Tradition rules this house beginning the day after Thanksgiving when the kids haul all the Christmas stuff out and begin decorating the house. Christmas music and movies also make their debut on that day.

The tree goes up the first Sunday in December.

I make each family member and loved one an ornament every year. Each child has a nice collection by the time they leave home.

I also made stockings for each family member. This year I have a new son-in-law and my daughter has been breathing down my neck to get his stocking done.

Santa brings gifts on Christmas Eve. That will never change. He always makes a mess as he's coming out of the fireplace, too.

I have a set of homemade pipe bells and I put some music together... Everyone gets one or two bells and it's alot of fun to play songs as a group.

I was proud of my kids... they unanimously voted to get fewer gifts so we could scrape the funds together to fly their oldest sibling home for Christmas.


These are a few of their traditions. There are some things I've wanted to do but haven't been able to. I'm hoping to make some changes.

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Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom to understand my man, love to forgive him, and patience for his moods. Because Lord, if I pray for strength, I'll beat him to death. AMEN


It's no trick loving somebody at their best. Love is loving them at their worst.
~Tom Stoppard~


It isn't premarital sex if you have no intention of getting married.
~George Burns~


As bad as I am, I'm proud of the fact that I'm worse than I seem.
~A. DiFranco~