Happy New Year!

1.What memories of New Years Eve do you have?

I usually always watch the Dick Clark New Year Eve show. Now I channel hop. 

2. Do you go to bed early or stay up until midnight to ring in the new year?

I stay up until around 1 am. My husband goes to bed around 9:30

3. Do you have special foods or customs for the New Year? Not really. Last year we went to my son's house for a NY party. We are staying home because we are getting ready for our cruise.

4. Will football and New Year parades be on your agenda for New Years Day? We do like to watch the Parade. Not into sports. I start taking down the ornaments from the trees. I am also packing for our cruise. I have washed all the Christmas blankets and towels, and they are packed.

1. Oxford's Word of the year for 2024 is 'brain rot'. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to 'capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media'. Yes at times I can be drawn in by social media. Brain rot is real, my mom died from Alzheimer's and her brain scans showed diminish brain material. 

If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? Truth. 

 

2. It's National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)...will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year's Day menu? We watch the parade and I start taking down the ornaments on the trees. I have lots of trees and will probably start with the Nativity/angel tree. We eat whatever there is to eat. I have some turkey bones and meat that I can use to make soup.

3. What's something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year?

I really enjoy Bible journaling and crafting. I am looking forward to doing more things with my family, and church friends.

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? Not really. I keep pretty busy. What's one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? I will be reading through the Bible again using the Bible Recap Program.

5. Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. I do choose a word, and sometimes two. I have Seek and Hope.

6. Insert your own random thought here. We leave on our cruise this Saturday. I started packing today. I am putting things on the guest bed for now. I need to try on a few dresses and see how they fit. I have gained a couple of pounds during the holidays and I feel like my waist has expanded again. I wish I could push the fat to the rear! We chose January 4-11 for our cruise because the grandkids are off school and can watch our dog, Minnie. The prices were good to since we are going off season. I have been checking the weather and it will be in the 70's in the Mexico cities of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. The last time we took a cruise was in 2006 to Alaska. I took a New England cruise in 2008 with my parents. So are excited. I am taking my laptop since we have wifi with our packaged. 

This past Monday I met up with my friend Anita. We met in high school over 50 years ago. We met up at the cemetery. We were visiting our parents and my grandparents. Corrie Ten Boon is really close to my parents so my friend and I walked to her plot. She was a Dutch woman that helped hide Jewish people. She was sent to a concentration camp. Her story was made into a book called the Hiding Place. She eventually made it here to the United States.

Friday Faves 5 & Saturday 9

Thankful for making it to another year!

1. Thankful for a nice Christmas with my family.

2. Thankful for my many blessings and sharing Hanukkah with my family.

3. Thankful for good insurance and my finger is healing and my back doing better.

4. Thankful for a beautiful Christmas Eve service.

5. Thankful for a few days to rest before getting ready for the cruise.

Hanukkah means dedication and the feast of dedication 

is mentioned in the Bible in John10:22. 

It is also known as the Festival of Light. 

Jesus is the light of the world! John 8:12

I do not light the real candles because of my allergies.

Saturday 9: Goodbye (1969)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

I remember this song better. Those were the Days my Friend.

This song was chosen because it's time to say goodbye to 2024.

Thanks for participating in Saturday 9 this year.

1) In this song, Mary Hopkin asks her lover not to let her sleep too late. Did you wake up this morning on your own, did someone wake you, or were you jangled awake by an alarm clock? On my own time.

2) The lyrics reference "a lonely song." Can you name a song about loneliness? Hey there Loney Girl

3) "Goodbye" was written for Mary by Paul McCartney. He was the one who signed her to her first record contract and produced this and all her Apple Records, including her first big hit, "Those Were the Days." Looking back on 2024, who is someone who gave you a helping hand when you needed it?

Yes, my husband. He drove me to all my medical appointments.

4) This video shows Mary performing on The Ed Sullivan Show while wearing a miniskirt. Minis were very popular in 1969. Did you embrace a fashion trend in 2024? 

Not even sure what the trend was. If it is wide pants, then no.

5) Also in 1969, the Colts lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The game is famous because of all the hype leading up to it, including Joe Namath "guaranteeing" the underdog Jets would win. Do you have a special sports memory of 2024? The Dodgers won the World Series. I watched a lot of the Olympics too!

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2024?  San Diego

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2024? A cruise for January 2025

8) What was your favorite book of 2024? The Bible and Left Behind series (16 books)

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2025? Good health, the cruise and trip to Hawaii.

Tuesday 4 Merry Christmas.

It is Christmas Eve.   Where will Christmas Eve find you?  I will be making my enchilada casserole. Then I just have to bake it for Christmas dinner. Later, we will be going to the Christmas Eve service at church. We will go home and get things ready for Christmas Day. I will set the table for breakfast and make sure the house is ready. I will fill stockings and hubby will move furniture around so that there is room for all the presents and for everyone to sit down. Hubby gets up before I do and he will turn on all the lights inside and out. 

