First REAL Snow!

On the Monday after Thanksgiving we had our first real snow. It snowed all day and covered everything. It continued snowing the next day, but it all had melted by Wednesday. We had a nice day on Monday. We put on Christmas music and decorated the tree while the snow fell outside the windows. When we got tired, we sat and drank hot chocolate in front of the fireplace. It was really cold outside all week. I am finally wearing some of the sweaters I haven’t worn in years. I knew I had better not get rid of them!

Doug is trying to get used to staying home all day. It is an adjustment for him, as I knew it would be. He has been writing lots of thank-you notes to the people at work who donated towards his retirement gift. That gift will pay about half the cost of the Caribbean cruise we have booked in January to celebrate his retirement and our 35th anniversary (December 21st). If any friends or family are interested in going along, just let us know!

Doug has also been working on some wood carving. He is trying to develop a new hobby. Another task that has kept him busy is going through papers and files. He has needed to do that for a long time!

Tuesday we went to a warehouse in south Atlanta with a group from church to pack shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse. It was a great experience! I never saw so many shoe boxes in one place – thousands and thousands of them. We had to inspect boxes to make sure nothing was inside that wasn’t supposed to be. We stood for hours at an assembly line on a hard concrete floor, which made me very thankful that I don’t have a job where I have to do that everyday! Riding over there on the church van afforded us a great opportunity to get to know some of the people in the church better. We had a ball! There are really sweet people in this church. On the way back, we all stopped for supper at a Cracker Barrel.

On Monday I took Mama to a specialist in Asheville. This involved a two-hour trip over the mountains. We only hit one patch of ice! I sure am glad the RAV has four-wheel drive. I think the biggest drawback to living up here is the lack of really good medical care nearby.

The house is now decorated and the gifts are bought and wrapped. The whole family will be here for Christmas Day. I’m looking forward to it. I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas! I probably won’t send cards or a newsletter this year since the blog pretty much keeps everyone up on what’s going on with us. Please let me hear from you.
We love all of you guys!
Doug and Paula