December 2, 2007

It's taken awhile, but we've finally finished moving, well, 99% finished. Our home we were in had cracking ceilings, water leaks, and mold and mildew. The homeowners we were buying it from had covered everything up with KILZ white paint and repopcorned the ceiling, so we had no idea what we were in for when we moved to GA a little over a year ago, but we found out fast. Our downpayment we gave to them, they built their own home with and now we're in a legal battle to give us back our money. We won't know until at least May what will happen. So for the time being we're renting a home in Tiger, GA, about 6 miles south of where we were before. The dogs have their own little cage that Danny built for them and they seem to like it out there.

Amber and I put our Christmas tree up the other day, but it seems like most of the decorations we had are missing. I still have the decorations that my Dad had given me over the years, but the one I remember the most is about 28 years old in the shape of a bell with my school picture on it...Dad loved making Christmas special for us kids. I try doing that for my own.

My Dad is great. We had a huge Santa head...I believe Styrofoam...that we used to keep in our shed when we lived in Ohio. My Dad would have my Mom keep us inside doing something and he would go outside and get that Santa head and take it to the window and knock or hit it against the window...would scare the living daylights out of us. He would also take his set of reindeer bells and strings them between the doorknobs with thread and another set along the hallway at feet level so we would break the string, making the bells fall and Dad and Mom would come out. Memories are the best. As the kids grow up, even though they usually know what presents they are getting, the "Santa" ones are harder and harder to hide.

I just want to thank my Dad for giving me the Christmas spirit every year. It's embedded in me, so to speak! Now it's time to write the yearly Christmas Poem, put it in the cards and send them out. Hopefully they'll get out earlier than last year.

Tammy