We Are Still Christmas-ing Here!!

 I can't believe it's been a week since I last did a journal entry!

This Christmas has been a bit different but it's still been a joy.

It's been awhile since I've written and I tend to get overwhelmed but I will start with where I left off....

It was last Saturday so a full week ago....

Thank goodness I keep a handwritten journal or I would not remember what I did yesterday!

Louis Dean had a Monday afternoon appointment with Dr. Dharma, his eye specialist.

We waited a good 30 minutes before they called him back and I stayed in the waiting room - picking out a secluded corner where I could put my feet up and dose for a few minutes.

I was so tired that when Louis Dean said, "I really don't want to go to the doctor", I said, "And I don't want to take you - but we what we have to do!"

After an hour I went back to check on him and he was still waiting to see the doctor.

I asked him if he'd done the testing but he said he didn't know.

I stayed with him for the next hour and the doctor came in and his eyes were dialated and the results were his pressure is elevated from 15-16 last visit to 20-21 that day.

Our appointment was at 2:30 and it was going on 5:00 when we left.

We still needed to go to Kroger so it was dark by the time we got home.

We had news that our sweet Logan was sick and Amber didn't waste any time in getting her to the doctor. The diagnosis was Flu A and that altered our plans for Christmas Eve.

I made the sugarplum dough on Tuesday - and assured Logan we would celebrate together on the 29th after she was well! Then we heard from Benjamin that he was sick as well so it will be two Christmas celebrations this year instead of one. Win! WIN!!

Christmas Eve was a beautiful evening and I loved every single minute.

I may have gone a little overboard on Faith's gifts but I enjoyed shopping for her all through the year.

And, YES, nearly all my gifts were from my thrifting adventures for everyone.

When Faith was younger she loved all things 'Mud Pie' and I bought every one I came across during the year.

We drew names this year but I'd already shopped so I gave gifts to all anyway.

However, Louis Dean drew Faith's name and he searched her wish list on the app and bought her a tube of Dior lipstick!

I will never forget the beautiful smile when she opened it!

Early on in the season I had asked Sam and Levi what they wanted.

He and Levi are big in basketball and love the Dallas Mavericks.

Levi loved his jersey as well!

Somehow I didn't get a pic of him opening it but I loved seeing his face when he did!

My dear Pam is a cyclist so I scored on things she could use!

She's also into Pickleball and I got her a cap for that plus some cooling towels which is needed when you cycle around in Texas in the summer!

I drew Jesse's name plus I'd already found some good gifts for him.

The 'It's Time for Coffee' was on his wish list so I included that!

It's nice when you get something on your wish list!

This year we did gifts first and then we had dinner.

Louis Dean came out to the den at the end and received his gifts which were from Jesse!

They centered around LD's love of guitar and included a coffee cup and socks with a guitar theme!

Dinner was great! 

I baked a good roast that Louis Dean sliced up beautifully along with company mashed potatoes, garlic green beans, garden salad and some delecious yeast rolls from Rachel and Jesse along with an apple pie.

I made a pecan pie from our own pecan harvest.

I had gifted Sam, Faith, Levi and Jesse with games since Jesse and Rachel have a real party friendly home and property featuring basket ball area and huge decks and a great driveway and party friendly garage!

I gave Faith a game called 'Who Am I' and they started playing it right after dinner. It was so much fun and Rachel won with a dozen answers!

All too soon we were saying goodnight on this Christmas Eve 2025.

The day after Christmas was a slow and steady one.

Louis Dean loves a good project and he cleaned out two ponds and did a great job!

He shed his black shirt and got down to business.

It's a really good thing for Louis Dean to do a project and it makes him feel so good.

The birds are such a special joy to us.

We sit out on the kitchen deck most mornings with our coffee and quiet time.

Seeing them at the feeders and ponds is like a gift from God.

I am still Christmas-ing as Amber coined the phrase.

And so is she! 

She was putting up a Christmas tree at 2:00 this morning!

And I'm still decorating the sewing room.

Tabitha is loving all the debris to sniff around.

And I found Samantha in the guest room snuggled in one of the soft bags I had put Christmas gifts in.

Everyone took their bags home with them and Jesse and Rachel's cat loved her bag too!!

So I am mostly caught up....

Pam took us to Fellowship Church on Tuesday night for the Christmas service and I will get pics from Billy and Brenda tomorrow to share.

Summer is in Puerto Rico and sad to say she and Rayne and Sabrina are all three sick.

As in they were all in the ER yesterday.

Summer and Rayne both have Flu A and Sabrina has severe sinus and allergy problem.

Prayers are appreciated.....

Tomorrow I will be featuring Amber's beautiful Christmas home!

She absolutely outdid herself this year!

Monday we will host another family Christmas gathering with the Bells and Benjamin and the Cumbys and Pam and Ilene.

We really are still Christmas-ing here!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and now we are looking forward to a brand spanking new year!