Mat, to remind me of our family trip to Switzerland 20 years ago.
On Friday, 12/27, I was invited over to Pier 22 marina by Jimmy and Tillie to join them at their boat with her sister, Rick’s Aunt Joan. After cocktails at sunset, we had a nice turkey dinner.
By the end of the month, I had most of the Christmas decorations down, but not returned to the attic yet. On New Year’s Eve, I fell asleep before midnight, but did receive a couple of Happy New Year text messages just in time for me to see 12:00 and hear lots of fireworks in the neighborhood.
Our journey has been inspired by Joy and Steve Fredrick. You can see more of their story at