New horse trailer

December 20, 2020

Our neighbors had their horse trailer for sale and Jackson was able to purchase it.  That is a pretty exciting turn of events!  Every horseman should have a horse trailer and it was still odd to remember that we hadn't had a horse trailer here at Willis Creek Ranch since 2015... (shocks me it has been that long!).  It is a very nice horse trailer and will serve Jackson, and Willis Creek Ranch, well. 

Marvin and Jonathan drove over to take a look at it and Alan graciously showed them around.

December 24, 2020

Checking out the new horse trailer here at home.

Christmas Day

 Christmas Day 2020

We had a wonderful Christmas Day.  So very thankful.  Got up and started cooking this morning.  I had made the cranberry jello salad last night.  (Jonathan and Marvin helped grind the fruit). :)   So this morning I had to make the rolls, dressing, and mashed potatoes.  Julie made two chickens plus some veggies.  

Went to Mama and Daddy’s house and enjoyed Christmas dinner together.  I know only having 6 of us is odd and not the norm, but it has also been kind of nice in a low key way.  Pleasant and definitely relaxing.  After lunch we moved to the living room and opened presents.  

Then it was chore time.  When Marvin and Jonathan got back in the house we zoomed with Jackson and Brianna and Maverick for our family Christmas.  It was a wonderful time together.  Felt like we were sitting across from each other.  Such a lovely time spent together.  Can’t wait to be in person again, but so thankful for the technology of zoom.  It has helped so much.

Only had two ornaments on the tree this year.  One for Maverick's first Christmas and one that just seemed appropriate - both new in 2020.  :)

Christmas tree at Mama and Daddy's house

Santa snowglobe from Kerry and Candace

Anna made this knitted washcloth for Grandma.

Mama, Julie, Daddy
Laura, Marvin

Mama, Julie, Daddy
Jonathan, Marvin

Jonathan opening his gift from Jackson and Brianna

Marvin opening our gift from Jackson and Brianna

It took Jonathan to hold it up for us!  :)

I just love it!  Can't wait to get it put up outside!

Brianna said that was all their sons on horseback.  ;) 

I love this photo below - it cracks me up!  We gave a book to Maverick and told Jackson and Brianna to really look it over carefully.  They were looking but not seeing what we were meaning so I told them to look at the author of the book.  These were their expressions right as they were realizing it was written by their friend Joey B!  :D  I was so excited about getting this book for Maverick and even more excited that Joey is in town now and can autograph it for them.  So fun!

Maverick was so impressed with his Daddy who made the little instruments toot!  :)

The shirt says 'Maverick Mom - established 2020'  :)

Maverick is such a curious and busy little guy - he just sat there between J&B
during the zoom playing and keeping himself occupied.  

Again, Maverick's Daddy can make the most awesome noises!  :D 

Maverick likes his touchy-feely Truck book  :)

All three guys got new western belts.  It had been awhile.  :)

Marvin's is extra special - it says Gran Gran

What a happy Christmas!  Love my family so much!

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2020

Tonight Marvin, Jonathan and I gathered for the Christmas Eve service on Facebook.  It was lovely.  Again, I am so amazed at how our church has managed throughout this pandemic.  They have brought intimacy to the online format.  God has been so present in all of it.  What a lifeline.  So thankful and grateful for all the hard work and creativity shown by Scott, Jennifer and Lorri.  And Tony & Ben  deserve medals for their service week after week with piano playing and videoing.   

Well, it is Christmas Eve.  Quite a different one than we have ever had before.  But in the challenges there is beauty and hope.  So much hope.  I am ready to close out 2020 and have hope for 2021.  I want to live better and love more.  I want to focus on my family and my church and what really matters.  I want to let people and things that aren’t good go by me... not waste my time.  But I want to be more helpful to those who I can help... to those who need me.  I want to live as an image bearer of God.  Thank you, God, for 2020.  There is beauty in the ashes.  Joy in the hard.  So many lessons learned.  Let me not forget them.