Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful week.

Monday morning we loaded the car and Tom, Mom and I drove to Jonathan and Kristy's in Iowa.  We had a beautiful drive.  We started with a cool morning.  About Springfield, light reflected off sparkling frost on trees and ground.  Then we started to see a skiff of snow. It gradually grew to thick drifts of snow.  But the roads were all clear, the sun was out and it was beautiful!

The temperature also dropped as we traveled north. It went from the 20's to the teens and ended up at 7 degrees at Jonathan's.  That night it dropped to -15!  We stayed inside!

We watched children play.  We made food and ate it.  We chatted and visited.  We even all sat around and read books one evening.  We played games. 

Christmas Eve we had Bethlehem night where we sat on the floor, dressed in Biblical costumes and ate the kinds of foods Jesus and Mary might have eaten.  We ate by candle light and it felt special.

When all the presents were under the tree, there was a tremendous amount of loot.  It was well received!

 

Kristy wanted a cake to celebrate Jesus's birthday.  But no one really likes cakes.  So we made a cheese cake.  Tom made pumpkin and pecan pies.  They were great to gnosh on for the next several days.  The kids were so enamored with their gingerbread houses and other candy, they left the good deserts to us.

We helped the kids make gingerbread houses.  Tom helped them put together some of their Christmas gifts.  Mom helped Kristy organize her recipe book.  Mom read to the children. They were willing listeners!  I was impressed with how well she did.  She fit right in.  Probably she was exhausted by the end of the trip, but she looked great!

It warmed up as the week progressed and actually got into the mid 30's.  We visited the sheep and helped milk the cow.  We petted Isabelle's new rabbit she got for Christmas.

We bought a queen, high air mattress for the trip and expected to be quite comfortable.  Alas. It had a leak.  Tom found it and patched it and we had a good night's sleep.  Then, either the patch didn't hold, or there was another leak as we kept awaking in a sling.  The last night I bailed out and slept on the couch.  There was such a dip in the air mattress, I didn't think Tom was in there!  We called the company and hope to send it back.  Sigh.

Saturday morning we left about ten am and drove Mom to the Kansas City airport. Wow!  It was crowded!  But age and wheelchairs have their privilege. A porter came and checked Mom's luggage and whisked her past the security line to a faster check through.

Tom and I drove the rest of the way home and got back before 7 pm.  It was a great trip.

Mom's Here!

 

Our merry Christmas tree and decorations.

 

Last Sunday I drove to Little Rock for a meeting with the two other people involved in this Living Benefits of Dividend Paying Whole Life Insurance book I'm working on.  Mark was just there from New York for 24 hours.  So we worked Sunday afternoon and most all day Monday.

When Becky took Mark to the airport, I stayed behind and started writing some of what we'd discussed.  Then I left about 5 pm to go and get Mom from the airport.  Her flight was just a little delayed.  Counting in a stop for dinner, we got home about 11 pm.  It was a long day.

Most of the snow had melted. It wasn't until we got closer to Mountain Home that we could see some by the edge of the road or on the slant of the hills.  The roads were all clear.

While we were gone, Tom finished painting the ceiling and the new beam.  He also painted most of the family room walls just to freshen them up.  You can see the beam behind the ceiling light.

Tuesday Mom and I listened to a phone call about becoming a private investor and holding a mortgage note on houses that will be flipped.  I'd been following this company for about 3 years and decided to use some of the money from my St. Louis property to test the waters. They pay a 10% annual return paid monthly on an 18 month note. At the end of that time, or if the house sells earlier, you get your principal back.

One of the ward families suddenly got a job in Oregon.  While he's a realtor, their house was not in a condition to sell.  So Tom spent several days over there power washing and fixing things. It seems he's been extra busy doing bishop and service things this week.

Thursday we took the day and went to Crystal Bridges.  It was a pleasant drive and the museum is really lovely.  It's fun to look at all the paintings and sculptures.  Some I'd love to have hanging in my house.  Others... not so much.  I wonder at times what qualifies as great art.

