phillipskaye 

We had a two hour delay this morning.  It made for a nice day.  We picked up our car tonight.  It is a 2007 Black Ford 500.  The roads are still slippery.  We will see what tomorrow brings.

I didn't get to walk after school today.  I helped dh buy a car at Stratton Auto in Bluffton.  It took quite a while.

I felt much better today.  The children were either excited to be back or so sleepy they could hardly move.  I have one student vacationing in Egypt.  They are so close to the fighting in the Gaza Strip.  She should be back by Friday.
Her mother's sister is married to an Egyptian doctor.

I caught a cold from my DS2.  I stayed in most of the day.

I dressed in layers for a morning walk.  Later I joined my DH and Dear Dad for another walk around our path.
We also enjoyed a dinner out at CasaLuAl in Lima.

Today I boxed up my 2008 bills and paperwork to clean my files for 2009.  The year has passed so quickly.  I must ask my comrades, how many years do you keep old bills, receipts and tax forms, etc.?  Does anyone have a nifty system for doing this?
I have a hanging file folder system to separate the different kinds of paperwork, that I clean out each year, put in a box, and save the box for 10 years.  Is there a better way?

I took down the tree and decorations today.  After this I cleaned the house and re-arranged a few things.  Whew!
I am tired.  Tomorrow I will have less to do on my list.

We had a couple of dear friends over for dinner tonight.
We have been going back and forth for most of our married years.

Our former school librarian stopped by for a visit today.  We had a nice time catching up on life.

Most of my steps were taken at the Franklin Park Mall in Toledo.  It was still rather crowded.  We were surprised by the lack of bargains, so we didn't help Toledo's economy much.

I enjoyed attending church and visiting my grandmother today.  I also walked with my dad and DH at school in the afternoon.
Tomorrow we are off to Toledo to an early appt. with our doctor (just a check-up) and later to the mall.
The photo is of my three guys on Christmas Eve.

It felt great to walk outside again, today.  Even if it was very windy and I had to wade in a few puddles here and there.
In the afternoon I attended a 90th birthday party for my grandmother's cousin, Nelson Schumacher.  My mother and I went to represent grandma, who is home-bound.  It was interesting to see distant cousins in my generation who I never met before.
On the way home we had to stop for a herd of 19 deer to cross the road.  (We were on Augsburger Road, close to the Nature Preserve.)
The photo is of our Christmas tree.  (Nelson Schumacher gave my boys our cat Simba, pictured.)

I took it a little bit easier today.  DS's girlfriend came for a visit.  It was good to see her. 

The photo was taken at my dear parent's home on Christmas Eve.  My mom, dad and brother, sister-in law, nieces, nephew and my husband and our two boys are pictured.  I guess you know who took this picture. :)

Merry Christmas to all! Last night we enjoyed a delicious Christmas meal at my parent's house with my brother and his family.  What a special evening.
Today I prepared a turkey with all the trimmings for dinner.Mom and Dad joined us.  I relish these time together.  I consciously tried to include dishes/decorations/recipes from those we loved and are no longer with us, but with us in spirit. 
One account of the Christmas story in the Bible tells about Mary pondering over the events to hold them in her heart.  Gatherings like we had yesterday and today deserve pondering.

I am posting early and will update tomorrow afternoon.  We will have a gathering at my dear parent's house tonight and have Christmas dinner here tomorrow.
Merry Christmas dear friends!
(Sorry our card comes out blurry.)

Poor steps is right!  You should have seen my beautician and me navigate to our cars during the ice storm.  We were both parked on a street that sloped.  Together we made it.

I'm busy as these elves preparing for Christmas.

We had very nice time in Columbus yesterday and today.
We left early for shopping at Easton. Checked into the Drury Inn in downtown Columubus.  After dinner we walked two blocks to Nationwide Arena to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra give a three hour concert.  All was wonderful.
After breakfast today we did a little more shopping and headed home.  With the wind and the temperature, I was glad to be home before dark. (Thanks DH, for a nice anniversary trip.)

(I posted early, but will check in later to update my steps.)

We are headed to Columbus for our 28th wedding anniversary.  How the years do fly!

What a busy day at school!  We started with a two hour delay.  After that it was rush, rush, rush.  With the weather report for Friday looking nasty, I handed out presents and finished Christmas projects so everything went home.
In the evening, we attended a retirement party for a co-worker.  I was so thankful the storm waited until after we returned home.