New Years Eve

Pretty snow fall taken from inside the upstairs window
Our camera has great zoom
It's cold! This morning when we got up, it was 0 degrees
This is a record for me! I haven't been out of the house since last SUNDAY!!!!
Somehow, I caught this nasty cold thing and it has kept me inside. I am feeling a little more human now, but probably will not go outside since it is VERY COLD and the roads are still a little icy from our snowfall yesterday and last evening. I didn't get a chance to take advantage of the "after Christmas clearance sales" and didn't even make a trip to the grocery store. Sam is fighting a cold too, so we will enjoy being inside, drinking hot chocolate, coffee, and eating Christmas leftover goodies, watching ballgames, reading and just being lazy. Maybe I should make some New Years Resolutions......I know me, though and I wouldn't keep them for than a week at best.

I have included a few pictures of the first snow on the last day of the year in Castle Pines.

Friends are closer to our hearts.......

As I was reading our Christmas cards and letters from friends and family, I feel so blessed to have heard from so many and enjoyed the letters and little notes in Christmas cards. Again Sam and I are so blessed in many many ways, but thinking about our family here in Colorado (yes, I said family) I can't say thank you enough. If anyone who reads this blog has ever had to leave family and friends and move be so far away, you can understand what I mean. Sam and I believe that God placed us here in Colorado where he wanted us to be for now. Roy and Cheri Lawson, (I am going to start calling them my sister and brother in law) invited us over, along with other friends on Christmas Eve. We arrived around 3:00 and enjoyed great food and great conversations and then went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Church. After the service, we returned to their home for Christmas Eve Dinner. I have included pictures of this evening. On Christmas Day, we couldn't wait to call our children and our Mom's and other family to wish them a Merry Christmas and to see if Santa came to their house. Exciting to hear Byrum's excitement and see Byrum, Eli, Jason & Ashley via Skype. Hope we can use skype more often to visit with all of our family. I have included a few pictures of us opening our gifts Christmas morning. For lunch we were invited over to Jane and Homer Brown's along with about 35 others. Jane & Homer (I'm going to call them Aunt Jane & Uncle Homer) are the perfect host and hostess.

Sam and I have been so blessed by so many and we think of our Family and friends and send God's blessings to everyone who may visit this blog.

Guess I have used the words "blessed" and "blessings" a lot but what can I say....As one of our Christmas cards stated: Wishing you a Christmas filled with more blessings than your heart can hold!

Ping Pong Table Christmas

Thinking back on one of the most memorable Christmas presents was the year that Santa brought a ping pong table to the children for Christmas. Of course, Santa just dropped it off not put together, Sam (Dad) decided that he would put it together so it would be ready to play when John, Jason & Sharon got up on Christmas morning. He didn't realize it would take the entire night! After a very stressful night and early morning, we got to bed about 5:00. Guess what! Everyone was up about 6:00. This was the look on everyone's faces when they opened the ping pong paddles.

Continuing with Christmas Memories

Thinking about Christmas as a child, there are so many special memories that I hope I won't forget. My Uncle Elmore has been in the hospital recently and as I was thinking about Christmas and about him, I remember how he must have really enjoyed Christmas. A lot of my remembrances include him. I guess I was in the first or second grade and remember waking up very early in the morning (Christmas morning) to someone being at our door. It was before daylight and my Uncle Elmore was there and maybe other family members too, but anyway, he came over to see if Santa had come to see us. Franky and I were so excited! Franky got a wagon and I got a bride doll! I am sure my Mom and Dad were not too happy about getting us up that early, but that was okay.

Uncle Elmore would always tell us to look outside on Christmas Eve. He would think he had heard Santa and the reindeer. All the children would run to the door and take a look up in the sky and we would get concerned that we needed to go to bed just in case Santa was almost there.

I don't have pictures of me as a child, but I have pictures of Sam and I have included a very cute one of him probably getting this cowboy outfit for Christmas. I will have to ask him if he remembers this particular Christmas. (I just ask him and he tells me this was about 1952 or 1953. He does know that this is his cousin Charles beside him.

I remember all of the fruit and candy at my Granny's house on Christmas Eve. The raisens were still attached to a stem and I just loved those chocolate covered cherries. At Christmas time, at church, the children would all receive a gift of fruit. Usually a white bag with one orange, one apple, a candy cane, and some nuts still in the shell.

On a little later note, I have included a picture of Uncle Frank, dressed as Santa Claus holding John. John is 11 months old and looks pretty unsure about Santa.

A very special memory as our children were growing up in Pawtuckett, was the anticipation of how Larry Hendrix would decorate his roof and house. I have included one of those special Christmas scenes.

Thinking about some of my favorite Christmas songs

As I was out and about today in the Christmas hustle and bustle, I heard one of my favorite Christmas songs. I remember the first time I heard it. I can't remember which Poteat child it was that sang it, but it was a Mulberry and it brought tears to my eyes then and still does today. "Happy Birthday, Jesus. I'm so glad it's Christmas. All the tinsel and lights and the presents are nice but the real gift is you......Jesus, I love you.

I have many favorites from throughout the years and have many sweet memories of John Denver Christmas as our children were young. As a child, recalling Christmas music, I think about Away In a Manager and Silent Night. I probably never knew all of the words, but I liked "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth"

Guess I am slowing down a little now with Christmas coming in just a few days. All the packages have been mailed and Christmas cards sent. Time to think about all the wonderful memories throughout the years.