It seemed a longer drive home.  Tom will say that's because we drove all the way through Eureka Springs looking for a restaurant... only to have it be at the other end of the loop (as Tom said it was) and closed for the season.  But we found an okay Chinese place further down the road.

I have done a little writing.  Not as much marketing as I should have. And some learning-- both about writing and about options.

Friday a storm moved into the area.  It was all rain and thunder-- about 2.5 inches over the course of the two days.  We mostly stayed in, but went out for some last minute shopping.  Mom and I have had fun chatting and cooking.  It's a delight to have her here.  I hope she has kept warm.

Sunday we had our Christmas Program.  The music was lovely and the narration heart warming.  While we were sitting on the stand minutes before the program began, the chorister asked if I would lead the congregational hymns.  Sure. Why not?  It felt a bit like Kenya. Be ready for anything. Anytime.

Still Cold



 

It's still cold here.  Still snow on the ground.  From Thursday the 5th until Wednesday the 11th I don't think it got above freezing.  Lovely to look at. Not so much fun to be out in.

 



 

It was interesting.  When the sun shown, it was delightful. But on the days it was overcast and dreary, I felt much less productive.  I just wanted to sleep or snuggle by the fire.

 

I did talk Tom into going to look at houses on Monday.  Two that we thought were interesting-- actually 3 were under contract by the time we got out to look.  The two we looked at were ho-hum.  Then we looked at a house that was to be auctioned off at Auction.com. It was a nice house with good potential, starting bid price: $15,000.  But.  BUT.  They offered no guarantees.  I needed to get a preliminary title report on my own.  If I bid and won. It was mine-- good, bad or indifferent.

 

Having suffered from one bad title, this worried me.  So I called and started a title search. I waited to bid until I got it. It went up to $25,000.  I really didn't want to go higher than that.  It closed at $30,000.  A great price.  It didn't meet the minimum-- but sometimes they accept a lower offer.  It will be interesting to see if  the bank accepts that offer.  Good learning experience.

 

Thursday we went to Silver Dollar City with another couple from the church.  We watched  two plays-- A Christmas Carol and It's a wonderful Life.  We enjoyed the lights and the Christmas parade of lights.

 

 The blur is a lighted "train" float. in the parade.

We are looking forward to all the family visits and company for Christmas.  I pick up Mom on Monday.  We'll see Jonathan and Kristy Christmas week.  Miranda and Deborah and their families will come at the New Year.

Two Worlds!

The weather this week has been so different, it feels like we've been in two worlds.  The week started off warm- with the weather about 65 during the day.

Monday we had Empty Nesters-- our family home evening group for the older childless or those who have flown the coop. Someone said, "We're all over 50 here... or well over." But there was actually a wife who was younger than 50. Still.  Some have been married 50 years.  It was a nice Christmas celebration.

We wanted to get some Christmas shopping done.  And we had free tickets to see the Brett Family Singers.  So Tuesday we headed for Branson.  It wasn't too crowded.  We had a lovely time at the show.  Here are pictures of their tribute to vets.

Then hit a number of stores and found gifts for Tom and our chosen family. Of course we had to stop and sample at Harry and Davids.  Then we came home in time for Tom to do Tithing Settlement and for me to listen to my Circle of Success call.

Circle of Success is an AWAI copywriting mentorship. I'm finding it helpful.  I've hit a slow spot in my copywriting.  It's been nice as it's given me a chance to focus on family and holidays. It's not so nice in that I bring in less income.  But I've also been using the time to market and move some of my projects forward.

We'd finally made the decision to take out the post in the downstairs room. It looked odd. And it limited our furniture arrangements.  So Ray came over and started to work on Wednesday. He's fast. Sliced the sheet rock from the ceiling and the wall. Moved the electric switch from the center post are relocated it to the wall. Then he put in a temporary supporting post and removed the wooden post. He got materials and built the beam-- all on Wednesday. Thursday Tom and I helped him put the beam in place and he got the first drywall mud and tape on it before the storm got bad.

