Happy Birthday, Graham

Yesterday was Graham's 70th birthday. We had a celebration at Meredith's pretty house in the afternoon with several close friends and relations. Let me just say right now, "I forgot to take my camera." I don't know where I left my brain, but I did forget to bring it. Rats!

So I grabbed Meredith's camera in an attempt to chronicle this blessed event. I get sidetracked so easily and forget to take pictures. Doug White had his camera and snapped a few. If I can get some copies from him I'll post them.

We had lots of goodies to munch on - cookies and dips and veggies, yum! Meredith's tables both looked so festive. There was punch and iced tea and a beautiful birthday cake (which I forgot to take a picture of) and petit fours.

Some of our Sunday school class and board members came by to wish Graham Happy Birthday.

My most-talented, unbelievably creative friends, Lois & Doug White, presented Graham with "The Seven Decades of H Graham Wilson," a delightful look back over Graham's life (as we know it - many secrets still lurk uncovered.) Her presentation was defined by various and sundry Christmas tree ornaments depicting the main ideas of each decade.

Oops! Her train of thought was broken by the arrival of Graham's brother, Richard, and his wife Sue. Judy and Pat were both out of pocket and unable to celebrate with us.

The presentation ended with a picture frame proclaiming "70... the Legend continues.."

May it ever be. Happy Birthday, Graham!

Merry Christmas, One and All

In the quiet hour of our empty nest this morning, I

looked back in the gospel of Luke and reflected on Zacharias' song...

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David..."

To Israel came the Messiah, and yet the angel said to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people..."

To which I say with the Apostle Paul, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Meanwhile....

Christmas is also about giving gifts to one another, and how special is that first Christmas when realization dawns on little ones of the excitement of opening gifts! With some help from Mommy and Daddy, Adrian quickly got into the spirit!

Oh boy! Another talking doggie!


This caught the attention of Miss Treasure...

..who had to take a closer look.

On to the next present, something with lots of buttons to push and noises to be heard.

Not sure who is showing whom how it works, but Adrian and Murphy had a good time playing!

Merry Christmas to all.

We are now leaving our quiet empty nest to have Christmas dinner at the Moza's!

Adrian.. Meet my Westies!

Now that I have finally put up a little Chirstmas in my house I've been looking for Christmasy photo opportunites to arise. First I piled a bunch of Westies under the tree and plopped Treasure in the middle of them for her Christmas picture. And as I added wrapped gifts to the tree, I left the Westies out, including a couple that also sing or bark when a button is pressed.

Now Adrian is a "thinker" so I put him down with the Westies

and showed him where to press to make the doggie speak.

He really got a kick out of the one that sings "We wish you a Merry Christmas".

Hey Ludee. This one doesn't do anything!

The singing doggie has been mastered - Adrian found the place
to press on his leg and gets him singing over and over and over!

So now I introduce him to the barking Westie and hope this one won't scare him.
The barking Westie, on the other hand, has its pressing spot on his ear.
No worries. Our little "thinker" figured that out in no time.

See, Ludee. I know how to make this one work too!

And I'm quite proud of myself, aren't you?

Well yes!

Now, we just need to protect Treasure

from little fingers trying to press her leg or her ear and make her sing!

A Very Westie Christmas

I am a collector of plush Westies.

There, I said it.

I'm addicted to them and I look for new ones every where I go.

I'm happy to say I have Westies from Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Canada,

and various parts of the US. My most recent one is from Pennsylvania.

Members of my family ask me,

"What are you going to do with all those Westies?"

Besides looking at them and enjoying them,

I think they make a very cute Christmas picture.

Treasure looks relieved that I didn't bring out the other gaggle of westies

that are displayed all over the house!

In fact, she looks very tolerant of the whole picture-taking thing.

So have a very Westie Christmas, y'all!

Westies --- you gotta love 'em!

National Christmas Center, Paradise, PA

On Thursday, the last day of our Collette tour, we visited the National Christmas Center in Paradise, Pennsylvania. (Isn't that a cool name for a town?) I'll walk you through some of the hundreds of exhibits in this maze of Christmas memories. I think it would be impossible to catalog every item in this center.

Here we are as we drive into the parking area.

Graham was reminded that his brother Pat had a Lionel train set when he was a child. Here is a collection that will either bring back memories or make one lust for more!

Lois is a collector of Santa's. Just as I am always on "Westie watch", she is looking for new Santa's to add to her collection. No, she didn't bring this gentleman home with her!

Christmas music was playing all throughout the museum, but I don't think any sounds were coming from this group of carolers.

There was a whole section of international Christmas displays. It's interesting to see how different cultures celebrate Christmas. This one is from Sweden.

Graham and Mr. Christmas - the resemblance is growing!

As I said, this tour sparked many a memory of Christmases past.

This is a very handsome Father Christmas. I wish I could remember his country.

Lois and Graham were reminiscing in the old Woolworth's store.

