Today is Wayne’s Birthday, so I’ve been thinking a lot about him. I remember how he made me feel as if I were attractive and appealing. I remember how much he made me laugh. I remember what a wonderful daddy he was. I also remember how dependent on his approval and presence I became. I’m not sure whether this is a prerequisite of all long term relationships. I still miss him after almost fourteen years.

1-4-3 I love you still. I always will.

New Horizons
By Reginald Holmes

Farewell to the old year.

The last page is written,

With each deed recorded.

The record now stands.

Were they evil or good,

There are no retractions,

For yesterday’s chapters

Are now in God’s hands.

We only can hope

Our successes and failures

Will evenly balance

On life’s mighty scale;

That the lessons we learned

Will not be forgotten

As we chart a new course

And make ready to sail.

So hail to the New Year!

Let each precious moment

Be counted a gem

Beyond value or cost.

Let’s spend not one hour

In useless endeavor,

For time that is wasted

Is time that is lost.

The bright new horizons

Will constantly beckon

To those who march onward

With banners unfurled.

Have faith in the future.

Shout the glad tidings…

A happy New Year!

It’s a wonderful world!

After Mass at Wt. William’s in Lancaster, I went back to Kelley Ridge to clean up the holiday debris.Caitlan and her friends were planning on spending New Year’s Eve there, and I wanted it to be inviting. I headed on to the Valley at about 5 and was so tired by the time I pulled in the driveway, that instead of getting out of the car, I fell asleep for a little while. When I came in, Mombo said I looked like I needed another nap, and so I slept until about 9. Then I spent New Year’s Even with Clay, Jerusha, Justin, Connor, and Mombo. Jim and Susan were by for a little while. We watched the Top One Hundred TV Catch Phrases on TVLAND (Number one was “Heeeere’s Johnny!”), banged pots, and looked for Ian at Time’s Square. I didn’t see him, so I guess he wasn’t there. Justin and Connor are good at pot banging.

We went to THE KEEP around noon to have our annual Hot Wheels race. Usually it is on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, but this year we decided to have it early. It was a raucous affair as usual, and as usual, TwoTrees Racing didn’t win anything. Joshie’s car won first place, but the Hellyer crew won the team trophy. The kids played a game afterward, and then I had to take KK back to Richmond to house-sit for Deb, Brendan back to L-ville, and drop Drew off in Lex on the way. So lots of driving for me. I had a hard time saying good-by to Brendan. It has been so nice being able to spend time with him over the holidays.

“Sonnet 64” by William Shakespeare

When I have seen by time’s fell hand defaced

The rich proud cost of outworn buried age,

When sometime lofty towers I see down razed,

And brass eternal slave to mortal rage,

When I have seen the hungry ocean gain

Advantage on the kingdom of the shore,

And the firm soil win of the watery main,

Increasing store with loss, and loss with store,

When I have seen such interchange of state,

Or state itself confounded to decay,

Ruin hath taught me thus to ruminate,

That time will come and take my love away.

This thought is as a death, which cannot choose

But weep to have that which it fears to lose.

Being able to spend time with my children this holiday is that love which causes me to weep and which I fear to lose.

Tonight we went to the Valley for Clan Christmas. Everyone arrived around 6 p.m. Unfortunately Bubba was on the road, so he was late, and Hayley had a ballgame so the Hellyers were not there. We fixed stockings for the kids under 18. This year we hng them on the dining room chairs. Then Rita showed us her annual Clan slideshow, which is always a read treat. She is so talented. We had lots of eats to share. We exchanged gifts–everyone brought something around $10 and then we drew numbers and got to choose a gift. If you wanted to, you could steal a gift from a person who had chosen before you. The Sweeney Clan banded together with the House of Fron and would pull “Sweeney Switcharoos” if they didn’t like what they got. It was so great to see the Hornsby Clan from Louisiana. The kids have grown so much. The most coveted prize was a Grandy-bo original drawing by John. This year the drawing had Razor in it. Rachel and Frank ended up with it, although I did have it for a little while. My final prize was a set of 2 dvds that Ian brought. Everything was fun, but the damper was put on the evening for me when Ian had to leave to go to the Willetts–he was going to leave for NY the next morning and wanted to get an early start from their house. He and Simon were renting a car. I will miss him so much.

