May Your Christmas Be Blessed

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. Get yourself a cup, yes the Christmas cups, and lets sit and visit for a while. I just want some quiet time before the cooking starts tomorrow. I am so happy, I will have all my family except for Curt and Lindsey here. Only happens once a year, but it thrills me to have them. Like everyone else, we are missing someone dear and we think how he would love seeing the great grand children. We only had 3 when he died and now there are 6. But this is not a time for sadness, but pure joy. The birth of our Savior. The only thing that equals that is the Resurrection. Everything is done here except the cooking. I will actually do most of it Christmas Day. Some will be done tomorrow, but today is for just enjoying. It is so peaceful to sit in front of the fireplace, Christmas lights on and Carols playing. I hope each of you can do that at least for a while. Let the hustle and bustle fade away and just enjoy. I will tell you I have enjoyed every visit you have made Through My Back Door and hope you will continue to visit me. I will share some of the Christmas here as it will soon be packed away until another year.

My Mouse house Deb made over 33 years ago.

I hope you enjoyed a little Christmas Through My Back Door as much as I have enjoyed your visit. Merry Christmas and and may it be blessed.

betty

PS: I am excited. A fellow blogger is visiting Sunday

PSS:The picture of the wool, is from Audrey at Tombstone Tidings. Mollie loves the black wool and always has to touch it

PSSS: Lets say a prayer for all of our friends who have fresh losses this year, Several of my friends have lost children this year,

The Three P's of Christmas Parties, Plays and People

Good evening  and welcome Through My Back Door. Grab the coffee and help yourself to some cookies, fudge, or what ever you want. If you prefer a glass of egg nog you can have that. I want you to be happy. I It has been a  whirl wind here the last several days. I have shared with you how much I love Christmas and all that goes with it, even though it wears me out.lol A week ago Friday night was the party I last blogged about, Saturday a couple of my friends, Dottie Luchsinger and Shirley Dowling, and I went to Maryville(an hour away) to Renda's presentation of the Man Who Came to Dinner. I cannot brag on my d-i-l enough. She gets so much out of those high school students.Have I said she sits in the audience during the performance.
Sunday afternoon I attended a luncheon given by my church for widows and widowers. It is always just fantastic, as my church has our own Paula Dean in Carol Flanary. Monday night I hosted my card groups Christmas party. Our 31st year to celebrate Christmas! Some marriages don't last that long.lol

The table was full of food. Drinks are else where.

I like this picture of Linda Y.

Linda A and Regina J. Have I told you there are 2 Regina's, 2 Linda's, and 2 Betty's in our group?

The other Betty

Fran, Linda, and Betty's feet. We always draw names and this year everyone of us had the same name we had last year. Now that was funny!
 When I was a special ed teaching assistant I was Melinda's TA. We bonded and became more like family. Amy taught 4th grade and the three of us became very close and still keep in touch. Tuesday night Melinda has us over for supper and the evening. We had such a fun time and laughed and talked for 4&1/2 hours! They are so much younger than me, that I am glad they still include me.lol I have watched both of these girls marry and become Mothers. Melinda's daughter is at UT now and Amy's in 8th grade. I have never seen two better teachers than these two. Sadly neither of them are teaching now due to the changes in education. Such a loss.
Thursday I attended a luncheon at church and I will share pictures of it later. I have not downloaded them. It was spectacular! Yes, done by our own "Paula Deen"lol, aka Carol Flanary.  She is just amazing.
Thursday night I went to my Sunday School class Christmas party and we had so much fun. Laughed so hard, ate so much, and it was just wonderful. See why I called this post what I did? Instead of doing gifts for one another, we did for a sick member. It was just a blessing.
Friday I went to Dodd and Renda's for the evening and night. What a good time we had. Olivia came home and we got to visit for hours. Went shopping for a few, she put me onto the best chap stick,(lol) went back home and ate a delicious supper Renda had made. Then we made gingerbread ornaments for their tree. Just like the Waltons.
It will not let me down load the picture of the tree, but later maybe I can get it to cooperate. (I know it isn't me)lol
Sunday after church Deb and I finished our Christmas shopping after Olive Garden. We love Olive Garden and eat there every chance we get. Sunday night Andrew was a shepherd in the Nativity play at their church. I got so teary eyed when I saw him standing there so straight as the only glasses wearing shepherd. I truly don't think it is Christmas with out seeing a children's performance. It is a special event for me and has always been. Andrew is growing up, but is still so sweet and loving.
After church I spent the night at Debs and came home this morning. I am home to stay.lol (Until the next time).
I hope I haven't bored you with the three P's of Parties, Plays, and People. I love all of the activities to do with Christmas. I always have. In the Polar Express it is sad when the boy realizes his Mom, Dad and his sister Sarah no longer hear the bell. I hope I always hear the bell and I hope you do too.
Know what else I hope? That you continue to come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty

