Christmas greetings 2011

Christmas is such a special time of year to reflect back over the past year and truly thank God for His bountiful blessings.

We have survived another year without any major setbacks. We have both arrived in our lives to the age of 80 and 81 and still have our mental facilities and, so far, can walk around without any help. Now, let me tell you folks, that is a big plus.

Most of you know, at least those that I do email with, we finally sold our beloved Ironquill and 40 acres of land (kept 80 acres for hunting). We have a while before we have to move so have our name in at a nice senior complex in Marshfield, just waiting for a unit to open up. We also have looked at another place at the edge of Marshfield that is a duplex and also like it a lot but have a lot of checking to do.

Selling our house was truly an answer to prayer. It has gotten to the point that we are just physically unable to do all the things around here that seem to appear and need attention immediately.

Forty-seven years is a long time to live in one place. It seems to fit like an 'ole shoe, and the older we get, the less we like change. We have known for the past three or four years that our days were numbered here, and it was just a matter of time before it would all come to an end.

Early this fall the writing was on the wall; we just didn't want to believe it. When a fellow offered to buy the house and the land, it was almost too good to be true. So, that is where we are at the present time.

I have spent 'most of the fall cleaning out closets, and what a surprise to find all of those clothes that I snuck back in my closet upstairs, hoping that the styles would come back in or that I might lose a few pounds. Well . . . the time had come to dispel those myths and start getting rid of all that extra baggage.

Bob just said "you can get rid of your things but leave mine alone." You see what I am up against.

I have all kinds of piles; those to give away, those for family, those for St. Vinnies (a thrift shop) and those that I am just not quite ready to let go of (at the present time). The family has already taken many things that we just will not have room for in our new abode.

I try and do something every day. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. In between sorting and etc., I suddenly have an urge for a cup of coffee; those urges hit me quite often during the day.

Our big tree is up and decorated for the last time, as we won't have room for a big tree in our next home.

We are enjoying it so much. I play our Christmas records, and memories of past Christmases come flooding back.

And now that I have taken up all the space about our move, I will bring this epistle to a close.

We wish you all a very, very merry Christmas and a New Year that brings you much happiness and blessings.

Love and hugs,

Marilyn