1. If you have a tree up what is on the top? 

I have several trees.

The Disney tree has Minnie on the top.

The Nativity tree has a star on top.

The pet tree has a dog angel on top.

The gingerbread tree has a ginger angel on it.

The country trees in the bedroom have rag angels.

2. White lights or multi colored? Colored

3. Church service? Candlelight service, bell choir?

We will be going to a 6pm Christmas Eve service. We usually do get candles that

we hold and sing Oh Holy Night. Then we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blow out the candles.

4. What is on the Christmas Eve menu? 

Our kids are at their in-laws, so it is just hubby and I on Christmas Eve and we will probably have fast food.

Kids are planning the breakfast menu now. So far we are having potatoes, bacon, sausage, eggs and French toast. We will have a hodgepodge for dinner.

It's 9:00 pm and I have been busy all day. We bought most of the things we need for Christmas dinner. Hubby just has to go to Sams to get a few more things. He will do this while I am at physical therapy. While he is gone, I will start making the enchiladas. All the presents are wrapped and we put some candy in the stockings. We also got everyone 2 gift cards.  I have to do a load of laundry so I have pants to wear for church service.

Hubby will make some more Mexican Hot Chocolate for Christmas morning.

I hope to get to bed before bedtime so I can continue reading from the book of Luke. 

Friday Faves Five & Saturday 9

There is always something to be thankful for every week.

1. The big family Christmas party last Saturday. It was great to see my siblings, their kids and grandkids!

2. The fun family Christmas party at my son's house on Sunday. Great food and gun games. Pictures of both are on the previous page.

3. My physical therapy appointment on Monday. I feel like it is helping. I just need to do my exercises at home. I can do some while I am watching tv.

4. Ear appointment in ENT. Glad to have my ears cleaned out so they don't bother me on the cruise.

5. Christmas cookie baking with the grands. The grands all participate. We end up not going to see lights afterwards. We decided to watch Home Alone while eating cookies and drinking Mexican hot chocolate. Before the cookies, the grands looked for the Shepherd on the search and they found what he left. Mugs.

                            

                  

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 From the archives

1. As you can see, when Sam Winters was a little girl, she loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be? A healthy body. To be well for our cruise.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? Nice, being kind and loving.

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train? My family is coming over for Christmas breakfast and to open gifts. Most are coming back later for dinner.

4. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If yes, which one traveled the farthest? I did not ship anything. We exchanged gifts with my family on the 14th.

5. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? No, but I might after Christmas.

6. Which do you prefer: candy canes or gingerbread? I like them both, but I have to stay away from peppermint because it is not good for acid reflux.

7. Close your eyes and tell us the first carol that comes to mind. The First Noel.

8. What's your favorite winter beverage? Hubby's Mexican hot chocolate.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas. There are a lot of memories. Last year, my granddaughter Audrina and I went to see the musical Journey to Bethlehem. Afterwards, we went to In and Out for lunch and then we went to drop off Christmas gift for my cousin and aunt Rosie. Aunt Rosie was my mom's little sister and she was always so kind to me. She passed away this August and I am thinking about her and my cousin. My aunt is with her big sissy and they will be celebrating CHRISTmas with Jesus!

Thanks to Susanne and Same for the memes, links are on the left.

Tuesday 4 & Wednesday Hodgepodge

1.What are you up to in preparation for the holidays? My house is all decorated. It took some time because  decorate every year. You can see pictures from last year on the link above under Christmas Decor. Everyone had their own style. Regardless, family togetherness and fun is the most important along with celebrating the birth of Jesus.

At my son's home on Sunday. Lots of games and prizes and good food too!

\

At my sister's home.

I am the eldest in my family, brother, far right is youngest. 

We are all in our 60's. 

The grands on the left and their parents are on the right.

10 family members missing.

2. What is your absolute favorite holiday movie? I have several. White Christmas, A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life. The family likes to see National Lampon's Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving evening, and we also saw Elf this year. We have also seen Home Alone 1 and 2.

3. What are your hopes for this coming season? Staying healthy and completing my Advent studies.

4.  Tell us your view on the great tea/coffee/hot chocolate debate and do you want it with fruitcake or cookies?  Come on own up!! I drink one cup of coffee a day. I might drink a decaf tea later in the day when the weather is cold. Though I love hot chocolate, I don't have it often because of the high sugar content. We do have it a few times during the holiday season. The kids will be coming over to bake cookies on Thursday night and after we will go see the Christmas light in a nearby neighborhood. Then all will come back to our house to have Mexican hot chocolate and cookies.

1. What's one thing you want to get done before the calendar flips to a new year? 

Start packing for our cruise that begins on January 4th.

2. What's something that brought a smile to your face this year? 

My grandkids excelling in school.

