HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
We are already past the middle of the first month of this new year!
Here in Vancouver, I have gone from "I love the green grass in January, that's why I live here" to
One's outlook depends on if you are looking at the blue or the gray
to
Ready for Christmas 2024!
This coming weekend I should be back to "love the green grass in January". Hopefully...
Now to step back a few weeks to relive the Christmas holidays. I started to blog on Dec. 23 and that was it!
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Sat, Dec.23
Good Christmas Eve, Eve! Except I needed festive bread for breakfast... cranberry, banana, candied fruit...but none to be had. Had to settle on toast with almond butter and orange marmalade. And undecorated tree...
My sister Kate received her Maui photo album today! Excited to hear her reaction! Mail said it would be delivered 12/28. Hurray for early delivery!
Christmas Eve we enjoyed tacos and presents at Gram Carole and Papa Frank's
Debbie and granddaughter, Rosie!
Christmas Day it was a Christmas pajama gathering at Debbie's for presents and dinner!
I drove home before it got dark and spent the evening enjoying a few Christmas movies including...
I hadn't heard of it, but Frank said I should watch it. As they say in Indiana, "It was a hoot!" Interesting it is 90 years old.
(Frank was surprised I actually watched it.)
The feast of St. Steven...Dec 26...
(also my dad's B-day, his middle name is Steven)
Was great time to...
decorate my tree! Oh My!
Sometimes you just have to shuffle things a bit! The season goes to January 6.
Gram G's Christmas was Saturday, Dec. 30
Happy New York 9PM PST New Year!!
Friday 1/5 I enjoyed the evening with Kahana, Saul, Pomai and Nainoa! It fun to have little ones around...and for Kahana and I to catch up on the latest news.
We played Reindeer toss!
Next day, Jan 6... time to take down the tree.
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On to my winter project of the Schmidt family calendar which runs February to February.
It's kinda like doing a term paper, lots of research and organizing pictures of the past year's events...
about 208 photos!
The month of August I like to put a collage of our entire family...4 generations! Angie's wedding made it a bit easier to gather most everyone in October. (Yah, I'm the last of the first generation.)
7 in the second/19&3 in the 3rd/ 2 in the 4th
Snow set in Friday,1/12, about 3 inches, enough to make me home bound for a few days.
Homemade butternut squash soup warmed me up, while old time classic Disney movies kept me entertained once Star Trek lost its appeal.
Got outside on Monday to clean off the car and take a few pictures. Brought back memories of 5 months of winter in Wisconsin. Here we get about 5 days.
15 degrees rather than -15.
Tomorrow we should be back into the 40's and snow melt.
REFLECTIONS
I am gratified to review all the family activities of 2023. It was a good, busy year. I was able to be included in most significant events. The year was a little plagued with health issues for me but I am grateful to keep going even at a slower pace!
I look forward to the blessings and good surprises for 2024. I have a few dreams and hopes for the year. To be seen if they come about, but whatever it will be a good year because God is loving and faithful!
This has been a good almost 4 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
