February Birthdays & Stuff

On February 3rd, I celebrated my 73rd birthday!

(This picture was taken and enhanced by my granddaughter, Maddy)

I ❤️ birthdays (without candles anymore).

I ❤️ going to the mailbox and finding birthday cards.

I ❤️ birthday presents.

I ❤️ birthday lunches with friends.

I ❤️ all the birthday texts and FB messages.

I ❤️ celebrating with my friends and family. 

Most surprising gifts this year:

Lavender stems, which I've wanted but couldn't find in Fairbanks. 

from my San Diego cousins.

-Apple watch from my hubby-

He WAS listening when I said I wanted one.  

❤️

February 13th 

My friend, Karen, and I celebrated her birthday at the Cookie Jar.

We shared the cinnamon roll. 

On Valentine's Day, Dave and I had lunch

at Pagoda in North Pole, 

our favorite Chinese restaurant.    

February 27th 

We celebrated Jami's 41st birthday

(our youngest)

My impatiens are blooming inside. 

This gives me hope for spring. 

The month ended with Krispy Kremes

This was a fund raiser at our granddaughters school and, 

I promise, I only purchased one dozen.   

February ended with 10 hours of daylight

and it only gets better from here.  

I do ❤️ the daylight!  

January Highlights....

New Year's Day brunch with the family.

30 degrees (heat wave)

In honor of my Mom, we continue to celebrate Serbian Christmas (January 7th).

Pizza with the family

-38 degrees with fog

Our first cruise 

Holland America

Out of San Diego to the Mexican Riviera 

with Terry and Teresa from Spokane, WA

Visited family and friends in San Diego

Cousins

Flowers - in January

Orchids on all the dining room tables on the cruise

Flowers blooming in San Diego

Back home to snow

Books I've read this month:

The Rest of Her Life, Laura Moriarty

Tidings of Comfort and Joy, Davis Bunn

The Noel Stranger, Richard Paul Evans

It’s Not Suppose to be this Way, Lysa TerKeurst

Comfort and Joy, Kristin Hannah 

I'm currently reading "Irresistible" by Andy Stanley - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved Geoff Welch's "Brighten January" posts - 31 Days of Kindness and Gratitude.  

These would work to brighten any month. 

Check it out.  

December - A Few of My Favorite Things

1.  Decorations and Lights - inside and out 

In 2006, we received a card in the mail addressed to the family with the big Christmas star. The note said: "You don't know us and we don't know you but I felt the need to send a card. The Christmas star that you put out each year brings great joy to my autistic son. More joy than you'll ever know! Years ago when we moved into the area he spotted the star from the highway. He looks for it each year with great anticipation. To him it is a sign of Christmas and celebration. I am sure that the star is a small thing for you to put up each year but just know what a big joy it brings to others. To you we say Thank You."   So how can we not continue putting up the star every year?   

2.  A White Christmas!  

This was my 50th Christmas in Alaska 

and only one of those was not a white Christmas. 

3.  Bake Day

This year we made

molasses cookies, shortbread, snickerdoodles,

coconut balls, no bake cookies, jalapeño peanut brittle,

thin mint cookies, Swedish tea cookies, sliced cherry cookies,

Rollo pretzel delights and fudge.

4. Our Christmas Caroling Service at Church

This service is a favorite of mine. 

It was a great evening of fellowship and Christmas music. 

5. Sending and Receiving Christmas Cards

I hang the picture cards up so I can enjoy them throughout the season. 

After Christmas, I love reading all the cards again and then 

my granddaughter and I select our top 5 favorites.  

6.  Packages Arriving in the Mail

Popcorn Factory popcorn

Fresh pecans

Gift cards

Money for pizza night 

Snow people

7.  Movie Night with the Family

 "Christmas Vacation"

After the movie, the grands opened their stockings....

even the 18 year old.  

8.  Starbucks with the Granddaughters

9.   My Christmas Cactus bloomed! 

I usually don't have luck with my Christmas cactus blooming, but this year it did. 

It had 3 or 4 beautiful blooms. 

10.  Creativity

Jami dressed up like a Christmas package at work.  

11.  Christmas Day

12.  To Celebrate the Birth of Jesus - Emmanuel: God with Us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

30 degrees in Fairbanks today....a heat wave!

November: 12 Things I'm Thankful for...

As November came to a close, 

here's 12 things I'm thankful for..

#1 - Snow arrived later than usual

I'm thankful the snow held off as long as it did. 

While I'm not particularly thankful for snow, I am thankful for the way it reflects the light which helps in our dark winters; and the snow covered trees are beautiful! 

#2  New Recipes to try.

#3 - Music

#4 - Family

We reconnected with Cory and Sarah Welch (Lonnie and Glenda Welch's son),
who were visiting in Fairbanks from Georgia.
(The last time we saw Cory he was about 12 years old)  

#5 - Time out with hubby

#6 -  Flowers

These are roses my cousin Pete grew in San Diego.

#7 - Good Books

These are the last two books I've read, which I thoroughly enjoyed:

"The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi," by Kathie Lee Gifford

"Bathed in Prayer," by Jan Karon

#8 - Hallmark Christmas Movies

#9 - Costco opened in Fairbanks

#10 - Thanksgiving with our family

Good food and a good time with the family.

This year we fried pies like Grandma Welch used to make. A fun tradition.

#11 - Decorating for Christmas

#12 - I've been blessed beyond all measure

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing

Surely every season you are good to me

("Counting Every Blessing," by Rend Collective)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Y91axwxfI