Happy 23rd to our Stefani!

Stefani with her MiMi and her Mom.

Today I want to let everyone know how proud we are of our Stefani. She is the baby of our eldest Chris and wife Sherrie. She turns 23 today. Baby? Twenty-three. If that gives me a reason to pause and reflect, I can only imagine what it does to her parents. Steffie, as we call her, has always been close to us. After all, we go back a long way. How about 23 years and 9 months? She's even been my friend on Facebook since 2011. She is a hard worker and she is devoted to family. We thank God for her and we seek His blessings on her life as she continues her journey here. Happy Birthday and may God bless. Love, MiMi and Poppy.

The countdown continues to Turkey Day, here on this Tuesday, November 22, 2016. We had planned on hosting our clan in our home for Thanksgiving but with the wife's accidental fall and back injury, we greatly appreciate our eldest and his wife stepping in and taking up the slack. It's no easy task. I did see what I thought was a funny meme the other day. It showed a photo of an elderly grandma with an angry expression on her face. Here's what it said. "You ain't checked on me all year long and now you want me to cook my special meal for Thanksgiving? I've got a message for you: I ain't cooking nothing this year!" I'm thankful that our bunch does keep up with us and we do our best to do the same with mom, dad, and other family members as well. I can't say that I'm as excited about the holidays as I was when I was a kid, but, there's still a residual spark in there, somewhere. I'm so glad that's the way it works. Yep. I do all I can to fan the flame because there's nothing quite like it. No doubt we all get some sadness thrown in for good measure. The empty places at the table grow as we continue our sojourn here, but, because of the testimony of so many of our loved ones, we know there's an even greater holiday reunion awaiting us all. The longer we hang around here, it is the more we look forward to that Great Day. Amen.

I made it through my first event of the season. For the seventh straight year, I have been privileged to portray the jolly old elf at the Holiday Market here in our area sponsored by the Junior League. We did over 300 photos with children of all ages. Literally. The folks hosting the event are always wonderfully kind to us, going out of their way to make us feel special. This year the 'us' was just me due to the wife's injury. The word had gotten around and so many of the Junior League ladies came by to ask about how she was fairing. Even some of the little girls asked about her. They had so wanted to see her again. The team there had a beautiful young elf in her place to read to the children and to provide them with refreshments. The above photo was taken with all the volunteer leaders Sunday afternoon. It capped off our two-day stint where we enjoyed the company of some of the most beautiful children in the world. It helped me to get ready for our season when the wife's sister, the elder twin, Dorothy, (by a mere 18 months), decorated our tree and our house for us. She has literally waited on her baby sister, as they say back home, hand and foot. The younger sister may be in for some shock therapy after Dorothy leaves to go back to Louisiana. I think they call it tough love, but, you do know I'm very much joking about that one. I am glad to report the wife is better. It has been a slow process but I think we have begun to see the first stages of her being able to get back to her old self. Have I ever told you how hard it is to make up our bed? Standing on your head to put fitted sheets on is not my idea of a good time. Just so you know. Take care and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.