Christmas all over again…with Emily, Soren, and Sebastian!

Two days after Christmas, Emily, Sebastian, and Soren flew in from Atlanta to spend the week—and celebrate Christmas with us.  We are so lucky!

Everyone pig piling on Grandma and Grandpa’s bed our first morning together:

A family tradition…Soren and Sebastian helping Grandma make chocolate chip, M&M, and blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

Christmas breakfast:

Sebastian was Santa Claus this year.

Lots of thoughtful presents…..each of them chosen with care and given with of love.

Grandma’s Christmas cookies…you can’t have Christmas without Christmas cookies.

Active grandsons….always full of positive energy and enthusiasm.  We love this about them.

The push-up contest between Sebastian and Grandma.  We won’t declare a winner, since the final re-match is in April 2024–Spring Break.  Put it on your calendar…when the winner will be announced.

Hiking the Lost Dutchman Treasure Trail:

Can you see Soren and Sebastian?  This is how far ahead of us they were for almost the entire hike, when they waited for us at the top.

Our dear Emily, Soren, and Sebastian at the top—500’ (in just a little over a mile) above the trailhead.

You can’t truly experience a Grandma and Grandpa Christmas without spending an afternoon frosting Grandma’s gingerbread cookies!

Grandpa got into the gingerbread experience by exuberantly helping us eat the beautifully frosted cookies. 

It wouldn’t be a Christmas vacation in Leisure World without grandchildren swimming in the pool as the sun is setting….and as 2023 is coming to an end.

Sebastian helped Grandma find the perfect spot in her garden for her new turtle, Tommy. Every time Grandma and Grandpa see Tommy in the sunshine and shining brightly at night, he will remind us of our two bright stars….Sebastian and Soren.

What a wonderful Christmas!

We missed you, Sean, but you were always with us in spirit.  And we feel it was a special gift that you, Emily, Soren, and Sebastian spent a week with us at our cabin last summer. 

 

Thank you!

He truly loves me….

At Christmas time, my dear Danny was working on a surprise for me in the garage.  After several days, he finally let me come and look.

More bike lights for me…..LOTS more and MUCH brighter lights for me!

I always lead on our bike rides through the windy streets and paths of Leisure World.  About two times a night we’ll see a man or woman walking at night dressed all in black with no lights or reflectors.  We've never come even close to being a risk for those folks because we already had plenty of bike lights, and so have been able to avoid the “men in black” as they walk totally obliviously in the middle of the street or far out on the golf courses away from street lamps.  A priority has always been safety for all of us.

But these new lights are a big improvement even over the 12 lights that Dan already had put on each of our bikes.  Now there are more lights and much more powerful ones. 

This morning we went on a bike ride to check out my new lights.  And boy, my world was at least four times brighter than before.  I could see for “miles and miles." The world was totally lit up for me in a  170-degree arc.

Look at my bike on the path near one of the big fountains—it looks like a Christmas tree. It’s a beautiful world at night!

Yes, there are really 19 lights on my bike….and two more on my helmet! 

And when we get home, this is what my dear husband has to do every single day—recharge every one of these 21 lights, in addition to his multitude of lights!

Because of all that Danny has lovingly done, we can safely cycle together again early tomorrow in the wee hours of the night.  We’ll see not only the black-clad people, but all the wildlife that roams Leisure World at night—coyotes, rabbits, raccoons, foxes, and even the owls who are out hunting.

Thank you, Danny, for caring about my safety….this is a gift of love that you have given to me.

The miracle of Christmas…..everlasting love

As Santa arrived on Christmas morning, the full moon over our home looked like the Christmas Star.

Breakfast in bed.  Nothing's too good for my Danny, so I made him bacon, Mom’s noodles, mashed potatoes, and eggs smothered in gravy.

He sure looks happy…..a good start to the best Christmas ever!

Our first call at 6:42 am was from excited grandchildren…riding their new bikes, and wearing the helmets that Santa brought them (thank you, Alison and Calvin for taking such good care of your dear children).

The turkey went in the oven first thing……so we could have dinner early enough to eat lots of Christmas cookies before bedtime.

Exchanging our gifts of love….

 

All day long we received loving phone calls and messages from our dear children, grandchildren, and family.  We are truly blessed.

Preparing Christmas dinner together….

Absolutely delicious!

 

Luckily, we saved room for the Christmas cookies that I’ve had such fun making this December.  And my Danny has been smelling my freshly baked Christmas cookies ALL month long.  He has been patiently waiting for me to fill up the Christmas cookie plate….

On Christmas Eve we danced.  And, again today, we danced to all our favorite songs. What a lovely way to celebrate the miracle of Christmas…..in each other’s arms.

Thank you, dear God, for this life that has been given to us….