Lois's mother and father met in a Woolworth's store many years ago.

Now here's a collection of Santa's!

This is just one of many displays of Santa figurines dating back into the 1800's.

Mrs. Piggy is part of a whole room of animals enjoying the holiday season.

Appropriately, she is busily quilting something for her family.

Meanwhile the animal children have found Santa and are making their lists available for his perusal.

Moving along, we have come to the Hummel village.

I have known people who were Hummel collectors. This is a magnificent display.

Graham found his childhood here. This is from a group of displays showing the decades in America. Each of us was able to find ourselves in one of the windows.

The last part of the walking tour featured nativities. They came is all shapes and sizes, from every country and era. This one is typical of what you would find in the average Christian store.

This one was neat. It is almost life size and the angel would pop in and out of her illumination. Then you would walk a little further for "the rest of the story."

It was hard getting all of the scene in one camera shot.

The detail is wonderful, from the animals resting beside them to their hands and faces.

We appreciated the attention given to every character in the display.

On and on we walked and finally came out by the gift shop!

Here we are back in the foyer and this little train runs its course above our heads.

As we prepare to leave, this old English vendor bids us a happy trip home.

This was great preparation for the rest of our day in Lancaster County. In the afternoon we attended a Christmas musical at the American Music Theater in Lancaster, and then topped off the evening with dinner and A Christmas Carol at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater.

When we retired for the night we had visions of sugar plums in our heads!

A Visit with the Kelly's

We have just returned from a week in Pennsylvania - our Christmas trip! We, along with Doug and Lois White, toured Lancaster County and the Amish country for three days before culminating our trip in historic Philadelphia. Before we began our tour, Graham and I made arrangements to spend the first evening with my niece, Barbaranne Kelly, and her family.

She picked us up at our hotel and wisked us off to her home about twenty minutes away. It was dark and I sadly was not able to enjoy the scenery surrounding their house. I have seen many pictures of their property and the area around there - it is so beautiful. But we did have a wonderful time with her family. The younger three of their five children are at home and are just a joy to be around. Husband Jim changed his plans for the evening to be with us - thank you!

Barbaranne and Bekah cooked up a wonderful "favorite meal" of Chicken Scarparielo (Barbaranne, correct my spelling on this dish!) and salad, followed by hot, decadent chocolate "lava" cakes. Everything was delicious. Just before dinner we contacted everyone's favorite Papaw, my brother Bill, via the internet. "Skyping" is new to me and something Barbaranne has recently introduced to her Dad. It was a surreal experience talking to my brother's face on the monitor! I guess we're never too old for new things.

Barbaranne and Jim, Aunt LaRue and Uncle Graham

Bekah, Isaac, and Erin with great-aunt and uncle.

Having caught up on everyone's activities and enjoyed an evening of fellowship, we reluctantly piled into the van for a drive back to our hotel. Thank you, Kelly's, for a wonderful start to our Christmas vacation! Stay tuned to photo-narratives to come as I work my way through our pictures. Next stop, Lancaster County!

Bible Study Luncheon

Our Bible study group celebrated Christmas this week with a lovely luncheon at the home of one of our members. We chose a gorgeous south Texas winter day - cold but sunny - and basked in the sunny enclosed terrace of Lois' home. The birds and squirrels were celebrating their bounty as well - a discovery made by Treasure as soon as we arrived. She found her most advantageous seat from which she could observe all the squirrel activity she'd ever dreamed of!

Though a little bored with the wildlife scene himself,

Jefferson nevertheless gave in to Treasure's desire to remain "on watch"

and he napped contentedly by her side.

We have been meeting together for about four years.
This fall we have been studying Beth Moore's series on the Psalms of Ascent, "Stepping Up".
It has been a wonderful journey of faith, discovering much about ourselves,
our God and His unending love and care for His own.
One of my greatest joys continues to be the relationships that are made
within the constraints of God's Word and the blessings discovered there.
Merry Christmas to a group of ladies who have filled and enlarged my life with much joy!

Reflections from Thanksgiving 08

The baton was passed a few years ago,

so it's official ~~ Thanksgiving happens at Meredith's house.

Not only does she set a beautiful table,

nor only that she bakes a delicious turkey,

but this year she has a beautiful new, 90 year old historic home in which to host

this holiday meal.

Here are some reflections from our Thanksgiving, 2008.

A lovely table setting....

Adrian greets "Dah" at the door, his good friend Doug.

Mimi (Lois) introduces Adrian to the bear who recites "Twas the Night Before Christmas". "Whatcha talkin' 'bout, Mimi?"

Grandpa found his spot for football watching.

"This little piggy..." invited all his friends over for Thanksgiving dinner!

(Lois and Jo)

The cookie decorators hard at work!

The hard work paid off - here are some of the masterpieces!

Oh yes, there are dishes to be washed... and then more dishes!

Murphy and Meredith are checking Facebook to see what their friends are up to.

Time to send everybody home. "Bye bye!"