2018 – And, that’s a wrap!
I have no intention of doing a year’s review but one for the last quarter of 2018; October, November, and December. Ready?
October was a good month – always is because it’s my birthday month and my favorite color is OCTOBER!!! The month was definitely different than mountain October’s but it was oh, so, good.
It was a month of preparation and completion.
My sister traveled north and stayed with me for a week. We finished our book of memoir: Family Secrets and Sacraments. The book is now available and has been read by some of our children, grands, cousins, and aunts – so far no bad reviews! One of the more fun things we did that week was to fix a meal replicating our mom’s Pa’s cooking skills. We made a beef stew with a crust. And, we made double chocolate brownies for dessert because our mom made the best!
Click on book cover and be taken to Amazon!
Preparation for our big, exciting road trip was on hubs’ to-do list. New tires for the truck. Many purchases on Amazon for the camper. Our mailman and UPS person thought it was Christmas!
On October 11th, Hurricane Michael surprised us with fury. Winds and a deluge of rain.
The hurricane blew out and by Saturday the 13th, it was absolutely perfect weather. I walked downtown and bought a new outfit and Chinese takeout — after all the 14th is my birthday and we celebrated.
October also held Statesville’s Hot Air Balloon Festival, which was fun, beautiful, and well worth the hour long line to get in. My husband’s cousin annual cousin reunion was the next day and that is always a fun family occasion.
The rest of the tenth month we early voted, celebrated our Mom’s sixth heavenly anniversary, and on the 27th we left for Rice, Texas to pick up our little house on wheels, our Casita!
November was fabulous. Our two-week road trip was extraordinary. After picking up our travel trailer we headed west for the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. On our way we visited two blogger friends: Andrew in New Mexico and Anita in Arizona. In Real Life visits are the best. Our trip has been documented in a book, On the Road With Gracee.
Click on image above and be taken to Amazon.
Took a week to decompress from traveling and began to prepare for Thanksgiving, which was a special family time.
Son, Michael, and Hannah made us a huge Christmas wreath for the lobby!
December was Christmas all month long!
At the start of the month I decided I wanted to do all possible things, Christmas-related, that we could walk to from our downtown flat. The first of those being a concert at the college – we walked over on a Monday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. One Friday night we walked downtown, had supper, and then walked through the festive streets and took a horse and buggy ride! Then, on December 9th, we experienced our first Statesville blizzard!
The month included some not-so-great moments but we weathered them. Our life is not a Hallmark movie! Our grandson Simon spent several nights with us and we marathon-watched the Left Behind movies. Lots of questions and lots of fun! Granddaughter Hannah finished her exams and came home from college for Christmas holidays, with her name on the Dean’s List…again!
We managed a quick trip to Maryland to visit hubs’ brother and delivered the porch swing (built 28 years ago by this brother) to niece Kelly and family. On our way home we stopped in Lynchburg to pick up some furniture from Hannah’s first semester home; Hannah will be interning the winter semester in Washington D.C. at the International Justice Mission! Ta-da!
I accepted a challenge to write a letter a day in December and I’m pleased to say I completed that challenge! I have received some very nice long notes in return!
I believe after our blizzard it rained for three weeks straight so I didn’t get many walks in. But, Gramps and I took our two grands to the movies one afternoon and saw the remake of the Grinch – that was fun, (they actually took us – we let Hannah pick us up). And, we loved the movie – a story of redemption! (I can find spiritual in most all movies we see!) Remember the Croods?
Christmas Eve Gpa made everyone his famous crepes for breakfast and Hannah proceeded to make 150 Buckeye’s! The day was so warm and humid we had to crank up the A/C and open windows for the cool breeze to keep them firm! We went to a Christmas Eve service at The Cove and then spent the night one block from our flat at our daughter’s home for Christmas morning. Our neighbor Secret Santa bags were a huge hit among the residents here!
Christmas 2018 was different but lovely – I’m not even sure “how” it was different but it felt like that to me. I missed our fur friend, Sam, who loved giving his doggy cousins treats – I guess you can tell we’re still grieving our loss.
