Easing into 2023

 There have been years when I slip-slided into the new year,

And years when I optimistically looked forward to anything new and exciting.

Some years, I've yawned peacefully at the new dawn around noon, after a night of partying.

But, after several rough years, I am tip-toeing into the new year. . .

Cautious not to wake the colicky baby,

Sitting here with a cup of coffee in the quiet of the morning

Wondering what the year will be like.

Will the baby wake up riding a never ending roller-coaster of giggling highs and blood curdling lows?

Will it wake up with a fear-filled scream---hunger? pain? cold? wet? or just a bad mood?

Or,

Will it wake up, half-dazed with a gentle smile?

....Looking back at previous years. . .

I survived . .. . not alone but with God and family by my side

Always there when I'm close to surrendering to the chaos of another tantrum of

Pain, uncertainty and yes, fear of the unknown.

For now, enjoying a cup of coffee, looking at the sunny morning

Trusting that someone will be by my side to help me cope with the baby new year.

A little slow on this. . . .

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Joy Dots Chocolate Christmas

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With two blogs, Facebook and e-mail, I don't plan on sending Christmas cards out until January. I don't have anything to do in January anyway. Too bad we couldn't have had a photo made at Thanksgiving or a photo with out the "Long Tom" shotgun. . . but it is still a cute photo and I did want to send something to those who "don't do computers." Another generational shift?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, the past few years has been in Kansas City with the Lewis Family as hosts. Above are Jason and Todd frying two turkeys---looks very methodical!
But, of course, what's a male-bonding cook out without a little beer?
Eli, Louie and Roman enjoying some of their own male-bonding with Chex Mix.
Meanwhile, the ladies were. . . .bonding and fixing goodies inside.
We did manage a little play time---some with Thomas and some with iPads!

At last the food was ready and we could feast. Gregg, Todd's dad was our special guest.
After dinner, the kids decorated some cookies to look like turkeys.

M---m, that looks good Davis!

Anna had a little dessert with her mom Leah and Aunt Reebs.
That evening, we played a little game of chance. . .my brother was the big winner. Nothing says, "Thanks" like a pot full of money. But, the best was everyone working together to create wonderful memories.

Happy Birthday Jane!

As a tribute to my sister, I'm featuring some of the wonderful Halloween cards she has made the past few years.
I think she's particularly fond of Halloween because it falls so close to her birthday.
(But you don't see me sending out Veteran's Day cards)
But, making these cards is one of the ways Jane expresses her love to family and friends. . .
I guess writing blogs is my way :-) We love you, Sis, sorry your cute 3-D bat was a little blurry. . . .

Happy President's or Presidents' Day

As they say on Sesame Street, "One of these things is not like the others. . ." It's not as obvious as you might think. Go to my other blog to see the similarity four of the men have---that would be my family history blog "Long Ago and Far Away."

Valentines for Grandchildren

I know I'm not as skilled as my sister or my daughters with card making, but my grandchildren don't seem to mind. No, the inside does NOT say, "a handful. . . ."
That never even crossed my mind---I always intended it to say "hand-some!"
OK, the hearts above are added to hide the tear marks because I couldn't get the "N"s placed quite right.
But, come on---don't I get points for creatively using my alphabet stickers?
Yeeees, I ran out of room for the "g" and decided to use the apostrophe. . .
Actually, I think Eli's is the best one from an artistic stand-point.

No, I don't think Libby is "into" texting, but I thought maybe she could recognize the letters and number.
Libby's was my first one I made---I hadn't gotten the creative juices up to speed yet.
I came up with this for Davis. . .well, because Davis loves the word "toot". So, looking through my stickers for a horn, I found all of these German stickers and the pretzel alphabet. . .just lucky, I guess.
I'm a little embarrassed about Brett's which is why it is last. Using all of the animal stickers seemed like a good idea---then I added the snakes. . .
but, I think the message got lost with all the animals covering the letters. Then, the heart wasn't big enough, so I thought I'd draw a bigger one. . . .
I am just hoping my grandchildren cherish Grandma's attempts at art and can smile some day like I do with the note below from my grandparents on a Valentine "Hope you look over the spelling." It couldn't have been easy for my grandparents to send a note to their granddaughter the English major, but I cherish their notes---mispelled words and all.

New Year's Food

We started off the day with my "2010" breakfast! (bacon, blueberry pancakes and sausage)

The black-eyed peas, ham and cornbread are Southern traditions. Kim Delaney posted on Facebook that the "black-eyed peas represent pennies, the cornbread represents gold and the greens represent dollars." We didn't have collard greens but we did have a spinach salad to represent the greens.

This is actually a "poor meal" because some believe that if you eat a "poor meal" on New Year's Day the rest of the year will be rich!

According to Snopes.com, pork is important because pig's eat by rooting forward (chickens scratch backwards and cows eat standing still) and that will move you forward toward your goals.
The above meal was actually our New Year's Eve dinner. Empress Chicken from Hunan and Peking Restaurant with green tea and fortune cookie. The fortune wasn't that terrific---I was hoping for something like, "You need to be in a warmer climate," or "Your investments will double" or "You will have a prosperous and healthy new year."

So, I'll send those wishes out to you---May you have a prosperous and healthy new year in a warmer climate!

Deja Vu Christmas Part Two

We continue with Morgan Christmas traditions also. My favorite is meeting new family members. Above Rachel and her children meet Anna Warren. Below Aunt Reebs gets a little one on one time in 2009.

Christmas 1975, shows Dave meeting Dale Thomas Morgan below.

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I am sure not many other families have this tradition. . .we gave our daughters our old "vanity plates". Below is Harry Morgan getting old license plates for Christmas in 1975! Todd is obviously impressed.

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Like many families, the children can hardly wait to assemble elaborate adventure toys. Roman is above in 2009; Rebecca, Scott, Todd, Karen and Harry are below in 1975.

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And, we had MANY musical toys (belonging to Lewises this year). Above is Eli and Todd Warren in 2009; below is Rachel and Harry Morgan in 1978.

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Our Wii, in 2009, was a popular activity for those over the age of 4!

In 1975, Harry Morgan is playing an exciting video game---is that Pong?

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Finally, I had to include Davis's clown costume; Dale's (below) in 1989 was technically not at Christmas, but I do see a pattern.