Christmas wrappings

When all the gifts were unwrapped, and we found the children under all the wrapping paper (g) they had big smiles on their faces. We made it a point for them to understand the giving aspect of Christmas,and had all of them give each other gifts. I think that they appreciated those the most. I know I've said this alot, but it's so true,that my favorite gift of all is watching my children unwrap their gifts,and hear them laugh and enjoy the moment of Christmas. These are the times to cherish, savour, and store back in those memory banks inside our brain,to pull out and remember. I'm thinking back on my past Christmas memories as a child and remembering my parents happiness and hope that my children remember our happy times as well. Merry Christmas Everyone, I hope everyone has beautiful Christmas memories to unwrap and remember every now and then.

I've realized if I don't have my Christmas decorations and tree up, it's hard for me to feel the Christmas spirit. So, after getting the heavy tree box out of the attic, Greg and I realized the stand had been broken (aritificial tree). We also realized they don't make replacement parts for trees. Greg puts sentimental value on just about everything so he has a propensity for keeping and fixing most everything. So we sat there looking at each other pondering why people don't come up with some type of replacement parts for old artificial trees that hold sentimental value? Or when you buy a tree not have a second stand or pack extra easily broken parts, especially for those that might feel sentiment towards trees? My husband was trying to figure out some sort of way to fix the broken stand when I explained how we might just have to break down and buy a new tree. My husband still has his first car, we have bought many cars since then, but he has strong feelings about things that hold precious memories, I can see this may be hard for me to convince him to part with the tree. I love my husband, and am personally thankful he doesn't like to get rid of anything, including his wife, for we have precious memories together and I look forward to a new tree and making many more Christmas memories with my sentimental husband and children. Happy Holidays!

I'm almost done reading the Outlander series for the third time

Since I've decided while patiently waiting for "Echo in the Bone", Diana Gabaldon's next book, to read the whole series again, I'm once again struck at the talent it took to create these books in the first place. I don't usually reread books, even form the most talented authors. So how is it that I'm still addicted to what's going to happen next the Jamie and Claire after the third go round? What also is boggling my mind is that it seems that I get something new out of the story each time I read it. I had the honor of meeting Diana in July at a gala dinner where she spoke for over an hour about her process of writing the first book. She was very sweet and gracious and the whole group was mesmerized by what she had to say about what was coming out next for her future endeavors. I have mixed feelings about seeing the series go to film mainly because I can't imagine how the book can be improved upon by being set in image form. But no doubt when and if the film does get made, I will be too happy to see how the actors portraying Jamie and Claire can develop the same chemistry that they seem to have in the books.