Dear Readers, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I like to share a reminder of the great blessing Christmas is to us, the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on our lives, our families, our friends, and all the beauty of the world that surrounds us.
May you have a wonderful New Year, and may 2026 fill you with the love of the Savior, all your hopes and dreams coming to fruition, the love of your family and friends, understanding across all nations and people, and may you and your world be filled with kindness. We are the only ones that can make that so in this world. We can’t rely on our politicians or others to do it for us. Love your family, Dear Readers. Forgive them if they hurt you or upset you. Give grace for any failings you think you see in them. We are ALL doing our best and trying to do the right thing.
I feel very emotional today. That may last for several weeks. While I’m not certain why, our only child is home with us now for the holidays, possibly a bit longer while awaiting an apartment in Oregon. Our child was a hard-won blessing in our lives. Jay and I married late, in our 30s, and they are a fertility drug baby. We lost several others to miscarriage after, so being with Shiloh is a great gift.
On December 26th, I will be undergoing preventative surgery on both my feet, so I don’t have any additional issues with my toes. Jay is also experiencing some health issues that have required we be in Utah for now. I’m sure that’s adding to my emotional state.
We’re also spending Christmas with my oldest brother, as we did last year, who is divorced. He has a step-daughter, my niece, but naturally, she will be with her mother for Christmas. I’m looking forward to being with him. I’m very close to both my brothers.
Christmas used to be a huge event growing up, with all five of us kids at my parents’, some of us with children, before they moved to Texas to live with my younger sister. My mother played the piano, and we sang hymns and carols together, went Christmas caroling. We attended a midnight Mass (we grew up Lutheran) on Christmas Eve. Then, as was traditional in Germany, where my oldest brother and I were both born, we opened presents. Yes, it was a very late night. When we were smaller, Mass was skipped, or we opened them beforehand. And when we had children, we opened them before Mass. Though only my older sister remained a Lutheran shortly after we were all adults, the rest either did not attend church or joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We kept the tradition of Mass for her. She has since passed away in 2015.
Once your parents are gone or moved far from you, life changes. Christmas changed. It’s still big and beautiful and sweet, especially with my brother, Kevin, whom I’ve always teased would make someone a great wife one day because he’s an even better cook than my mother was! And the joy Christmas brings when there are children in the house can’t be beat! All the kids are grown now, and those kids with kids are all grown, too. And the hardest part is that we live in different states.
One of the reasons Jay and I wanted to live a full-time RV life was to allow us to visit our family. We had ended up in Utah, though Colorado is home, for his job. But we always wanted to return to Colorado. Unfortunately, the cost of homes there is far out of reach for most people. So, living this life allows us to go “home” often. We tend to spend the summer there. At least, that’s the plan and what we did last summer.
In my heart of hearts, I believe life will be better in 2026. No more taxation of Social Security, prices beginning to come down – I LOVE how cheap eggs are now, from $7.00 to $3 plus or less, – gasoline and diesel has dropped in price, our military receiving bonuses this year, tax cuts from the Big, Beautiful Bill are in place, voucher programs for school children, Ted Cruz’s idea of starting accounts for infants and children giving $1000 from the government and then parents can put that in stocks and other investments to build retirement accounts from birth for their children! Philanthropists can also donate money for children’s investment accounts. There are numerous things more. Life is looking up!
Dear Readers, whether I know you or not, I pray for you and hope you are well and filled with love this previous season. You are known by the Savior. He knows each of us and knows our needs. And you are in my thoughts and prayers.
I’m signing off with a couple of pictures of our babies – Shiloh’s cat, Cinnamon (my fur grand baby), and Sophie:
Our handsome Tristan:
My baby holding their baby:
I will see you in the New Year! Much Love!
Next Up: Let’s Just See What Happens! 😉
On Hummingbirds Wings 