PS:Remember my sweet Aunt who celebrated her 96th birthday? Will you remember her in prayer?She is in the hospital
PSS: 10 days until Christmas day. Will you hunt for something wonderful each of those days?
PSSS: Thanks to all of you who continue to read and follow Through My Back Door. Blogging is fading a bit and I appreciate each of you.

A Memorable Christmas

Good morning and welcome Through My Back Door. The coffee is on and have a ginger snap cookie. I love them, do you? Here, you sit over here and warm your self by the fireplace.

Last night was our Sunday School department Christmas party and I was asked to share a Memorable Christmas. Well I thought every Christmas I can remember was memorable. lol You know how your life goes in stages, and I loved Christmas as a child. I have shared I was an only child and an only grand child on my Mother's side, so I was a bit spoiled, I suppose. (I hate admitting that and hope Carol Sue and Verleen don't read this)They were my cousins on my Dad's side. Any way I would always write a list to Santa and a list to Grandma Wright. I would always add on her list, "and a surprise". Then you get married and that first Christmas is memorable, and when the children come along, more memories, and then the grands. Well anyway it was hard for me to come up with one in particular, but this one just kept creeping in my mind. I thought I would share with you.
My grandparents lived in Ohio and we alternated years going there or them coming here. This one year I was probably 10 years old, and it was Christmas Eve when we traveled. There were no interstates then so we went state highways, through beautiful towns, all decorated for Christmas. I can still remember how  secure I felt in the back seat of the car riding and looking at all those lights and decorations. Anyway, it was late when we arrived and after some down time, and my opening a couple of gifts, we went to bed. Around 2:30 A.M. we were awakened by someone Caroling on the front porch. It took a minute for Mom and the grands to wake up and then I heard my Mother say, or I should say she yelled it,lol"It is Aunt Cleona". Well she lived about 3 hours away and had caught the bus to come visit. The bus had gotten in around 2 A.M. and she had walked the 8-10 blocks to my grandparents house! It was cold too. After she came into the house, someone said, "Cleona, where is your suitcase?" To which she replied, very calmly, "Oh I didn't bring one. I just wore everything!" And she did! She had on 4 days worth of clothes! I thought that was cool. lol Let the record state that when she left there she had a suitcase with her clothes in it and was taken to the bus station! I  will always remember that Christmas.
She was a precious woman and quite the musician. She was also a preacher. I will never forget her.
So that is one of my Memorable Christmases. It is always memorable when you come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty
PS: Let us all remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas
PSS: I was blesses to sit at the table with Nick and Kayla Cancemi along with Marilyn Hall last night. We had some wonderful laughs. Didn't know they were so much fun
PSSS:Why don't you take time to think of your own Memorable Christmas. It was fun

Welcome December

Good morning to December. And to each of you. I am so happy to see you this morning I know everyone has had a wonderful weekend and are ready for some down time. So grab a cup of coffee, yes we are using the Christmas mugs(It is December) and just lets chat a moment. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was blessed to have all my children and theirs under the same roof. We were missing 3 grands and I always hate when they can't come. I am ready for this month. I love everything about Christmas. Everything. The business, the cooking, the baking, the parties, the eating, the decorating, the wrapping, and the list goes on. I love the Christmas carols and I guess my favorite song is I'll Be Home for Christmas. My favorite religious is Silent Night. Curtis' was O Holy Night, but I love them all. I don't like the spin offs, like Alvin and Grandma got Ran Over By a Reindeer(although I did a few years ago.Get ran over by a deer) Anyway, I am so glad you have dropped in. I have filled the peppermint jars and they are waiting  for you to come Through My Back Door where life is good.
betty

PS: Let us truly try to remember the true Reason for our Season
PSS: I Hope all of our NE friends have their electric back on and are rebounding from that storm
PSSS: I am so thankful my blog fairy gave me this beautiful Christmas header.