Merry Christmas!

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 29 Comments

Merry Christmas from my house to yours!

It’s been a good year since last Christmas when I got the grandkids to pose in front of the Christmas tree. I don’t know about you, but for me the year seemed to speed by until here we are at Christmas 2019 and getting ready to head into a new decade.

My sons and grandkids will celebrate Christmas around their Christmas trees at home on Christmas day and we will gather as a family to celebrate a little later in the week. Then I’ll see if I can talk my grandchildren into once more taking that picture in front of my Christmas tree. We used to get them to sit down as though they were presents under the tree, but my “presents” have been growing bigger every year. 🙂

It’s been a blessing standing on the sidelines and watching them get older and begin to step out on their own. My oldest granddaughter got married in May. So now I have the blessing of a new “grandson” to add to those in my picture. My oldest grandson is in his second year of college and a granddaughter is checking out colleges to go spread her wings next fall. The rest of the kids are getting taller and older too. I am a blessed grandmother and need no other gifts around the tree than these.

Here’s a picture of my granddaughter’s wedding and most of the family. Her siblings had already taken so many pictures that they had vamoosed when the camera came out this time.

Frankie and Marley send their merry greetings too.  As you can see, Frankie is very happy to have a furry buddy as we welcomed Marley into our family in September. I knew he needed a dog friend. 🙂 Both of them thank you for the walks you’ve “gone” on with them on Sunday mornings and every other day of the week.

Here are some favorite times of the year. The first from my granddaughter’s wedding. Her twin brothers were groomsmen and looked pretty sharp in their suits.  Then check  out these selfies in favorite places – my creek where I like to hike with the grandkids and/or my dog buddies and a beach where I enjoyed greeting the sunrise with my daughter.  You think maybe somebody will give me a comb for Christmas. 🙂

Thank you for joining in with my reading and writing fun throughout 2019. I wish you the best Christmas ever.

We’re having unusual Christmas week weather here in Kentucky with the temperatures hitting 60 degrees with sunshine on Christmas Eve. I can remember one Christmas Eve some years ago where the wind chill was minus 40 or something crazy like that and cars were freezing up on the highways. Other years we’ve had a little snow, but this year we’ve got warm. Last week it was 16 degrees and this week 60. Kentucky weather for sure.

Do you wish for snow on Christmas?

Giveaway – One more book to give away this year here on my blog. To enter your name in a drawing for your choice of one of my books, just leave a comment on this post.  You must be at least 18 to enter. I’ll draw for a winner by Random Number and get in touch with the winner next Sunday. Then look for more giveaways coming your way in 2020.

The Greatest Gift:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. …John 3:16 (NIV)

Comments 29

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  3. What a wonderful day was had by all…now back to the business of everyday life…thank you Lord…for the gift of your Son! My new year shines brighter knowing He is by my side! Well wishes for all this coming year!

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      I like that, back to the business of everyday life, Mary. At the first of the year I need to buckle down and really get to work on my work in progress, but it was good taking a pause for family here at Christmas time. So glad you know who walks with you every day and will be with you and all of us in the year to come.

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  5. Beautiful family pictures Ann! We had a wonderful family Christmas at my grandsons in Virginia! We were so blessed to be here with them! God bless you and will talk to you later! I am moving back to Ohio sometime in February or March, so I know I won’t get to see you as often as I have the last 9 years! Have a blessed New Years also!

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      So glad you had a good family Christmas, Fran. I do hope the move will be a good one for you and that it will all go smoothly. But moving to Ohio in February might let you see a little snow. I’m glad our paths crossed here in Kentucky a few times. Wishing you a blessed 2020.

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  9. I love seeing photos of your family and dogs. We just completed our family dinner and gift opening. Since everyone’s out right now, I’m having some restful “me” time. Thank you for writing your wonderful books and staying in touch with your readers! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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      So glad you had a good Christmas. Seems the gift opening goes fast, especially when there are young kids involved. I hope everyone got something they wanted. I so appreciate you being part of our community here and for reading my stories. Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  11. Great photos of your grands.

    Mine are too far away for me to visit, but we do all have phones ;p I never wish for snow on Christmas, but do enjoy our white Christmas of white sand.

    I pray that your 2020 will be blessed. BTW, you do realize that the new decade doesn’t begin until 2021, don’t you?

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      Actually I hadn’t thought about the decade starting in a year. I thought the 20’s would be a decade, Nancy. Thanks for straightening me out on that. It’s sort of odd thinking about the 20’s when that’s a decade (1920’s) I’ve researched for book before. Now that’s 100 years ago. Enjoy your white sand New Year.

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  12. Dear Ann,
    So wonderful to read you work, your comments about your inner feelings, and your loving words about your lovely family.
    You’re a fine lady Ann Gabhart, with a beautiful kind heart.
    It’s a pleasure and honor to be known by you.
    Merry Christmas !

    May you have many wonderful blessings
    In the New Year.
    Elaine

    PS. I lost my husband of 40 years St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve been a changed person with him gone.
    We humans tend to take many of our Blessings in life, from our Lord & Savior for granted.

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      I’m so sorry you lost your husband, Elaine. That has to make Christmas different and perhaps a little sad for you, but someday you’ll have the same homecoming he’s already had. You are so right that we don’t always notice our blessings.

      Thank you so much for your sweet Christmas and New Year’s blessings. We celebrate with our family tomorrow and I’ve had company this week so computer time has been on hold.

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      Thank you, Peggy. Of course their grandmama thinks they are all beautiful. I hope you had a nice Christmas and are looking forward to a blessed New Year.

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  14. Merry Christmas Ann!!! I am glad we don’t have snow this year since we get 66 degrees instead but I don’t let the weather change my mood. I am sure the snow will fly soon enough. Again, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

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  15. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Ann! I hope the year continues to bless you! I enjoy your posts very much.
    I’ll be visiting my kids and grandkids later this afternoon, individually. We’re not getting together in a single big group this year. But I’m hoping to get the families to sit still for some picture taking in front of their trees.
    2019 has been a great year, even though it went by lightning fast. I’m thankful for this nice weather. I don’t have to travel more than a few miles, but many others do. So I’m happy the roads are clear this year. I like April’s attitude toward the weather…I need to follow that more when it’s not to my liking.
    Merry Christmas everyone!

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      I hope you had good visits with all your family and that they cooperated with the picture taking. My kids did well and posed nicely. Well, one of the twin boys did have an interesting expression when the shutter snapped, but he was standing there in the picture. LOL. The whole decade seems to have zoomed by, Lavon. I guess that’s a sign I’m getting older. The years do pile up more quickly or so it seems. Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  16. Merry Christmas!
    I try to enjoy the weather no matter what it is, because my attitude won’t change the weather so I may as well change my attitude. I love snow, but I’m glad that we didn’t get any. It would make going to Mom and Daddy’s this evening hard. If we had snow I would be out playing in it with my little one. With this weather we may go play on the swing set.

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      Christmas day was very warm, April. Short sleeve weather. One of the warmest Christmas weeks I can remember. I was very glad it didn’t rain until today (Sunday), so that the dogs could stay outside while we were celebrating Christmas yesterday. But that’s a great attitude to have about the weather because you are right. We can’t change it. We can only enjoy it or complain about it. I tend to complain about the icy weather. 🙂

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  17. Merry Christmas blessings to you and your family.
    We couldn’t get everyone together this year , we will go to our son’s house and have lamb with his family, wife and two of our grandsons.

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