Dear Reader:

It came! I have been waiting and staring at my “Joan Turner” Advent Calendar… which means checking the mail throughout December looking for my annual, original Christmas card from the talented artist, John’s mom, Joan!

When I returned home from Mt. Pleasant late yesterday afternoon there was a box sitting on the porch and it didn’t say Amazon. Now that really caught my attention…and then I saw Joan’s address. I ran into the house, tore open the package and there on top was the Christmas card I wait each year to receive.

There is something so beautifully comforting about Joan’s artistic Christmases with her dogs, toys, and Christmas tree filled with ornaments and birds. I always feel like I am just walking into the room (through her artwork) and can reach out, pet the dogs, hold the stuffed Panda Bear, and walk around the tree in glee…staring at all the pretty ornaments. Joan’s talented paintings bring me comfort and joy each year! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Joan for my Christmas card.

Here is a look at a few of the sights of other whimsical objects in the box. Joan…you spoil me! Christmas Tree ornaments-(a bluebird of happiness and “bejeweled’ cross) along with a beautiful angel card with scripture message that I will keep close to me….

Yesterday I was keeping the Dingle boys for Walsh and Mollie while they worked…so, knowing the weather forecast was for rain, I spent the night with Mandy and John to be closer to them… and also met Mandy Tuesday afternoon at Tapio’s for a family invitation to watch the class practice.

All I could think of….as I watched Eva Cate and the rest of the class do their warm-ups is that I never could have gotten that low or been that flexible…even as a child I don’t believe. I hurt just watching.

We went to Wild Wings for supper Tuesday evening and then Eva Cate and Jake had a little play time before bed time…Jake almost got away with stuffing a chocolate cookie in his mouth before the second picture…almost, but not quite…the dark lips gave him away.

Brookie…I love wearing my birthday moon flower pin! (Poor Jake couldn’t take his eyes off Jim Carrey’s Grinch which really is scary!…until he dragged Mandy into another room waving bye-bye…too much Grinch for him!

I decided after I saw the weather forecast for Wednesday to bring out the rainy day stuff for Rutledge and Lachlan….Thank goodness for all my amazon boxes with their plastic packaging bubbles inside…it was a free for all.

Rutledge soon got the hang on making the bubbles pop with a resounding boom…but Lachlan resorted to rolling and sitting on his bubbles. Sometimes the best things in life are free!

We have been looking at the sights and sounds of Christmas but smell yesterday had to be imaginary…an adorable cookie tray that Rutledge could use to make and decorate imaginary cookies to serve.

Mollie had all her doors and walls decorated so cute and whimsical…I was asking her where she got the decorations from and some were from Kirklands...oh my…don’t we miss that store in Mt. Pleasant…it was one of my favorites for unique gifts and decorations. Walsh gave Mollie the natural wood angel wings last Christmas… which I love too.

So unto tomorrow…Christmas is all around us…in every errand we run, rehearsal we watch, hug we extend, and laugh we share. Let’s go get us a little bit of Christmas today.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Brookie babysat Caleb, Little Boogie, yesterday, also, and got a chance for a photo opportunity with almost one year-old-Caleb…all dressed for Christmas. Happy Birthday Caleb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!