Happy Holidays

What a wonderful time of the year!  It seems like everyone should be happy.  We had part of our family home this past weekend, the other half will be here after Christmas.  Schedules did not coordinate this year, so separate gatherings had to be planned.  We were all together at Thanksgiving and this makes our Christmas last a little longer.
We had so much fun Saturday.  It was one of those times that you did not want to turn in for the night because you knew you would never get those same experiences again.
The day started with everyone arriving and food being prepared.  The kids of course started to play without any hesitation. 
When the meal was over and things cleaned up, we played a grab bag game.  I had taken some new and maybe some older items and put them in separate plain paper bags.  Using Skittles for money and each player having possession of 10 skittles, players would bid on a bag that my husband would hold up.  Unfortunately, some of the players ate their skittles.  The others bid back and forth until one would end up with the precious brown paper bag being offered at that time.  It was a lot of fun and young and old enjoyed it very much.  My son who got a bottle of perfume in his brown paper bag enjoyed spraying it on everyone and everything.  We still have a vapor trail in the party barn!
Then the presents started being open.  In the middle of the opening process, I had a rousing game of musical chairs.  I always buy Yankee Candles for the couples and there is always a tussle about who gets first pick of the different flavors.  So, I had the men play musical chairs first and then the women with the winners getting first pick, the runner up second, and so on.  It makes me chuckle even now remembering how these grown people tried to be the last person sitting.
After all of the presents were opened, the children retired to the basement to watch some Christmas specials while the adults were in the party barn snoozing or filling up on some of the many appetizers that we had at our ready.  There was a football game on the TV and much talking and laughing in the background by those who did not want to watch the game.
Sunday came too soon and families departed for their own homes and their own holiday time.  It doesn't seem that long ago that my children were up in their beds waiting anxiously for Santa to make his flight to our roof top.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful memories.
Tonight is Christmas Eve.  We are heading out for church services soon and to see all of the many Christmas lights that houses and towns everywhere display.  May God be with you and your family now and into the New Year.  May your holidays be the best ever! 

Children

Too much has gone on in my life to explain my absence from this blog, just know that I am never totally away.
Today I would like to address the happenings on Friday the 14th of December, 2012.  One lone man, it doesn't matter if he was in his right mind or not, took it upon himself to destroy twenty-seven other lives.  How does someone get the nerve to take so much away from so many?  How do they then kill themselves to face God to try to explain the whole thing.
At first I felt very sorry for his mother because he blew her face apart, but then I heard that she had felt the uncontrollable need to teach her son to shoot a gun.  Did she even stop to think that this son should not have a gun in his hand anytime at all?  Why would he need to learn to do this?
The FBI are looking for answers to some questions, how about starting with, "Who in this country is learning to shoot who has no business ever knowing this feat?
I am angry!  I am tired of hearing about our precious little ones and our teachers being in danger.  Everytime it is more and worst than the last.  If someone wants to kill themself, why do they think that they have to take loved ones with them?
I know that I have gone on and it all doesn't make a lot of sense, but I just had to get this off my chest.