It continues to be rainy here but fortunately we are having a few days of partly sunny and warmish. New Years Eve hubs and I went to the movies and came straight home, it was rainy and ick! Looking forward to a year of God’s favor and kindness.
The year ended on a very sad note. Our friend and founder of Life Letter Cafe, David “JB” Miller, passed away on December 31st. His lovely wife, Cheri, asked me to write a tribute at the Cafe and you can read that here, if interested.
Thanks to all of you for reading and caring!
xo
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I love you and reading about your adventures and your heart, Sus’. Can’t wait to see what 2019 holds!
Shelby, one day at a time and just doing the next thing.
This was a great visit. Most of it I already knew, but you had a very full 4th quarter! Welcome to 2019, my friend!
P.S.
LOVE the picture of you and Anita!
Anita is a gracious hostess – we had a really wonderful time at the Holbrook Indian School with Anita and Pedro!
IRL is definitely the best! I had so much fun with you and ‘Grandpa’ . One of these days, I’ll make it back east again! It sounds like you had a lovely Christmas—celebrations in new places always seem ‘different,’ don’t they?
Yes, THAT is probably what I felt. “A new place.” Need a haircut? *smile*
I always love reading these!
XO
Me too!
Loved your “report” and year in review. Thanks for sharing. Such fun pictures and snapshots in time. My current devotional is Embraced, by Lysa Terkeurst. She’s a down-to-earth and humble writer too. : )
Lysa has definitely walked through the fire. Great choice.
I enjoyed reading your recap of the past 3 months. Your road trip sounds fabulous! Looks like your Christmas was great. Looking forward to reading more from you this year! 🙂
Laurie, I’d love for you to visit more in 2019! I’ll look forward to it.
Love you and this little wrap up of the last quarter of last year! So fun!
Ms K…it was fun. Now to figure out a trip to meet you and Dave IRL.
You and hubs sure had a busy quarter but a good report overall 🙂 I enjoy reading these!
Joanne, these reports are how I chronicle our life!
Love reading all of this, so much fun to see what Our Lord is taking y’all thru. Sometimes I think I would love to have a cute little house in town, ( on the backstreet) just for 1 year to see if I would truly like living in town. Love to hear all about your adventures. Keep writing honey,
That is the key, HM, HE IS TAKING US THROUGH. Whew!
Gonna order all those children’s books. Love all your travels. God has plans for you Sue!! All good ones too! Hugs
I could cry, Merry, that just sounded so KINGDOM!!!
That was fun to read! What a difference a move can make right?! Well, I couldn’t be happier for you and Lowell. Honoring Jesus, enjoying life, experiencing new adventures and journeys with happiness and love in your heart… you can’t go wrong; you’ve proved that. Love you both ♡
Marg’ … it’s all grace. He is a good, good Father. And, we are very, very grateful. xo
I always enjoy these! And now I’m craving Chinese food. I haven’t had any of that in a long time. There is a big hot air balloon festival in Medora ND every fall. With grandpa passing away on the 23rd, Christmas was so different this year!
Tara, the seasons of life. G’pa lived a full long life, right? You have walked through so many “they were too young” deaths in the last year – then to crown the year with losing your Grandpa – it was a lot. Now, it’s your year to heal. Heal well, my friend.
I love hearing these updates! It is so encouraging to see how God has brought you through so many changes this year, and given you adventures in the midst of it all. He is so faithful, even through the hard. Thank you for sharing His heart in you! xoxo
Great is His Faithfulness…morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed His hand has provided, great is Your faithfulness Lord unto me. xoxo
Enjoyed your quarterly report VERY much………..and you are right……..visits “in person” are best………..and a huge amount can be crammed into a short time, huh? Love you, Sus’………..keep on writing.
Until my dying breath. Psalm 45.1
A lot of life happened during the last quarter of the year. The intertwining of blessings with challenges is God’s way. I find such goodness on the other side. I pray you do too.
I definitely do, Mary.