Emma always looks forward to December to see her “Elf on the Shelf” (she calls him “Elfie”) return for the holiday season.  She was not disappointed when she woke up on Saturday, 12/2, to find him sitting at the top of the cat tree in her living room.

While I was excited to see the return of my orchid blooms.  Obviously, it is not very cold here in Florida.

We began the Advent season at Palm View First Baptist Church on Sunday, 12/3, and the sanctuary was beautifully decorated.

After volunteering at the food bank doing prep for Friday distribution I drove to Ormond Beach to see brother-in-law, Edward on Wednesday, 12/6.  On Thursday, we drove to New Smyrna Beach to locate the wedding venue where my great-nephew, Michael Frantz, will be married in March.  Then, we drove around the area to locate a place for my family to stay for the wedding weekend.  I enjoyed checking out the sunset from Edward’s new/refurbished dock overlooking the Halifax River/Intercoastal Waterway.

Friday morning I said goodbye to Edward just before sunrise and drove home, stopping by Dad’s memory care facility to see how he was doing.  In the afternoon, worked at the drive-through food bank at Palm View First Baptist Church.

By Wednesday, 12/13, my Christmas shopping was almost done.  All gifts have been wrapped, boxed or bagged and are under the tree.

Friday, 12/15 –  Some of the regular workers at the food bank are exchanging small gifts for Christmas.  Teri Passmore, coordinates the food bank for our church and she made this gift for me, which is proudly displayed in my home.

On Tuesday, 12/19, my brother Bill came for lunch.  His wife wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed with her mother in the Tampa area.  We were joined by JP for lunch; then the two of us visited Dad.

Deborah Ross, a past Commodore at the Bradenton Yacht Club, invited about 20 women to her home for an early evening get together on Thursday, 12/21.  It was a twist on a “tea party”.  Each guest brought a box of their favorite tea.  While we were enjoying refreshments, we each decorated a small paper bag and before we left, we each took a teabag or two from the teas that had been brought.

Emma’s first day of holiday break began on Friday, 12/22.  She helped me at the food bank that afternoon and every other Wednesday and Friday during her break.

Sunday, 12/24 was Christmas Eve.   In addition to morning church service and visiting Dad, we attended the outdoor Christmas Eve service.

I spent Christmas Day with Dad, Edward and the family.  Emma and I drove up to Sun City Center at 7:30 pick up Dad.  Edward drove over from Ormond Beach (on the east coast of Florida) and arrived shortly before we returned with Dad.  All of the presents that had been under my tree had been moved over to JP’s tree last night and Edward added his to them.  Kellie made a breakfast casserole which we all enjoyed before letting the girls open their presents.  Then, the rest of us opened our gifts and; then, we all opened our stocking gifts.  We got finished around noon.  JP, Kellie and the girls went over to her parent’s house in Palmetto to spend the rest of the day.  I made a Christmas meal for me, Dad and Edward which we ate before leaving just after 2:00.  Edward drove back to his home, while I took Dad back to his Memory Care Center.

Dad and Edward

Kellie and J. P.

Of course, most of the gifts went to my two granddaughters.  I don’t put their pictures on the web, but believe me, they both had very big smiles.

I also had a smile after making my bed with the new sheets I received from the family.  They matched a comforter that I already had.

Hope you all had as Merry a Christmas as I did.  See you next year.