Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas, Hope you have a Great Day, a Great Holiday.

Bernie and I are so fortunate to be able to spend our winters in the South where it's normally warm and sunny.  The Christmas Season is both "the best" and "the hardest" part of winter for snow birds.  For many of us going home is just too far and that makes it "the hardest."  Knowing our families are 2000 or more miles away is tough.  A large number of our American friends do go back but I think the majority of Canadians stay South which brings us to "the best."

We had "the best" time over the last couple of days visiting with our friends, enjoying their company, great food, and of course enjoying that fabulous "Christmas Spirit" that is so abundant here in N. America.  We really are blessed to be here.

On Christmas eve we spent most of the afternoon and evening with Bob and Lynn, our dance teachers.  They invited us to their home for a great visit and our first turkey dinner.  Great food, great company, and a fun day.

Christmas morning we went to church with 275 +/- other people from our resort for a terrific Christmas message delivered by our Resident Pastor.  The choir, 20 to 30 people (depending on season) is absolutely "outta sight,"  They deliver beautiful music each Sunday.  This Sunday they did something very unique by splitting up, with singers and at both the front and back of the room.  It was really nice.  This is the resort I brag about all the time, http://tropicstarrv.com/index.html . 

Right after church we went to Ron and Karen's place for brunch.  Ron and Karen are from Cold lake, Alberta and have been coming to Tropic Star for the same number of years we have (5).  Karen had made up a couple of great breakfast entrees with eggs, bacon, sausage, sweet rolls, (had 2 :-) ), biscuits, and more.  So that was big meal two.  Thanks you guys, it was really nice.

Then it was home to call the kids.  It was sure fun to talk to everyone for a few minutes and listen to the Grandchildren tell us about their morning.  This is undoubtedly the hardest part of a winter away from home.  Bernie was doing great until Rob told here he "missed her."  That did it, since she'd murder me if I told you exactly how she reacted, I'll protect myself and say it was "hard" for her (us).  We do miss them.  The grandchildren all sound so different than they did three or four months ago.  Boy time does fly.

Then it was off to Ken and Doreen's for a fabulous Christmas dinner for 12.  Of course yours truly, wasn't smart enough to take a wee bit of everything.  We had a great meal with "all" the trimmings shared with great friends and laughter.  Its doesn't get any better.  This year we had dinner with new friends Greg and Carol, from Michigan, who were spending their "first" Christmas away from their family.  Every one of us knew how they felt.  We all remember out "first" Christmas away, they get a easier over time but never "easy."

Dinner with the Broughtons

Hosts Ken front right and Doreen at the head of the table

Right side, Helen (Robert was ill,) Peter, Pat, Carol, Greg, Ken

Left side, Bernie and I, Ron, Karen

Ken and Doreen, "thank you" so much.  Bernie and I were talking last night and realized this was the fourth Christmas we've spent with you guys.  I think a new Christmas Tradition is evolving.

Ron and Peter solving "the world's problems"

Hostess finally gets a break

We even had a "cracking fire"

After dinner we split into a couple of tables for some cards and Mexican Train, a dominoes game.  Bernie and I joined with Pat and Peter for a game of girls vs boys Hand and Foot.  Of course the guys won, but according to the girls we had to "cheat" to do it, NOT.

By 10ish we were all pretty tired and headed home.  Thanks to a great group of friends we had a fabulous Christmas.

So it's time to go for now.  Merry Christmas everyone, thanks for stopping by and please do leave a comment when you can.

Neal and Bernie.