Special delivery, Between our comings and goings, A call from Pete

1. I made the final stitches on my mom's Christmas gift, wrapped everything in sparkly gift wrap and now I can deliver her gifts in person.
2. She apologizes for not having much on hand to serve for our visit:  a delicious pot of coffee, paper thin slices of apple, assorted cheeses, crackers and spicy cookies! Best of all is the visit.
3. I was debating where to stay in New York because my childhood home would be lonely with no one else there. So I was glad when my FIL called and asked me to stay at their house. I knew all along that I could stay there; I didn't need an invitation, but it made the decision easier for me.

Getting ready, Stashing some smiles, He's not usually like this

1. Travel plans fall into place and my obsessive/ compulsive nature kicks in to make preparations. A doctor once told my mother that she was wired like a race horse in the starting gate. Ha! I think I take after her. But this can be worked towards good.

2. Sorting through photos from the weekend and smiling at our(silly)selves.

We know who wears the pants in that family.

We didn't drink all that beer on the floor. Those are just supplies for brewing. #3 is going to kill me.

I'm like the streaker behind a news reporter.

 3. I've heard him laugh more these past few weeks than I've ever heard before. Long, hard, belly laughs. Is life funnier these days? I don't know...

"Say Non-ni!", My personal electrician, Perfect for walking

 I am counting blessings and joys to hold in reserve for the anxious days that are sure to be ahead. Both our mothers have fallen, broken bones and are in the hospital. Same hospital, same floor, same hall...600 miles away.

1. Mari is a great mime for sounds. She says, "Nonni" and "Pop" along with a bunch of other names and nouns we ask her to repeat. Hearing her tiny voice say my name is pure joy and I ask her to say it over and over : )
2. I announce that I would like to string Christmas lights on the crab apple tree. We don't usually bother with outside lights, but I think it will be a cheerful beacon to see out the kitchen window. Steve holds the ladder for me, replaces spent bulbs and gathers extension cords.
3. We've had the most beautiful, mild weather to enjoy throughout the entire holiday weekend.

The girls, I think we've bonded, A line at the microwave

1. I'm happiest when the girls are all here. Like now.

2. The baby couldn't sleep, so I brought her downstairs to the rocker where we cuddled and rocked while everyone else slept.

3. Leftovers are usually ho-hum, but not at Thanksgiving. We make a big deal out of getting to eat everything all over again.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Checking the calendar, To satisfy a craving, Wellspring

1. The bare woods are filled with the sound of birds. With the balmy air and the soft ground, I imagine they're announcing spring. The Virginia climate is playful,sometimes briefly interchanging the seasons. But then she always draws each season out to its full calendar dates.
2. A Reuben sandwich for lunch. Words cannot explain how good...
3. Each family donated one small item which added up to a complete Thanksgiving dinner. One small drop combined with another small drop created an abundance for someone who was without.

It's all about the texture, Who ordered these?, Cranberry bread

1. These molasses cookies are my favorite store-bought cookie. "Snacking" is an understatement. "Addicting" is more accurate.
2. Packages arrive in the mailbox and are quickly hustled away. They're secreted into dark closets and corners where curiosity won't find them.
2.a. As she wraps the gifts she bought, she exclaims that she just loves Christmas.
3. Baking extra- one to keep; one to give.