FAREWELL TO 2012

Sandra's Advent Calendar
an item was added every day in Dec
and now Christmas had arrived!

I am still in a Christmas mood as today is just day six of the twelve days of Christmas.  The Leader Post site informs us about that every day so we can keep track.  I generally leave Christmas decorations up until the Christmas season officially ends with Epiphany on January 6.  In keeping with that, here are a few more pictures of our Johnson Christmas.

I'm home alone this evening, but it's where I prefer to be on this last day of 2012.  As I stated in my blog a year ago, we don't know what's ahead for this next year but I do know that the future is in God's hands. With that, I am content to trust Him with this new year of 2013.

I spent Christmas Eve here at the farm and enjoyed a supper of lutefisk and lefse.  After the Christmas Day service I drove to the Diekrager farm and spent two days there.  I enjoyed the turkey dinners with all the trimmings!  Ashley came home with me on Thursday so it was fun to have company.  On Saturday morning we made ginger cookies.  Instead of rolling them in plain sugar we added coloured sprinkles to make them special for Christmas.

On Saturday afternoon we drove to Estevan to visit Aunt Viola.  Her granddaughter Lakin and friend Chris were also visiting from Regina so we enjoyed visiting with them as well.  I took a few pictures of Ashley among the decorations at the hospital.

The BIG tree in front of the cafeteria

Getting a closer look at the manger scene

Posing with a family of happy snow people

After service in Torquay on Sunday I met Laurel in Weyburn so Ashley is back home again.  Actually, she spent last night at Grandma Gaylene's as the rest went to a Pat's hockey game in Regina with Kirk's.  The Pats won 6-2 so their cheering must have helped.

Tonight Kirk's and Laurel's are at the Spa in Moose Jaw.  Kirk's were there last year for New Years Eve. They enjoyed the activities that were planned for families so booked rooms for this year too.  Clare's are still in Phoenix so no winter coats and boots for them this week.

This afternoon I went to Ambrose for the mail.  My Christmas/New Year pictures came so I will spend tomorrow addressing envelopes.  For those of you who read my blog, the same picture is on my Christmas Letter post so you won't be getting one in the mail.  If I get too many complaints, I'll mail them all next year!

Do you remember the line from a Christmas song "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"?  Well, this afternoon I experienced that line when I stopped in for a visit at Heather and Hugh Schnell's. I was served tea in a china cup and saucer and had a tray of Christmas goodies to choose from.  (Should have taken a picture!) All four girls are home this week - from Japan, Vancouver, Saskatoon and Regina.  It was fun to see them and to meet Andrea and Owain's daughter, Evelyn.  She was born in September so just turned three months old.  She has a head of dark hair in contrast to Nora's scant blond hair.  It would have been cute to see them together but that didn't work out during this visit.  Before I went home I checked out their "campfire" in the back yard and had a taste of a freshly roasted chestnut .  It was very good. Here's a picture of three of the girls and Heather gathered around the fire.  Andrea and Evelyn stayed in where it was warm!

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"
with Rachelle, Emery, Heather, Stephanie

That about winds up my posts for 2012.  Todd just called to say that he is back in Brooks after spending several days in Edmonton.  He rode up with his brother-in-law, Troy, and enjoyed visiting Ardis, Kris, Stacy, Sam and Ava, Don Vinge and his son Peder who is home from China for two weeks.  He'd been to a hockey game, the movie Lincoln and even had an evening of "Rook". So glad that this worked out for him.  On Thursday they will be flying back to Kristiansund. 

Tomorrow I'm going to take out some summer clothes and start picking out ones to pack for my trip to Yuma in three weeks!  I am looking forward to some time in the sun.

Thanks to you faithful readers of my blog.  I enjoy our "visits" and appreciate your comments.  I will try to keep my twice a week schedule, which has been hit and miss this last while.  It's good for me to have that commitment so I sit down at the computer even if I don't always feel like doing that!  Sometimes I'm surprised at how a post ends up!  I'm still waiting for a few more of you to try blogging.  I enjoy reading yours, Christa and Tracey!

Happy New Year to you and yours.