Christmas 2008

What a wonderful Christmas we had! Our day started by going to Lee & Tara's and watching Sydney and Trinity open the gifts we brought to them. They were so sweet. They has such a nice morning spending their first Christmas as a family with Mama Tara and Daddy Lee. We enjoyed our time with them & had a very nice visit with them.

Next we got in our car and drove to Locust Grove, Virginia to spend time with Kristy & Vic and our other grandchildren, Christopher, Ginger and Sarah. We enjoyed watching them open their gifts also. We had a lovely meal with them and spent several hours visiting with them.

We got back in the car and drove back to Staunton. After we got home we got back in the car went over to Sandy and Fred's to exchanged gifts. We visited for awhile and had a nice visit. It was such a nice day and we were so happy the grandchildren were able to spend the morning in their own homes and not have to travel. We are so blessed to have such sweet grandchildren and wonderful children!

Let us back up a bit and tell you a bit about our Christmas eve. Ever since we moved to Staunton, in 1985 we have been going to Mary "Tootie" McLear's for dinner. She invited us to have dinner way back then as we had no family here and it was so nice to be included. She has included us in her family gathering ever since. There were over 32 people there this year. It was a wonderful evening. We left from her home and went to our church for our Christmas Eve service at 7PM which was very moving. Following the service we stopped as we do every year at our friends Bonnie & Larry Spoon's home. Their son Ross and his new wife Jungmeen were there and daughter Corrie. We had a great visit. Then we came home, but by that time it was getting late and we prepared for the morning and went to bed.

Christmas morning we got up, had coffee and a leisurely opened our gifts. We were overwhelmed by the wonderful gifts we received from our family and friends! Everyone put so much thought into them. We thank everyone for their generosity and thoughts they put into their gifts.

We feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful day! This Christmas was such a blessing to us. We enjoyed our family, the opportunity to worship and fellowship with friends and family and enjoy time with each other. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and we wish everyone the the Happiest of New Years.

Love and hugs!

Roger and Sue

It is December! Where has the time gone?

It is the middle of December & we can't believe that Christmas if approaching so fast. We love this time of year. Right now Stephanie from Massachusetts is visiting, the weather has been playing havoc, and we are preparing to travel to the D.C. area for our niece's wedding. We are very excited to see our other nieces & their families who will be in for their sister's wedding. We will finally see Anna, our newest great niece, born in England! Plus we will see our great nephews now living in Michigan. All this and the honor of witnessing the beginning of a new life as husband and wife for this wonderful couple!


When we get back it will be the 20Th of December. Christmas will be very close. Our plans this year are our usual Christmas eve events. Both Roger and Sue will be working on Christmas Eve day. The evening will find them attending our dear friend Mary McLear's family gathering, then attending church at 7PM. After worship we go by our friends the Spoons for a few hours. We will attend candle light 11PM service and come home. On Christmas morning we will go to Lee and Tara's and watch Sydney and Trinity open their gifts and spend some time with them.

We then will drive to Locust Grove, VA and spend time with Kristy, Vic and the Christopher, Ginger and Sarah. We decided that this year we would do the running and let the children and grandchildren stay put. It is so hard to have them all run from family to family. It is easier for us to do the traveling. It is more important for children to be "at home" on Christmas. This will be such a change for us, to have an "empty" home. We are looking forward to the change with mixed feelings. But new traditions will begin and we are adapting well.

We wish all a Merry Christmas and the blessings of the New Year. Love and Hugs! Roger and Sue