Christmas Day Blessings!

 We were to gather at Nita and Mike's home in Fort Worth on Christmas morning at 10:15.
We were only 15 minutes late!

I was running on 3 hours of sleep having been so excited about Christmas Eve that it was 4:30 in the morning before I went to bed. Well, I went to bed earlier and decided to just get up and do some things since I was wide awake. Dead tired - TOO tired to sleep!

We siblings have been celebrating Christmas morning breakfast for so many years now!

I remember when Deanie hosted long long years ago and it was at 8:00 in the morning!

I think I made it once. Then after all our children were grown and gone, we changed it to 10:00 and had it at Mother's house on Waits, but Deanie still hosted. I don't know exactly how many years Nita and Mike have hosted in their home but I know it's been at least 10 - 12 years.

We started including friends and cousins and our children and their families and more.

Some years we had dozens of people and some years only a couple dozen and then a few years only a dozen or so. This year we were 8 in number and grateful to be with each other.

Nita and Mike always have so much food!

Mike made the breakfast pizza and it was delicious.

The bacon was amazing! One Christmas they cooked 12 POUNDS of bacon!

We had gravy and scrambled eggs, a fruit tray, biscuits and plenty of liquid refreshments!

I brought things for Caramel Apple cocktails and Leah and Patrick brought homemade mead and Irish cream.....and homemade eggnog....and the best apple muffins ever!

It was a perfect Christmas morning to eat and visit and relax.

The best thing about it?

Lonnie was there!!!

We were so happy to see him!!

Mike recently finished a 1960's puzzle and we were all admiring it....

We looked to see how many of these famous people we could identify.

It was even a good day to take a little nap.....and I did.

Benjamin delighted all of us by bringing Klaus to the party!

Complete with portable litter box!

And in due time - we were ready to have our Chinese Christmas Tree gift exchange.

There were 8 people and 5 gifts. 

A couple can bring one or two. 

Nita and I each just brought one.

We really weren't sure how many would be there and if there would even BE enough to do a tree.

You would think with so few - it would be a little dull.

NOT!!!

We all had a blast and laughed and laughed!

Everyone got a kick out of Ben getting the white pig Nita brought.

She figured she'd get something SHE would want in case we didn't play the game.

Ben liked him and named him Stu!

I got one of  Leah's gifts!

Homemade marshmallows, fudge, snickerdoodle bread and Irish Coffee - and a bottle of mead which I will take to the ranch with us to share with Dean.

It was a wonderful Christmas morning and we all hugged a little tighter and took a few extra pictures.

I admit I patted Lonnie and kissed his cheek and then hugged him again.

I dearly loved spending time with Nita and Leah!

Seeing my brother topped this Christmas off perfectly!

We packed up a bag of goodies to take over to Deanie and Charlie before we headed back to Irving Christmas afternoon. I sent a text message and told Deanie I would put the bag on the front porch and when I got back to the car, maybe they could come out and wave at us.

Well, they did that and more!!

We kept our masks on and plenty of space between us - but we got to see each other 'with our eyeballs' as we like to say!!!

It was wonderful!!!!

Charlie stood by the car with Louis Dean inside and they visited there.

Deanie and I went up on her front deck to sit in the shade.

The sun was blinding us!!

This was SUCH a good visit!!

My heart filled up so full of pure joy at being with my sister.

It's been many long months since I have seen her in person.

We sat and talked and talked.

Deanie looks GREAT!!

And she FEELS great!

Once she had her gallbladder surgery - it's been getting better all the time.

For the first time in years, she can mop the floor.

Bending her stomach had caused her such terrible pain for at least the last 8 years.

All because of her gallbladder!!

Why, oh, WHY did the doctors not check that??

Praise God for Trish getting on the speaker phone during one of her mother's doctor appointments and telling him all about her mother's symptoms and the great pain she's been in.

I guess Deanie and I visited for an hour or so.

I didn't even want to leave but I have to be home before dark!

We came home and I took a quick one hour nap, freshened up and headed to the Bells house in Dallas.

Exactly 22 minutes from my door to Amber's. 

I can drive there and back in the dark because I know the route so well and it is literally 17 miles on the Bush toll road with only 8 turns from my house to hers.

*Amber's Photo*

We arrived right after 7:00!

Both sets of grandparents were there and we all gave the kids some quality attention.

With four 8-year-olds, you really need all four grandparents!

Uncle Mark had gifted the kids with a Twister game and I was the spinner while they played.

*Amber's photo*

Everything looked so pretty!

They set up another smaller table at the end of the big dining room table and we all ate Christmas dinner together.

Such a delicious meal!

Then, as is the tradition, we all settled down to watch Home Alone 2....

with dessert at Intermission!

Christmas Day could not have ended more perfectly!

So many Christmas Blessings!

I spent time with all four of my children - including Summer by way of FaceTime, phone calls and Marco Polo videos. And I was with all 8 of my grandchildren - with getting to see Rayne on FaceTime.

And I was with my siblings IN PERSON!

Lanita, Deanie, and Lonnie!

I could not have asked for a better Christmas!

I will close with my best Christmas gift this year.....

It is from Logan.

Christmas night, she slipped a small gift bag to me and said, Merry Christmas.

There was a lot of hustle and bustle going on at the time so I put it in my purse and opened it when I got home. Tear sprang to my eyes and slid down my cheeks.

I always carry mints with me and she gifted me a package of candy cane tic tacs, a small candy cane and a Christmas card. And a sign with a G on it for grandparent.

I love how she wrote her name in cursive!

She bought the gift with her own money.

Sweetest gift I received!!!