MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014

Aaron, Travis, John and Lisa Saunders at Christmas 1974 or 1975

Two years ago I wrote a story about Christmas on the farm and Santa Claus Day in Lidgerwood.  I ended it by saying now each Christmas I pour my FP coffee, put a little Christmas cheer in it by way of Baileys and then sit and remember.  Well I thought I would do as I said so this morning I sat by the pool, sipped my FP and remembered!

• Dad came home from a medical trip and brought bright colored reflectors for the tree bulbs.  Mom put them on the tree and thought they were so pretty!
• In the winter on the farm my bedroom would get very very cold as I could lie in bed and see frost on the nails holding down the shingles.  That meant there was no ceiling, no insulation and NO heat.  When I was a junior in HS Mom and Dad got me an electric blanket--wow that was so nice.  During the basketball season Mom would even go upstairs and turn it on so when I arrived home, sometimes as late as midnight, my bed would be warm!
• I don't rememeber the year but I got my own radio.  I wanted it so much and there it was.  It even had a clock on it and with it I could fall asleep in the summer listening to Harry Cary do the play by play of the St. Louis Cardinals!  At that time their big guy was "Stan the Man"
• presents would be wrapped and kept above the kitchen cupboards.  Out of reach of little fingers to pick at, rattle and lift.
• Each Saturday in December before Christmas we would get in the car with Mom and go to Bergen Church.  There we would practice , it seemed for hours, our program which I think would be the Sunday before Christmas.  I did not like those practices but I know now, not then, that for Mom it was a bit of heaven.
• There were times we got puzzles, or the card game Touring, or other games and then we would play all day and into the night.
• Christmas Eve we would get in the car and drive the 3 miles to Grandpa and Grandma Lees.  There would be some presents to open only after we ate and the dishes were done.  Grandpa would eat slow, then have another helping and laugh in his vibrant long laugh as us kids would wait and wait and wait for him to finish.  Later the adults would play cards and us kids would play until we were too tired.  Then we could go into Grandpa and Grandma's bedroom, move the heavy coats and fall asleep.  When it was time to go home we would slowly walk out to a cold cold car and by the time we arrived home there would be a breath of kind of warm air in the car!
• Dave got an Erector set and I got a set of Lincoln Logs.  Those provided hours and hours and hours of play time for years.  I think Dave got his set before the fire but my logs were in the house when it burned.
• In 1976 I made night stands for the three boys.  I think I was more excited than they but each still has theirs today.
• We allowed the kids to open some of their presents Christmas Eve Day morning and they played ALL day and almost all night too.
• The kids squealed with delight as each opened a different part of their new computer.  That was the most excitement I remember in Christmas.
• Lefse making was always a great time as the kids would be in line for the next warm one
• Grand kids arrived and Christmas took on a meaning that we had almost lost.  Those little ones show that Christmas is really about them in terms of presents.  

These thought this morning are mostly about "Christmas Past" but of course there are many memories of "Christmas Present" too!  We spent Christmas of 2011 in St. Paul as Benedict came on Christmas Eve morning and last year we were at Terry's daughter's home for Christmas.  Each year brings memories, brings reflections and builds on how blessed we are to enjoy each new Christmas and thank God for his gift to us.  I know that I am most thankful for each season.  Of course it is different now but then life changes ALL the time.  I thank the Lord for kids, for grand kids for Terry and for the friends we have to be with.  We spent much of yesterday with Terry's daughter and family, then we spent last night with friends here in Naples and then tomorrow we head to South Bend and Madison to be with family so THANK YOU LORD.
And of course my FP with the shot of Baileys is gone so Merry Christmas to all and may we and you have a wonderful 2015.

Happy Birthday Benedict!

Happy 3rd birthday Benedict.  We wish we could be with you but we are sure you will have a great birthday. You look like the perfect biker boy, perhaps someday you will ride like uncle Travis and uncle John.
We love you.

Come Lord

 A couple of pictures of Christmas in either 1977 or 1978

We are getting oh so close to the birth of Christ.  Of course the most important thing in our Advent journey and Christmas is the birth of Christ BUT for sure we all know that Christmas is much more than that.  It is about family, friends, gifts, parties and more.  Terry and I have had our share of some of those things this week.  Well I did not mention work but we did get the wood floors in the two bedrooms Monday.  We are VERY happy with them.  We asked friend to help move furniture so we invited them to have a bite to eat with us Monday evening after things were moved.  We had to then share the guitar with them and the power point that Dave sent.  I have said it before but again Dave is getting rock star status in Naples!  Then on Thursday Terry was invited to a ladies lunch so while the women were having a good time I invited two friends over for conversation and fun!  Thursday evening we had a turkey dinner for friends which turned out very well.  We tried something different with the turkey this time.  We put it in the oven at 475 for 20 minutes and then turned the temp down to 250!  It was 15+ pounds and after 5 1/2 hours it was perfect.  Terry did a great job with the dressing and gravy etc so it turned out to be a fun time and a delicious meal.  And the left overs, they of course are great.  We were invited next door last night for dinner which is always fun.  John, who is going to be 77 does so many things (as does his wife Diane) and last night he played some hymns for us as he has taken up the electric organ.  It was fun.  As the week went I did play tennis for an hour and a half each day and finished the week up with an hour clinic yesterday after our match.  The clinic has been a great help in upping my play a tad bit.  We also squeezed in my final PT session and an MRI on my knee to try and find out why it is bothering me when I ride bike.  I should not forget that Terry organized a villa party (we live in one story homes where we share a wall with the neighbor and there are about 45 living units).  It was a huge success as I would say it was the best party Terry has organized.  About 25 people came and I know each person had a wonderful time.  I might add that the food everyone brought was great.
The coming week will be some what slower as we look forward to Jesus' birth.  I think the 23rd will be taken up in part with deciding what to bring to Madison and South Bend.  We will each take a personal bag and then have 1 carry on--that is it so we had better plan carefully!   On the 24th we will go to church and then afterwards will go to a friend's home for dinner.  Before church we will open presents which will be FEW.  We decided to not exchange gifts this year but we do have a few gifts from family that we will open.  On the 25th we will have a nice dinner and then perhaps go to the movie "Unbroken" which comes out that day.  We have both read the book so are excited to see the movie.  The story is true and a great great read.  Then about 5:30 AM on the 26th we will head to the airport to fly to South Bend.  We will arrive home again in the afternoon of the 31st.  As I look back on Christmas years ago today is VERY different but then so is life so one has to enjoy the moment.  I am so thankful for what I have today, life is good.  I know that so many people have or are dealing with illness so I most thankful for good health.
As I sit here I realize that it is kind of nice to have Saturday here.  No running to tennis, no parties and no travel planned today so I will take the last sip of FP and go read by the pool.