Tom had covered the furniture.  But we had not realized the saw that cut the drywall would spread dust everywhere. I was upstairs and suddenly a puff of dust came through the heat vent.  The intake is in the downstairs right were he was working.  We turned it off and aired out the down stairs.  But had an amazing layer of dust on EVERYTHING!

Wednesday we prepared for the coming storm.  They predicted ice on Thursday then freezing rain and sleet followed by snow on Friday.  They were right.  Tom ran some errands early Thursday morning and we went to Walmart in the sleet. It wasn't bad with the 4 wheel drive truck.  Then we hunkered down.. and cleaned up the dust from our remodel.

Note- the willow is really weeping!  See how high the snow is on the bricks of the fountain?

Road before and after snow plow.

With nothing to do but stay in side, somehow, I got on Realtor.com. Did you know there are repos here selling for $22,500- 27,000?  Some are even 3 bdrm 2 bath!  And I can't even go look at them!!!  Oh the agony.

Friday it was simply lovely.  Thick snow fell all morning long. We had about 4 inches of sleet and snow from Thursday, and another 5 inches on Friday.  Tom and I traipsed around a bit. I shoveled the chicken cage so they wouldn't have to get their little feet cold. (not the run.)  They seem to be doing fine.  Still laying  about 8 eggs a day.  We kept the fire going and watched Eureka that night.  I got Tom hooked on it.  Friday night the temperature dropped to about 4 degrees.

I signed up for an options course that had a lot of homework.  I was very excited about it.  This is the first class I've taken that said: This is what you buy.  This is when you buy. This is how you buy.  This is why you buy.  This is how much you buy.  These are the indicators it's time to get out of the trade.  These are your choices when a trade goes south. Here are the things you don't mess with and here's why.  Probably the most effective 10 hours I've spent on this subject.   I got the recording and I probably need to listen to it a few more times.

Our Ward Christmas dinner was postponed from this Saturday to next.  And Sunday meetings were canceled.  Still, Tom went over to the church about 2pm Saturday to work at clearing the walks.  A member needed a ride to work on Sunday (She's a nurse) so Tom drove out into the sticks south of Flippin to find her house.  He called to say he was headed home.  I'm thinking from the church. He's thinking from Flippin.  I can't understand why it's taking him 40 minutes to get home and imagining him in a ditch someplace.  The roads are not good. But he went slow and safe.

Today he went to a meeting the missionaries were holding with a few young men who sometimes work on Sundays. (Most everything is still closed here)   Tom said 75% of the roads are 75% ice. He thinks canceling church was a good idea.  The weather may stay below freezing for the next few days, but only slight chances of more precipitation.

The only down side is that our Internet has been EXTREMELY slow. I think it may be that everyone else is also on the Internet. Don't know. But we've been reduced to dial-up speed for most of the days. Not fun. I suppose if all the trials of the world were judged... low Internet speed would have to rank pretty close to the bottom.  I'm so spoiled.

I am grateful for the beauty around us. I'm thankful we have food and warmth and a snug house.  I'm grateful we are strong enough to be out and shoveling snow. I'm glad our friends are weathering the storm well.  We are blessed.

Home Safe and Sound

This was a good week.  I really enjoyed my stay at Deborah and Ian's house.  Simon is a cute baby and happy as long as he's fed and held.  He actually sleeps very well in the mornings.  Noise, commotion. movement... nothing bothers him when he wants to sleep.

Christopher, Samantha, Steven, and Sarah are all very helpful and show a lot of love toward each other and toward Simon.

 Christopher

 It was so cute to see Ian playing a video game and Christopher right next to him with the tablet, imitating him.

Sarah was engrossed in reading Tangled. Sweet to see.

I've done a lot more dishwashing, dishwasher loading and emptying, laundry, picking up toys, and cooking in the past two months. It's hard work!  And then I realize... I get to go home to just the two of us.  My daughters and daughter-in-law do this every day, week in and week out.  I compliment them on their capabilities and dedication to their families.

