Pictorial Christmas 2016

Friday-Dec. 23rd:  Our family gathering

Della Helene Hannah Ruth's 1st Christmas

Mark, Pam, Maddie & me

This daughter of mine is a brat n' a half--photo bombed me with the rabbit ears
or devil horns or whatever.

The best photo Susan and I have had taken together in years and years

My sister collects bird figurines of all the birds she sees at her feeders.  I have given her the ones I had collected and this year, I added to her Lenox collection with a Blue Bird.

Karen made Pammie a beautiful quilt.

The annual "stair" Christmas Grand kids photo.

L-R back row:  Stephen--Marcus

Susanna--Maddie

Me

Helene and sleeping Della

My grandson Marcus' girlfriend--Morgan

Just a tiny little thing that dances ballet

AND

raises hogs and shows them at the fair

Della's 1st Hannukah

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The only unspoken irritant I had?  The grand kids sat at the end of the room, on their phones, texting each other.  Not watching anyone else open gifts and only engaging when they opened one of theirs.  In my humble opinion--cell phones should be banned during family get togethers!

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Christmas Eve evening, my sister called.

"Did this day seem strange to you?"

"Yes.  Strange and sad.  For seventy-seven years I have celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve.  It's been a very long, lonely, sad day."

"I know.  Me too.  Plus, I've been sick all day."

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On Christmas Day, I accepted an invitation from Pearl and Merle to go to their son's house to join their family Christmas.  

Let's just say--it was a different kind of Christmas gathering than I have ever witnessed.

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Now, this grumpy, old, critical woman is going to get the decorations outta here and get my house cleaned up, ready to meet a clean, new year.

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah, which started today at sundown.  Some people refer to this time as the “Festival of Light”—I like to call it the celebration of the “Miracle of the Oil”, because it truly was a miracle from God

Hanukkah is an eight day and night Jewish festival to celebrate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in the 2nd century B.C. The Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV had tried to force Greek culture on the Jews in Judea (Israel). 

This rededication of the Holy Temple took place after the Maccabees (Jewish religious rebels) reclaimed the temple. Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication. 

Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which can occur any time from late November to late December, depending on the Hebrew calendar. To celebrate Hanukkah, a nine-branch candelabrum called a Menorah, is lit one candle each night until the eighth night--January 1st, this year. The additional branch and light (9^th candle) is used to light the other candles.

The celebration lasts for eight days for historical reasons. When the Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple, there was enough purified oil to keep the temple lit for only one day. By some miracle, the light burned for eight days.

2016 Christmas Letter

What a wondrous year I have had.

Last Christmas Eve found us celebrating at my daughter Pam’s house—the one where I lived and raised my children.  Jennifer and her family were in the midst of moving to New Jersey on that day, so they weren’t with us---

My son-in-law Eric, will take over his father’s prosthetics/orthotics business.  Jennifer is commuting between NJ and the law firm she is partner with, here in Southfield, MI.  She is an expert on setting up Non-Profit organizations, so she travels to Washington, DC often and all over to different States and abroad. 

This past September, she was with our Governor and State representatives on Mackinaw Island.  They have a busy life and so unlike the one she grew up in.  Sometimes I wonder if it is all worth it?

To say I miss these 4 Grandchildren, would be an understatement.

 The rest of us were together.

My son Mark in the front, his wife Cindy; back left, my Karen, Pam and Karen’s husband Mark.

I also acquired a new grandson—to my right, Mike, husband to Helene, holding their dog, Marcus, Susanna, Stephen and Madeleine.

In June, grandson Stephen, graduated from Michigan State with a degree in Physiology.  He had his “white coat” ceremony and started medical school in August.  Madeleine, far right, is studying to be a nurse.  The first medical people we have ever had in our family

  

Another first, on my daughter Karen’s birthday, October 24th, she became a grandma for the first time and I became a great grandma.

Four generations

Grand daughter Helene Mary, Karen Helene and precious 11 day old Della Helene. 

She was named after my mother’s middle name, Della and my grandmother Helene, and her momma and grandma.

      

My sister Susan and her husband enjoy living in our ancestor’s home they renovated, and are enjoying their retirement.  I am so happy to have them close.

Yes—she is a Mini-Me.  We look a lot alike.

I have been truly blessed this past year.  A friend designs and sells patterns for knitted and crocheted items.  She sends me the design pattern and I work it up to make sure the pattern is correct.  She pays me for sitting in front of the TV and knitting and crocheting.  Who can beat that kind of job?

I also started doing genealogy research for clients.  When I am finished with all the research and everything I can find about their ancestor’s, I write it up in book form, with photos, census reports, marriage licenses, whatever I can find.  I have become quite obsessed with doing genealogy. So, if you want your genealogy traced, just let me know.  I do a great job!! J

This added income has enabled me to get most of the interior of this place painted, along with new carpeting and furniture for the living room and, something I have wanted for years and years, a “fireplace”.  Yes—it is electric, but it does have a heater inside.  I usually only use the flame setting for ambiance on a cool evening. 