Today the Willetts came to have Willett-Adkins Christmas at Kelley Ridge. It was so nice to have them here. Andrew couldn’t come because he had to work. So we all missed him. Pat worked on the front porch light. We had lasagna and salad and snacks. Verla brought us her signature oyster crackers. She also made hats for me and Caitlan. We ate and played games and had a woodstove fire. Speaking of fires, I forgot to say that I almost caught the kitchen on fire on Christmas Eve. The kids had gone out for a little last minute shopping, and I was trying to get some red wine stain out of the white table cloth from the open house. I had the tea kettle on high and tripped over Greg Brown who is always at my feet lately. The table cloth went on the burner and burst into flames. I threw it on the tile floor but I couldn’t stamp it out because I had bare feet. A lot of stamping and waving put it out, thank goodness. Needless to say, it went into the garbage (after it had cooled down).
Anyway, we played games with the Willetts, and luckily Verla put together a lot of the Christmas jigsaw puzzle which I always hate to be left with after the kids go. I’m not good at jigsaw puzzles. One of the games was called MYSTIFY and it was about anagrams. Simon and Brendan were really good at it. The kids wanted to watch a movie, but I was too tired. They watched NARNIA I think. It was another nice day, and I am so glad that my kids all came home this Christmas.

Today was the first Christmas at Kelley Ridge with the Adkins-Wood Family. I think Joe would have been proud, although he probably would not have picked the 9 foot tree. He would have wanted to cut our own. We slept in since we had been to Casey County for Midnight Mass the night before. There was a little fire in our woodstove in the living room. That was nice. I also liked the fact that we played Chirstmas carols the night of the open house. Joe had always wanted me to have the piano at Kelley Ridge. The kids purchased a new digital camera for me. Now I just have to learn how to use it. We went to the McBrayers for a Christmas dinner of chicken and dumplings, fruit salad, steamed broccoli and steamed spinach, homemade bread, and strawberry cake (my favorite of Michele’s homemade cakes). We played a game that Brendan brought about building citadels. You had to take on various characters–assassin, thief, king, merchant, etc.) We all played–Frank, Michele, me, Caitlan, Brendan, Ian, Wes, and Ben. It was fun to have the whole family play. We had a nice day.

We decided to go the Casey County for church tonight. Our tradition had been Midnight Mass at St. Mark for many years. Caitlan and I had frequently sung in the choir. Tonight I made porkchops, and Brendan made delicious mashed potatoes. It was cold and kind of rainy. We got to Sacred Heart in Liberty in time to decorate the tables in the basement for treats after Mass. We sang carols for about half an hour before Mass as Izetta played. Fr. Chibundi had a priest friend from Kenya with him. It was a beautiful, inspiring Mass. The entire Clan was represented, and we should have gotten more pictures. Josh wore his uniform. At least someone thought to take a picture of all the cousins with Mombo. After Mass we headed downstairs where we shared treats that Clansfolk brought. We invited the Sacred Heart parishioners, and some came. Jay made the traditional oyster stew which he has perfected since Grandy-bo left us. He was worried he might not have enough, but as it turned out, we had much to spare. It was a memorable night. I love my family.

We journeyed to Urbana today to see the North Adkins family. We gathered at Dennis’s house. Jacque, Keith, Madeline, and Logan were in from St. Louis, and Jacque had mae a great lunch for us–ham, twice-baked potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, etc. Chris has to work so we only saw her for a little while. Pops and Edie were there, so we exchanged gifts. Alison’s kids (Kaelie and Mya) had gone to visit Ben’s parents so we didn’t get to see them. I was very important to reconnect–we miss this side of our family. On the way back we decided to stop in Cincy to visit with Alice for a little while. We had thought we’d say the night, but decided to drive the rest of the way. Alice had a delicious pizza supper for us. She has been working on the front of her house (new concrete drive, etc.), and it is going to look great.