Another Wonderful Christmas

Another wonderful Christmas, Through My Back Door. It is so good to see you this rainy morning here in East Tn. You know the coffee is on, plain old DD, so you can have a Christmas mug or a redware. It is your choice, and please, please, please, eat some of these sweets. I am so happy you are visiting and will let me share my wonderful Christmas with you. I am not talking about gifts, although there were a lot of those. I am going to share one in particular with you later. Do you know this was the first time in years everyone was together under my roof? All three of my children and everyone of my grands and all of my greats. It was WONDERFUL!  I loved it. Of course it was loud and chaotic, but that is the way it is supposed to be isn't it? Seth brought his girlfriend and her son. He and Andrew got along great. We had so much food and everyone had a wonderful time. There were 23 of us in this little house. Doug came early as always and helped me cook. Our Christmas actually began on Thursday, when Debs family did Christmas for Lindsay, Curt's fiance.(Remember they are getting married this summer) Good food and gifts. One thing happens when any of us get together and that is a lot of laughter. Lindsay fits right in. We love her.

She lives in Missouri and went home to be with her family on Christmas. For many years my sister in law,(I only have one) and her daughter have hosted a Crowe women luncheon before Christmas. We went to that on Friday. Again food and laughter.
On Christmas eve we all went back down there for our Christmas together. We have spent every Christmas Eve together for all of her married life. (I was in the family a few years before her.)
Some day I'll share how she and my brother in law met. (Curtis only had one brother, no sisters. Marg and I are both only children. Get the picture? We are like sisters) Anyway, we again had so much fun, so much food, and it was wonderful. Her three children and their families, as well as two of mine and their families were all there. Wow! Then Sunday morning church. Michael, the worlds best son in law, wanted me to go with them, so I did. Their pastor preached the BEST Christmas sermon I have ever heard. It was on the gift of forgiveness. After church we went to Debs for their family Christmas.More finger foods, (Chik f la, as Beth requested because they aren't in Il) more gifts, and lots of laughter. Then at 5:30 everyone came to my house. So see why it was wonderful? All of these reasons are not the whole reason it was wonderful. Beth and Ryan came in from Il. We hadn't had them home for Christmas in a while and that was WONDERFUL for them to be here.

Our Little princess, Mollie, she had been going strong all day. My house is the last stop.

Remember Gabe, my little preemie? He was 3 month early last January. Well he is a strong healthy little boy. This is his mommy, Anastasia. Mollie loved his red hair, and kept rubbing it.

 The back of Andrews head!lol. (The bag under the chair is what he keeps his dinosaurs in at my house)We were so busy talking this year we didn't take many pictures. The cousins had so much catching up to do.
 We took this picture at the end, when almost everyone had left.

Deb, Olivia, me, Beth and Renda. Lindsay and Amanda had left already.
I want to share one particular gift I was given. A calendar of memories Amanda made. It has birthdays, special days, etc.

That just shows you a couple of months. Do you see why I love that gift? It is the gift that keeps on giving. There were lots of other gifts and I loved them all. I am happy to report that I now have a beautiful new emerald ring,(which I will wear all the time) thanks to Beth and Ryan. Remember when I was burglarized they took every ring I owned? (All my mothers and grandmothers.) BTW Dodd got me a safe too.lol I don't have anything to put in it now, but I have it.lol
As you can see, Christmas was wonderful Through My Back Door. But the best gift any of us had was this beautiful girl felt good, looked good, and enjoyed every minute too.
 This shows you for yourself.

That is my beautiful daughter in law, Renda with her. You, my friends, have been so faithful in your prayers, I wanted you to see for yourself. Yes that is her hair, she hasn't lost it yet.
This is a fun picture. Mollie and Andrew are all about Beth and Ryan when they are here. Of course they eat that up. Here is picture of Mollie fighting Ryan for his drink.lol (not the best pix of B&R, but I think it is so cute)

Well my friends, thank you letting me share my Wonderful Christmas with you. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, I did get everything done, in spite of all of my socializing. Thank you too, for coming Through My Back Door, where life is good.
betty
PS: You know something has to be wrong with me. I ALWAYS take my decorations down  the day after Christmas. But you know what? They are still up! I know, it is so unlike me. I slipped off with my friend Dottie to Chico's yesterday instead. Oh well I am off to a good start with my socialization. Last night Curt wanted me to come spend the night and play cards. So I spent the night at Debs. I am having friends in New Years Eve, I may leave them up! If I do, you may not see me in blogland anymore. My kids will think I have lost it, and have me committed!lol
PSS:This is the santa I got this year from the worlds best son in law, aka, the woodcarver.