     The fur kids, Buddy and Maggie seem to enjoy it a lot.         

       

Thankfully, we are all fine, healthy and happy.  My last doctor visit revealed I have “the blood work of a 50 year old,” which is great.  However doctor had no ideas on how to “cure” the pain of arthritis, tinnitus ringing in my ears and sometimes, dizzy spells from my meds.  HAH!!

So, in this joyous season, I pray God has blessed you and will continue to bless all of us in the new year.   

And

Love—Jude

All of a sudden.....

because that's the way it always goes, my depression has lifted and I am smiling and happy.

It's always like that.  I can go to bed, content and happy and wake up the next morning in a depression that gets deeper as the days go by.  I come out of it just as quickly.  I have no reason why it happens like that, but...........glad it's gone.

Maybe it's because the sun is shining and it's 40 degrees today?  Maybe it's because I posted a Merry Christmas on FB to all my extra grand children--the ones I have met through my real grandkids, and I got really loving comments back from some of them.

Maybe it's because tomorrow at noon, we will meet at Karen's and have a good time.  Yes, my youngest and her family will be absent, but my original 3 will be there--the 3 of my youth and my son's cancer is not active, right now.  Right now!  Who knows what next year will bring, but right now--I am happy and grateful for that.

All five of Karen's kids will be there, plus my 2 month old great grand baby, and Pammie and sister Susan is even bringing her 3 grand children--my great nephew and nieces.

So--at this moment in time, and really, isn't that all we ever have?  I am happy.

A Cause for Celebration?

Today is my half-year birthday.  Is that a cause for celebration?  Nope!  There is always the thought, I could be dead by this time next year.  I suppose that is why I pack away my Christmas decorations--all carefully marked with names on the boxes of who is to get certain ornaments.  I'm like a Boy Scout--always be prepared.

Christmas is coming soon--Friday will be our family get together.  Not Christmas Eve, as it has been for the 77 years of my life, but Friday.  Bah Humbug!!!  Put the smile on my face and make sure I "appear" happy so I don't make anyone feel bad.

So this year, not only will I be alone on Christmas Day, but Christmas Eve also.  I may use those two days to put all the decorations away!!

This is what I posted on Face Book:

"I wish I knew where this black cloud of depression came from. I have no reason to be blue or sad or depressed, but I sure as heck am and have been for a couple of weeks. I won't listen to Christmas music because it just makes it worse. and, if I hear "I'll be Home for Christmas", one more time in a store, I am going to stand in the corner and cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I was really surprised at how many of my FB friends feel the same way.  Even those who are married and will have ALL their family gathered together on Christmas Day.

I decorated to the hilt this year, because my sister insisted that it would make me feel better.  It just makes me sadder.

So what is there to celebrate on this half-year birthday of mine?  It is the Winter Solstice and as of tomorrow, the day-light hours are going to start to become longer.

I'm real happy about that, but honestly--I do prefer the Summer Solstice!

2016 Nutcracker

This year, my Precious Girl, Madeleine (Karen's youngest) was:

The ballerina doll that comes to life:

and the Shepherdess

as usual, she was flawless in her dance and won high praises.

I made a photo collage for her with Nutcracker photos from the years she has danced.

Ungrateful witch........

...that's what I am.

John got rid of the snow in front of andtwo passes beside my car.  How sweet.  Then he quit and went home.

My sister stopped in yesterday, but since the other part of my driveway wasn't cleared off, she had to walk in from the street and no cars are supposed to park on the edge of the street.  Then the mail lady came with a delivery and there wasn't enough space for her to drive in and she wasn't happy.  Then this afternoon, Bethie stopped in for a few minutes and she had to walk in from the street.

As long as John was out there, clearing off other's driveways, why didn't he do ALL of mine?  I was taught, as long as you are going to do a job, you do it until it is finished!  So I sent him an e-mail saying, "The next time it snows and you have your snow blower out, could you take a couple more passes at my driveway so I have enough room for visitor's to park?"

Yeah--ungrateful.  I'd do it myself, if I could!
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It's hard enough for me to get the gumption to go out.  It's not the cold--I was born and have lived in Michigan all my life and I have never and still don't wear a hat or gloves.  It's not that--it's the getting dressed and getting in the mood to go.  It seems to take such an effort.  

I had to get out today.  Had to--is the operative words here.  The young girl that I am doing the genealogy for, just found out her mother's lung cancer has returned.  So I got up to the Print Shop, got her pedigrees copied and put in the book and got the book bound.  It is ready to go.  It took me 45 minutes, but I did feel good after I got home.  Now she can come out and get it or I can mail it to her.  I'd like her mother to see it too--I think it will give both of them a lift.  

Tomorrow--the 3rd and final batch of spaghetti will be bagged and frozen.  22 quarts.