New Year's Eve

Hi,

The snow has fallen throughout the day, adding to the previous accumulation from last Saturday. White and soft, it muffles the noise, and all seems so quiet. Christmas lights hugging the bushes up close to the house, have a soft glow shining through the cold frosting covering them. Dave has been shoveling the walk and drive off and on all day, trying to maintain a safe walkway and drive. We've had our three labs,as well as our neighbors' lab that we are sitting while they are on vacation, out running in the snow. They love to roll in it, and eat it too! We like to take them out to run and play hard, in hopes that they will soon settle down for a long winters nap!

Dave made his annual New Year's Eve pizza with extra helpings of pepperoni and cheese for our dinner. His parents, Erma and Pilate Fyffe, are visiting from Ohio. Football is on the tv, Gran is unloading the dishwasher, and Jess and I are both on our laptops. We may make it to midnight, maybe. Sometimes our friends, Jerry and Brenda Preston, also from Ohio, drive out for the New Year holiday. We go shopping, sing songs, eat lots of junk food, and laugh a lot. They are getting freezing rain tonight, and I am glad they are not on the road this year. But maybe next year....

Friends are so dear. Dave is preparing for another major surgery on Wednesday. Jerry and Brenda let us know that if we needed, or just wanted them to be here, they would be here. That would mean taking precious vacation time, personal time, a sacrifice of love, to be with us. What a gift! We thanked them for their offer, and (ouch) said they really didn't need to be here. We knew they would be with us in spirit. But how grateful we are that they would offer such a gift.

The gift of friends is one of the most precious gifts God has given to us, besides the gift of his son, Jesus. For the Preston family, and friends and family scattered in so many places, we give thanks.

I wish for you a year of having the gift of good friends, people that really care for you, and that you will care back for.

Hugs,

Aunt Betty