Christmas - A Most Wonderful Time

We've had such a houseful and for such an extended period of time that sitting here at my desk seems strange - I should be up seeing if any body needs anything or starting the next meal or picking up or putting away or shopping or wrapping or cooking...whoa Charlotte - chill! All of that almost makes me want to complain about the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but I'm not gonna, because having everyone here was such a blessing. My sister Alice and her husband Gary came the first part of December to oversee the construction of their new workshop on property they've bought just north of us. Gary works for Exxon and they live in Abu Dhabi, so when they come to the States for a visit, I love the fact that the visits are "extended". Then on December 19th, all of my family came for a Country Christmas. In all there were 30 of us and we definitely had a grand time - ate way to much, just too many good cooks around. Our kids and grandkids were here for the weekend after Christmas and Ella and Nat-Nat stayed for one extra night while their Mamma and Daddy (Josh & Amy) celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary. So here we sit all alone - hah! 4 huge dogs Chuckie Boy, Rosie, KC, and Boo; 4 cats Ralph, Mollie, Puff Kiddy, and Ernie(Mr. Hemingway); 7 chickens we won't even get into their names; and of courses the 7 horses Sissy, Paint, Sunshine, Peanut, Candy, Touchdown, & Cowboy - no partridge in a pear tree, but I did see a sparrow on the peach tree!

For Christmas this year my mother laid down the law - NO PRESENTS! Of course she didn't obey it, but it did give all of us kids the opportunity to just have a sentimental old-time Christmas - enjoying each others company and all the nieces and nephews and grandkids. All of us got together and instead of buying Mother a present, we wrote notes of love and funny remembrances, lots of pics from over the years, Brian did a charcoal of Mother and Daddy's engagement photo which turned out so good - think he's been holding out on us! and I wrote a little poem. Here tis:

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house
Not a surface was clean – I think I just saw a mouse!

The stockings were still boxed
Along with all the other decorations
And panic was setting in
Fearing no celebrations.

Mother will be here
The house is a wreck
Can we paint the pumpkins
In a nice holiday red?

Alice will help me…
I should have already had this done
Quit the yakking and coffee drinking
Just quit having fun!

Away to Wall Mart we flew like a flash
With stops at Target and Hobby Lobby
Sorry no more cash
The menu was changing as the deadline drew near
My perfect Country Christmas was sliding to
Pizza, paper plates and beer!

But, Alice to the rescue
We will get it all done
The house will be righted
And the shopping will be done.

Alas the horses were nestled in the nastiest of stalls
So away to the barn went Tall Paul, my all.
He was covered in poop from his head to his toe
And his boots thick with mud from down the barn row.
A bag of pine shavings he had flung on his back
And of course I needed to saddle soap all of the tack.
A broom and a pitchfork, and a wheel barrel too
All tools of the trade for barn dwellers you.
Now the stalls are all clean and the barn is too
For all of the family to see, aah and ooh.

How many trips to Sherman can be made in a week?
Lists upon lists – I’m turning into a geek!
Back from shopping we went straight to our work
Filling casseroles – oops I forgot chicken – what a jerk!

All the fridges are filled
We can’t even begin to eat it all!
If we start eating the minute all arrive
We might finish by New Year’s game time.

The weather’s perfect - finally at last
Where are the kids – can’t wait – what a blast
Everyone’s coming and there’ll be lots more,
but now I hear little voices at the back door!
Now, Maddie! Now, Ally! Now, Ella and Nat!
On, Carly! On, Carter! Where’s Mason and Zoe?

Putting aside all of the silliness so far
The meaning of Christmas is what I want to impart
For the best time for sharing love and good cheer
Is at Christmas rejoicing with everyone here

The birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Who was born long ago on this special night.
The angels rejoiced as we do to this day
Glad tidings of great joy we’re emboldened to say:

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Hope there are no English teachers in the bunch cause my prose is lacking and some of the rhyming is strained at the least. But, we did all have fun and we did all make it back to our respective homes all safe and sound with just a few extra pounds!

We have two new great-nephews and our son Brian and his Sus are expecting thier 3rd little girl in just a few weeks. Her beautiful little name is Hunter Elizabeth and I can't wait to meet the precious little one that I've been praying for since the day we learned of her.

Well, it seems I survived to write again - I guess life just keeps going on, doesn't it? We think we don't make much of a difference, but in fact we do! I challenge you to be a blessing to someone this very day. Love to you all, Charlotte

try again try again jiggety jig

I'm trying this once more then it's off the blog page for me - forever - or until I can get Sus or Amy to help me!

New to this game...

I've so enjoyed reading the blogs of my two precious daughters-in-love- Sus & Kitty and keeping up with other friends and their kiddos that I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm so new to this and don't have clue as to what I'm doing that there's no tellin what actually shows up on the screen - sorry in advance.

I picked the name Blessed Beyond Measure because that is exactly what I feel. God has blessed me with a husband who after 36 years still makes my heart skip a beat and makes me laugh everyday; two sons who are the sweetest of Daddies to their little girls - I am so proud of them and the strong men of God they have grown up to be; two daughters-in-love who are beautiful inside and out - my Proverbs 31 Gals; four of the most beautiful, precious, smartest, sweetest granddaughters that God ever put on this earth and one more on the way-don't know yet if we get another precious girl or if Poppy's finally gonna get his boy(no pressure Brian & Sus). The blessings don't stop there...we live in the best of all worlds - in the country so I can have all the animals I can feed(anybody need a kitty) & close enough to the kids where we get to see them all the time.

We just got back from a fun filled family reunion with all the Cheeks down at Roddy Tree Ranch in Ingram, Texas - near Kerville. Being with Paul's Mom(Grammie), all the brothers(4) and sisters(3) and their spouses and all the kids and grandkids and great-grandkids - a load of people, but it was such a sweet time loving on everyone...big families are the GREATEST.

Fixin to have one wild week: Brian, Sus, Josh & Amy are all headed to Phoenix for business stuff and all the girlies are staying with their Poppy & Baba-it'll be fun, we'll be wiped out, but it'll be fun. If I never post here again, you'll know I didn't make it!

Well, on to my day. Blessings to you and yours!