3. What do you like on a cracker? Do you have a favorite cracker variety?

I like the Town House crackers with cheese or hummus.

4. Do you have plans for ringing in the new year in a fun or special way? Are you typically awake at midnight on the last day of the year? 

I usually stay up by myself and watch TV. Hubby goes to bed early and can never stay up late.

5. What are three words that describe your 2024? 

Sick, family and Bible study.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I started decorating early to be ahead of schedule. But the days are busy and my ADD gets in the way of time management. I also have been going to physical therapy twice a week and that takes time. Last week we took the younger grands to see Moana and Tuesday we took the older grands to see Gladiator 2. Both were good movies. On Wednesday, we are going to buy the things I need to bake cookies with the grands and enchiladas for Christmas dinner.

Also thinking of my parents. This picture was my mom's last Christmas in 2009. She passed from Alzheimer's in May 2010 and Dad in February 2013. I sure miss them

!

Friday Faves Five & Saturday 9

I am always thankful for another week of life

1. Last Saturday we went to our daughter in law's mom's retirement party. There was lot of good food, and we had a nice time. My husband and I have been retired for 13 and 11 years and we have been active grandparents. Now Jessica will have more time for her mom and her kids. Thankful for family!

Audrina with her to grandmas. 

2. Thankful for a busy Sunday. We went to church, then we went to her our grands perform for their winter informal recital. It was nice to see how the kids have excelled with their voice and piano teacher. Later we went to the Senior Christmas party at church. Our grands along with a couple of other kids sang for us. It was so special to see out granddaughter and grandson sing a song together.

Audrina does worship on Sundays. 

This was Elijah's first time singing in the Big Church

except for when they sing for their school performance.

We took this picture before we left.

3. Thankful for physical therapy on Monday and Thursday. I feel like I am getting stronger.

4. Thankful to have most of my Christmas shopping done!

5. Thankful to be caught up with my Advent reading. 1 Chapter of Luke each evening.

Saturday 9: I Wouldn't Trade Christmas (1968)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

  

1) In addition to Christmas, this song name-checks many major holidays, including Mother's and Father's Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Valentine's Day. Which holiday is your favorite?

Thanksgiving, then Mother's Day.

 

2) The Sinatra family posed in all-white for this album cover in August 1968. Are there any pictures of you and your siblings in matching outfits?

3) Nancy is the oldest of the Sinatra children. She's also the one who performed most often on TV and film with her famous father. She played his daughter (of course!) in a movie and appeared in two of his TV specials while he appeared in one of hers. In 1967, she and Frank scored a #1 single with a duet of "Somethin' Stupid." Have you ever worked with a family member or spouse? My husband and I both worked for the postal service. My sister and I both worked together as day camp counselors on summer.

 

4) Frank, Jr., was the middle child and only son. A dedicated musician, he labored in his father's long shadow and joked that he would have had an easier time if he'd chosen real estate instead of music. Tell us about your path not taken. (Examples: A career you wish you'd pursued but didn't; a person you could have married but didn't; a city you almost moved to, but changed your mind.) 

I wanted to go into the medical field. The fear of Math changed my course. Right when I was starting UCI, I got into a student program with the postal service. I then got hired to work there part time. When I graduated in 1977 from UCI, I decided I wanted to start my family, so I stayed at the post office because of the good pay and benefits. I only used my degree when I counseled women at church. But I did learn a lot while working for the post office in the marketing department. I tell my grands to go into the profession they like and not be afraid to pursue it. 

 

5) Unlike her father and siblings, Tina Sinatra never wanted to be a singer. She found success as a theatrical agent and, at her father's request, became involved with his business affairs. Today she helps manage the rights to Frank Sinatra's movies and music. Do you have a good head for business? No, and business was not an interest either. I did have to work on spreadsheets while in the marketing department. I did have to make decisions that either found ways to save money or make it. But it was a part of the job, and not what interested me. I did love working with graphics!

6) Nancy and Frank, Jr., were born in Jersey City. By the time Tina was born, the family had relocated to Los Angeles. Did your family move around a lot when you were young? Not too much. I lived in the same city for 35 years and move to the city I am in now. We have been here 34 years.

And now, in the spirit of the season ...

 

7) Do you consider snow globes a holiday decoration, or do think they should be displayed all year around? I have a few that are Christmas theme and that is the only time I bring them out.  I didn't this year because I cut back on some of my decorating. I think you should put out what you like.

8) Which of Dickens' Christmas ghosts would you most enjoy spending time with: past, present or future? The past so I could visit with my parents and grandparents.

9) Have you crafted, cooked, or baked any gifts this holiday season? I taught my friends how to make a nativity ornament at our last Bible journaling meet up and I made a few extra for gifts. Next week I will bake gingerbread with my grands and I will pass some out to the neighbors.

The previous page has pictures of my kids on Christmas over the years.

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes, the links are on the left.