Happy Birthday Jesus, Jesus, I love you.....

Pictures that were supposed to be added to previous post

Our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

As we are away from our family and friends from North Carolina, I like to share some of the fun times and adventures that we have in Colorado. Last weekend, the Whitakers invited us to their home for dinner along with a few other couples. It was such a fun evening! All of the food was so good! One of the appetizers that we had, I wanted to share with my family as I know they would like to try it. It only has three ingredients: Mushrooms, cream cheese and sausage. You stuff the mushrooms with a mixture of sausage and cream cheese and bake until done. I am planning on trying to make this soon. Robbie, also served this Almond Tea which I thought was very good. This recipe has been in her family for years. Almond Tea: Pour 2 cups boiling water over 3 tea bags, cover and set aside. Mix 1 cup sugar with 2 cups boiling water in a saucepan and boil. After mixture starts to boil add 1 tsp almond extract, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1/3 cup lemon juice. Let mixture boil for 5 minutes. Mix with steeped tea. (Sounds good, doesn't it?)

Okay, I know the subject was our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.......then, on Saturday morning we set out on an adventure with friends, Wayne and Yvonne to the Poudre Canyon and Red Feather Lakes area in search of a Christmas Tree. We haven't had any snow in Denver so far, so it was nice to drive to an area with snow. A National Forest, (I think, or maybe a state forest,) opens up every year to people to find the perfect Christmas Tree. It was pretty chilly but fun getting all bundled up and walking around in the forest looking at trees. Our first stop was to have our picture made with Smokey the Bear. It was pretty good exercise walking around in the woods and checking out the trees. After a while, we found a pretty tree for Wayne and Yvonne. We weren't planning on getting a tree, but I couldn't resist. We found a very small tree and loaded them in the truck. We had a wonderful lunch provided by Wayne and Yvonne on the camp stove which included all types of breakfast burritos, hot chocolate, chips, and chocolate for dessert. Afterwards, Wayne was going to take us back home by way of Poudre Canyon. Somehow, we just couldn't find our way there, but had some adventures as we continued to take wrong turns. As we drove down one snow covered road, we discovered that it was closed. As we turned around heading back, we saw a guy by the side of the road, trying to flag us down. Wayne stopped and he told us that his car was stuck in the snow and needed help to get his car out of the snow. Being the good samaritan that Wayne is, we headed toward the direction of the stranded car and after several attempts, he saved the day! We continued on our journey but ended up going home the way we came, instead of going through Poudre Canyon.

I'm not the best writer, but hope that you can tell that we did have quite a unforgettable weekend. I have posted a few pictures of our tree adventure.

OUR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Being away from family is always a little sad around the holiday's but we have been so blessed by our Colorado Family! Our friends Wayne and Suzanne Gibson invited us over to spend Thanksgiving with them. I tried to think of something traditional that maybe they have never tasted before. I decided to make "Chicken Pastry" a familiar dish to my family, especially in Johnston County. I even made the dough for the pastry from scratch. It was fun spending time with the Gibson's and we were all pretty stuffed by the end of the day.

On Friday after Thanksgiving, we decided to visit the Royal Gorge, near Canon City, Colorado. A perfect day for a road trip and the Royal Gorge was defintely worth seeing. The Royal Gorge bridge hangs 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. It is the world's highest suspension bridge. We also road the Incline Railway that takes you down at a 45 degree angle to the bottom of the gorge along the river. We even rode the Aerial Tram which is the world's longest single span Aerial Tram. The only thing we didn't try was the skycoaster. I know if our grandchildren were here, they would have wanted to try it. Mia, I believe you would be too little and probably Byrum would be too. Will and Ellie would probably love it!

I didn't realize that in the Royal Gorge Region, there are four federal prisons. This is the area where the "uni-bomber, "shoe bomber" and the World Trade Center bombers are or were imprisoned. We decided to take in the Museum of Colorado Prisons on the way home. It is adjacent to the Colorado Territorial Prison called "Old Max". (I know, next time you come visit, you are all going to want to take in that Museum)

Sam and I are missing the snows that we usually get out here by this time of year. We are excited that we may get a little snow this evening. Colorado is much prettier covered in snow.

Happy Birthday to Jason

Happy Birthday Jason!

In looking at your baby picture, it reminds me of the day we came home with you from the hospital. It was Thanksgiving Day and Mom and Dad, Granny, and numbers of relatives were there cooking Thanksgiving Dinner. It was tradition to all be together for Thanksgiving. Since Granny was coming to help out with us for a few weeks, everyone came to our house.

We are so proud of you and have great memories to think back on as you were growing up. I know you are now making those great memories with your boys.

A good deal of the time, you just "passed the hat" with family gatherings for Thanksgiving since it was your birthday. I posted a picture of one of those Thanksgiving's at Granny's house. Everyone came and helped clean up her yard and shake the pecan trees. Of course, one of your favorite things was burning the leaves after they were raked up.

Happy Birthday! We love you!

Back Home

Sam and I arrived home yesterday afternoon safe and sound and had an interesting drive home in the snow. Returning to Wintertime wasn't what I was expecting for some reason. It didn't help my mood as I always come back pretty sad from having to leave our family. I don't think I will ever be able to leave without shedding tears. I know we are so blessed and have so many reasons to be grateful. Guess I had better start counting my blessings.

We enjoyed seeing our family and I have included some of our favorite pictures from our visit.