Welcome to the world of e-cards and greetings!
I decided to go this route instead of snail mail Christmas cards this year. Instead, the money I would have spent for them will go to a local charity that provides emergency funds for rent and utility bills.
CHRISTMAS 2024
Blessings to you this holiday season.
Stan and I have had a really good year. Our 40th year married! It is hard to believe that we are here, but yet we are so very thankful and appreciative to everyone throughout the years who has impacted our lives.
As the years go by we realize that many have encouraged us, and have believed in us, and now the younger ones look up to us as role models. We are proud of this milestone. Cheers!
Not only did we celebrate a big anniversary but we also celebrated a new decade for Stan. In October we had a wonderful birthday party with our daughters and their families here at our ‘riva-side’ home.
Daughter Lauren and Ryan joined us, along with their twin sons Logan and Roman. The boys are now 7, in 1st grade, and they all make us continually proud. Lauren is a preschool teacher at a Garner, NC Methodist church. Ryan is a project manager and recently became a VP, for Shook Construction. They have busy lives with work and school, and value their family time together. A highlight was taking the boys to DisneyWorld in October, right before their Halloween/birthday celebration.
Daughter Kristen and husband Jeffrey have daughters Madelynn, age 3, and Charlotte, 9 months, and they also have very busy lives with full time career work and prioritizing family. Kristen is a partner at Elliott Davis Accounting Firm in Charlotte, and Jeff works in forecasting and bank development for Wells Fargo. (Don’t quote me. I probably have his title wrong.) This family is also very busy juggling work and family time.
Stan has taken up pickleball to keep physically active. That and his new-ish hobby of motorcycles & dirt bikes, will help fill his time once he officially retires at the end of March ‘25. He also tried his hand at a vegetable garden and had an abundance of peppers, some tomatoes, and more. He also tends fruit trees on our property. If only we can keep the squirrels from feasting before we do! They loved the corn and tomatoes.
Me? I still enjoy my music endeavors, playing flute with the community band, and handbells in two church groups. I also continue to do my little part in a church quilting group. I’m still in a Book Club with ladies I have known for years now. We have great discussions. I love tending my flower garden. I did a Tim McGraw ‘mini tour’ with my daughters in the summer. I met up with a girlfriend in Nashville and I finally got to see a show at the Grand Old Opry.
Dad passed on after 97 years of life. He was more than ready and I am fully confident that he is experiencing heaven in its fullness, back with our mom and his parents.
Best by far this year has been all the times we have spent with our grandchildren. I will post a few pics here of those times. If you are my Facebook friend, you have seen them. I share them there, and I invite you to find me there.
2025 will be an interesting year ahead as our politics is concerning. I pray for us all that we don’t feel hardship from the choices made, and that we continue to strive for love for all, peace, and unity.
As we get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I pray that Christian love will lead us, and that we may be examples for everyone. Our children and grandchildren are watching. The whole world is watching.
Love came down at Christmas. Unto you a child is born.
Pictures:
Marla’s Musings 