Ian and Deborah introduced me to a Netflix series: Eureka.  It has 5 seasons. I came in on season 4, but I want to go back to the beginning. I think you'd like it.  I also got to watch Iron Man 3 while I was there. Fortunately there was a bit of a break in my work and I could relax and enjoy more.

Tom, for his part, conducted a funeral Monday morning.  It was the husband of some good friends.  He was in poor health and I'm sure he's happy to be released, but it's still sad to see the hole it leaves in a family when a father and husband dies.

He left about 4 in the afternoon amidst sleet and rain to head south to Andy and Kera's house.  He hit some dense fog and pretty steady rain, but arrived there safe and sound about 11pm.  He enjoyed visiting with the grown ups, playing with the grandchildren, and eating tasty food. 

The grandchildren really enjoyed the trampoline; please note their fashionable attire.

And what does the Fox family do so well?  They like to eat, especially when there is great food to be eaten as demonstrated by Katie and Riley.

This is a rare shot of Marian.

 

 

 It's Turkey Sandwich time for Miranda and Callie!

 

 

 It wouldn't be a family holiday gathering without pies - there was a total of 19 of them!!  Thank you!  Marian is patiently waiting for her slices that Miranda is cutting for her.

 

 

 

 Alex is glad to have his uncle Andy hold him so he can get a peek at the yummy goodness Riley is so enjoying.

Camden is demonstrating the proper way to eat pie for his younger brother Ethan, who does not seem too interested at this time.

 

 

 And what do you do when you are filled with all those delicious goodies?  Check out Andy, Dan, Matthew and Kera.

More relaxing time with the family.

Callie having fun with Ethan.

And no visit to family would be complete without some work project, and this trip was no different.  With the help of Dan and others, this shed was mostly sided; unfortunately, I failed to get a mostly completed picture!

The before picture.

Delaney modeling her tutu in front of the partially completed shed siding project.

Tom left Thursday-- Thanksgiving morning-- to drive to Little Rock and pick me up at the airport. I got in about 2:30 and we headed home from there. We stopped in Mountain View for some groceries and for supper.  Walmart was gearing up for their sales and was pretty mobbed.  Fortunately we arrived about 1/2 hour before the sales and so didn't have to wait in line to check out.

As we drove through the town, many food places were closed.  We saw a Pizza Inn and thought good-- salad and pizza buffet sounded good.  Alas. It was bare bones.   From a menu.  And they didn't have salad, soup, baked potatoes, or bread sticks.  But they did have pizza.  I guess that's what we wanted.

We arrived home to find the chickens safe and alive, the house warm enough, and a very comfortable, familiar bed. Ahhh.

Friday was our "Thanksgiving."  We had invited 7 other people over for dinner.  So we did the typical turkey thing.  Fortunately some were bringing yams, salad, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pie.  So I just made two other pies (apple and pumpkin),  stuffing, turkey, gravy, and green beans.

Tom helped with the chopping of veggies for the stuffing, the pumpkin pie and the table setting.  He said, "You aren't stressed!"  Must have been a mistake, but indeed it felt relaxed.

Then the three single ladies didn't show up.  One was called into work.  One hurt her back.  The other?  Just didn't answer phone or door.  So we were 6.  Three couples.  But we had lively conversation and tasty dinner.

In the afternoon we took advantage of the sales to buy some Christmas deals.  Not a lot... but some.

Saturday Tom left to take the youth to the St. Louis Temple so he was gone all day.  I should have been very productive... but I'm not sure I was.  I took a neighbor shopping and got Christmas Letter paper for myself and a water warmer for the chickens.  They got their Christmas present early.  Now I can feel confident their water won't freeze.

Today I enjoyed Choir practice.  I love singing Christmas songs.  We had the new Stake President Jones visit our ward, so I got a chance to meet him.  It was a good testimony meeting and good classes.

I wrote my Kenyan's who are on missions as I do each Sunday. A young woman is putting together a missionary recipe book, and so I sent her some recipes to use.