Excitment

Travis is proof that you can sleep anyplace when you are tired

neighbor John took a silver metal in croquet at the senior games.  John is the age Ronald would have been now

when you need a bath you make do as Travis shows with help from John

These guys actually skated with Peggy Fleming!!-NO

Why the excitement?  The floor people will be here in about an hour and then the house will be transformed into a new new home AND the furniture etc will be able to be moved out of the dining room, the den and other places! 
I was thinking last night about being in my late 60's and thought I am blessed.  Even tho I looked at my wrist which was broken last year and is fine but gave me some aches last week.  Then I got up off the couch and felt that twinge in my knee that is going to get an MRI Tuesday.  I then felt my left leg and thought: "It is fine but it still is a bit numb from that nerve in my back". I brushed my hand over my head and realized that the back of my head is kind of bare!  Then I needed a sweater on and as I walked into the bedroom there was the scale and I remembered that it does not work very well, it always reads way higher than the one I had 20 years ago!! As I went to put my sweater on I glanced at the tag and saw that it was not "M" but an "XL" and thought I never did like tight fitting clothes but really I have expanded a bit!  Well as Terry and I finished watching "It's a Wonderful Life" (actually we fell asleep before the end) I said to myself, "Yes it really is a wonderful life!"

12-13-14

Not much to say except that I had to blog on 12-13-14.  The next date we have these kind of numbers will be 1-2-34, that almost 20 years from now and who knows who will be around!!!

Almost mid December!!!!!!!!

Here is our second dog Frisky

The boys came running in with several puppies that a man had left on the street.  Mommy, Daddy look what God left on the street for us!!!!  
Terry and I are in the middle of MUCH.  The bedroom floors are now cement as things are cleared out and new wood floors will be installed Monday.  The house is in turmoil as things are everywhere as we wait for Monday.  Several other things are also in the works so life continues to be busy.
I have had 2 PT for my back/leg and I will opt out of more PT next week.  I do have a MRI scheduled for Tuesday on my right knee.  It does not bother me playing tennis but riding bike and going up and down stairs it is sore!  I know, I know these retirement years are the golden years for sure.  I AM NOT COMPLAINING AS I FEEL BLESSED AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE.
Tennis at 7:30 this morning and then work around the house the rest of the day. I can not believe the weekend is here already.
We are experiencing cool weather according to Naples average.  The last couple of days the high temp has been in the high 60's and for the next several days it is supposed to be in the low to mid 70's.  That is below average for here.  Again, no complaints.
FP gone, tennis clothes are waiting to go out the door.

Happy 45th John--Going strong and you are half way to 90!!!

Happy birthday John, I think the pictures say it all.  Terry and I admire you, your family and what you and Mary are all about.  From Naples to Florida, we love you and are excited about seeing you after Christmas.
Perhaps everyone in the family should start putting bets when that red hair starts to fade--haven't seen much change yet!!

Advent 2014 is here

We met Jim at Thanksgiving--here he is playing Carmen's guitar and he did a great job

I have not spent time learning to play yet so any time we get the chance we ask someone to play the guitar which has a fantastic sound.  It never fails as each person who has played it says they play an acoustical guitar and the fretboard on a classical is so much wider.  Well I measured this morning to see the difference and there is a BIG difference.  On a classical the fretboard on the third fret is 2 1/4 and on Terry's acoustical it is 1 7/8.  Even with the difference Jim did a great job playing for us after we had enjoyed a tasty Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday.
Things in Naples are going at a nice pace with super weather and actually some work is getting done.  This week the weather forecast is for 80/81 all week with no real chance of rain.  That kind of weather is perfect for tennis and I will be on the court 5 days this week.  I feel I have elevated my game a notch or two which is good.  BUT Terry and I sat down and watched a match after I finished playing yesterday AND I am pretty sure I could have returned the serves BUT I know there would be no rallies if I were playing.  It was fun to watch play at a level I will never be at and actually do not aspire to as the time commitment would be too great.  My guess would be if you evaluated tennis players on a scale of 1-20 my play yesterday would have been on about 9 and the match we watched for a bit would have been on a scale of maybe 14 or so.
Terry and I purchased a scanner called "Neat".  We have thought about getting it for some time but never pulled the trigger as in my world it is expensive.  We intend to scan receipts and papers into the computer and then get rid of much paper.  It was super easy to set up and work it so now we will see how faithful we are at using it.  Yesterday we were out and about and made 3 purchases.  I came home and scanned the receipts and then threw them away so we are off to a good start.  We feel it will help us be organized and for sure I need that.
Enough, the FP is near the bottom of the cup.