Ashton giving "Prancer" a special touch. This was her first buck and hangs on the wall in their house. DOGWOOD ACRES, 12/29/08, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. A couple of weeks have passed since I last wrote; Christmas is over and New Year's Day is almost here. We had a wonderful Christmas, heading over the river and through the woods to Papa and Granny Hodges home in Douglas County. First there was to be Communion Service at Sandy Church, a blessed way to begin Christmas Eve.
After the service we gathered in at Bill and Mary Lou's home for hot comfort foods, homemade deer jerky, and sweet goodies. When we were all full, there was a surprise visit from a "Red-Neck Santa" who came bearing gifts for each and every one. For Pastor Neal there was cotton swabs to clean the ears of parishioners who seem not to hear, for Papa Rick's many hours spent in the woods, a "Port-a-Potty" (quite simply a red Folgers coffee can with a roll of toilet paper inside). That should save a few shirt tails from ruin. For Granny Hodges and me, house slippers, made from something Santa found in the personal hygiene section of the store. We were so proud...but then, we had said we wanted a homemade Christmas.
Oh, there was more, but no need to embarrass everyone. I laughed and laughed until my head felt as though it would burst and had to beg for pain pills. I guess you wonder who was behind all this foolishness, but I dare not say as there is no need for "mother-in-law" to stick her foot in her mouth.
Finally it was time for Santa's plate to be filled with cookies and everyone was off to bed. We all snuggled down for a good night's sleep, with every bed in the house occupied. There were Neal, LeaAnn, Ashton and Erin, Martin and Amy, Rick and me. When we woke up Christmas morning, Bill and Mary Lou already had fresh coffee brewed, cinnamon rolls in the oven and sausage sizzling for the gravy that was to come.
Uncle Ed Turner was there in time to see the kids open their gifts and then it was time for that big Christmas breakfast which is tradition with Bill and Mary Lou. It was a good day. On the way home we stopped at Bill and Christie's to see how their day had been. Bill was gone to Emmett’s and Sean and the girls off to Granny Mac's so Christie was taking a nap while watching a movie. She woke up and let me in; Sean, Makaylee and Madison soon came home and we got to visit with them.
They had all gone to Steve and Anita's for Christmas Eve, a Biggs family tradition began many years ago by Jim and Joyce.
Jim and Dawn had gone to visit her family in Oklahoma and I am not sure if they are home yet. We will all catch up with one another this next weekend for the traditional "Bilyeu Family Christmas" party with eats and fun.
There are two almost Christmas birthdays in Christie's family; Colby and Vanessa each barely missed being Christmas babies.
Bill and Christie attended Vanessa's 16th birthday party at Marty and Tanja's on Saturday night. Grandma said she has evolved into a beautiful young lady and it seems so long ago that Grandpa Bill had to watch the Chiefs AFC Wild card play off game in the hospital waiting room. To this day he still hangs that over momma Tanja's head.
Vanessa had been given the choice of a party with all her friends at the local resort with a pool or a home party with her family. Grandma Christie is glad she chose the family party. Marty and Tanja threw quite a party and with the house beautifully trimmed for Christmas, Christie had fun taking pictures of family members from Arkansas and Missouri. The birthday girl was particularly happy to wake up that morning and find a car with her name on it in the driveway...yeah, she is not spoiled at all. That's why her birthday cake was trimmed with a princess crown.
The day after Christmas was a good day for Rick to be back in the woods with his bow. He is still looking for that elusive buck that I had hoped to get. Usually his alarm wakes me, but that morning I was up and out the door before his alarm went off. J.C. Penney in Springfield opened their doors at 5:30 a.m. and I did not want to be late and miss too many bargains.
2008 has been a year filled with blessings, many of which are you, my friends and family, that allow me to visit your homes via the gift of newsprint and worldwide web. You are a blessing to me. Bye for now.
RE/MAX Associated Brokers, Inc.
Office: 417-336-7987
Cell: 417-239-4059
Website: www.elanecrum.remax-midstates.com
Fax: 417-334-5300
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