Christmas in Georgia was warm and balmy. We don't often have snow at Christmas but we usually do have cold weather. We did our shopping, wrapping, and putting up our tiny tree in plenty of time to enjoy the season fully. I made cakes, pies, and casseroles to take to my son's house where we had Christmas dinner. My sons and daughters-in law never fail to tell me" don't cook anything,' but I always do, and we have so much food to divide that it lasts us for a week. Jean set a beautiful table as she always does, and she and Dianne had cooked oodles of delicious food.
We missed the two boys, Daniel and Alan who are away in the Army, and their dad, Steve (my second son.) I think he didn't have the heart to enjoy Christmas with us while both his sons are away. Jeff and Dianne took him a large share of the food, and I hope that cheered him a little. Sarah and James, my other two grandchildren were there so they were the life of the party. .
Tom and Jean have a large picture window looking out on their back yard, and all kinds and colors of birds were flying from the plum and dogwood trees down to the feeders. They were beautiful to watch. The bird book was on the kitchen table and we tried to identify the birds from the book. We did find some of them but two in particular we couldn't find. One was a small green bird with a dark gray head, and one was gray with a speckled red head and breast. It looked a little like a female red bird but its head and beak were different, besides the coloring wasn't right. We bird sighted while we were lying out, and heating the food, getting it ready to go on the Christmas table. Jean had a beautiful Christmas arrangement for the center of the table, candles, berries, flowers, and evergreens. Dianne brings the dressing every year, and lots of other food. She cooks pans of dressing to go to her mothers Christmas dinner, our Christmas dinner, and enough for everyone to take home. Jean makes ham, and her special sweet potatoes that nobody can make taste as good, along with all the other food she makes. So you see there is really no need for me to cook a thing but I want to do it. I cooked Christmas dinner for the family so long that I can't completely give it up. I know it's time to pass it on to someone else. Tom and Jean want to do it so I am thankful for them.
After eating until we were all stuffed, we went into the living room where the Christmas tree and all the presents were. Sarah as the youngest gave out all the presents. We all received nice presents. Mine were: a necklace, watch, an outfit, and Lionel's were a sweater and a gift card. Sarah and James were loaded down with gifts and a good time was had by all. It was way after dark when we started home, and Jeff told Lionel that James could drive us home, ( we both have trouble seeing to drive in the dark) and he would follow us and pick James up but Lionel declined, (he didn't want to put Jeff out of him way), and we made it home fine. The traffic wasn't very heavy and the moon was shining brightly.
We had our Christmas dinner with my siblings earlier at my sister's church community center. We had a wonderful visit with relatives we don't see often, and my cousin Larry whom I hadn't seen in several years was there. We always enjoy these get-to-gathers that we have at Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter every year. If someone doesn't get there at Christmas they are sure to be there Thanksgiving or Easter. I hope everyone had a Christmas just as joyful as I did, and I hope you have an even happier New Year.
