2020 Christmas Letter Activies

 Merry Christmas,

My year started with Cataract Surgery on my right eye on January 8, followed by a bridge on a tooth on January 21. 

I had three abscesses and three root canals in December, causing me to have a bridge replaced.

On March 10, I had a total knee replacement (on my left knee) just before our country was shut down with no elective surgeries. 

I stayed overnight and then went home to do some therapy. I went to Peak Performance for Therapy.

My knee did not respond to Therapy as it should, causing the orthopedic doctor to manipulate it. 

I spent March, April, and part of May getting Therapy.

During this time, Hubby was staying at home with me and still getting paid. 

He went back to work full-time in September. (He works for a contractor of the government with full pay)

In June, our Granddaughter Hannah gave birth to our fourth great-grandson, "Atlas," just a few days after our great-grandson River celebrated his second birthday.

We couldn't go anywhere, so I spent a lot of time working or attending to my flowers. Most are in pots, which I only had to water and fertilize. This year, we got a lot of rain, which helped with my plants.

We didn't see much of the grandkids or great-grandkids all summer. 

When school started back, we helped with our great-granddaughter, Ava. 

She would attend school for a few days, and we would care for her for a few days. 

Because of the pandemic, our activities were limited. We visited some parks where AVA could play by herself, as well as parks with fish, turtles, and waterfowl. 

We took her to places where she would see Halloween displays, and we took her to a trunk-n-treat. (Lowe's, Home Depot, Party City) 

We took her to the Tinsel Trail in Huntsville and the Enchanted Forest in Decatur.

We have tried to keep her entertained. 

On November 1, Dad fell and broke his hip; his health had been going down for some time. He had lost 30 pounds in the last few months. My sister took him to the doctor, and he had recommended calling Hospice. 

He lived a few days after he fell. We buried him on November 8; he was 93 years old. 

He had a graveside service, and all the family was there. 

We celebrated our great-grandson Hayne's first birthday at the Strickland Hotel on Sunday, December 13. 

Hayne will have Christmas twice this year because he received more presents than most kids get for their birthdays all year. 

On Tuesday, December 22, Hubby and I took Ava, our five-year-old great-granddaughter, to Franklin, Tennessee. We rode north along the Natchez Trace through Leipers Fork to Franklin, Tennessee. We ate dinner at Mellow Mushroom and saw Santa riding on a Harley through the window, but he was gone by the time we finished our meal.

Ava wanted to see the 100-foot or more Christmas tree in the town square. We took a few pictures in the square and headed back to the car when, once again, we heard Santa on his Harley. Santa stopped, and I took a couple of pictures with Ava with him. She had to give Santa a real hug, not a hand bump. She was overjoyed about seeing the Real Santa Claus (that's what she said) and was singing Christmas carols for most of the ride home.

We celebrated Christmas on Sunday, December 20, at Jack and Lindsey's new home. I loved seeing the four great-grandkids — Ava, River, Hayne, and Atlas — open their Christmas presents. Their favorite toy was a barking dog for the boys, and Ave got a mewing cat. All the great-grandkids love animals.

On Friday, December 25, my four sisters and I celebrated Christmas with chili, cheese dip, and various sweets. Afterward, we played several UNO and Dirty Santa games until 9:30 P.M. 

On December 29, my four sisters and I met at Los Trojas Cantina to celebrate my sister Teresa's birthday. 

Tomorrow, December 31, I will spend the day with my 24-month-old great-grandson, River. I have not kept him all year for health reasons, so we will see how that goes. We live in a 40-foot RV with little room for running and playing. Two-year-olds need a lot of space. 

My husband and I will attend the gender reveal of our fifth great-grandchild, who is due sometime next July, on Friday, December 31, from 6:00 to 9:00. 

That about wraps it up for 2020. 

This was a very different year; we lost my dad, and we celebrated the birth of our fourth great-grandson, but could only see him virtually.

We attended Hayne's first birthday party.

Our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law, great-grandson, Hubby, and I all had the Coronavirus.  

I had a few health issues, but overall, it has been a good year.

2020 The year of Coronavirus and wearing mask

The total left knee replacement was performed on March 10; that same week, much of our country was shut down due to the Coronavirus.

I stayed overnight at the hospital and was sent home with all the equipment I would need for the next few weeks for home therapy.

I also went to Peak Performance three days a week for physical therapy.

The Sciatic nerve in my lower back flared up, which caused therapy to be excruciating. 

My Orthopedic doctor had to manipulate my left knee, which helped relieve some of the pain in my lower back. 

It took several months before I could enjoy walking, and I was thankful to have my Hubby doing my household chores. 

I could not read or sit at my computer because it was too painful, and it was hard for me to concentrate. 

On June 18, our granddaughter gave birth to a baby boy. 

Only her Hubby could be with her, and her baby shower was virtual. 

(Great-grandson Atlas Ian is doing great; he is growing like a weed.)

River, our great-grandson, turned two on June 2.

We celebrated our great-grandson's first birthday on Sunday, December 13. 

He and his mother both had the Coronavirus, and both are doing fine now. 

Our daughter-in-law contracted the Coronavirus at work and gave it to her husband (our son); they were quarantined for 14 days. 

Schools across the United States were shut down, and graduation was just months away for seniors.

Our grandson, a senior, graduated in May after his school was shut down for months. 

Our country was in the midst of a pandemic, with businesses, schools, factories, and restaurants shut down.

People are dying, and the virus is spreading like wildfire, causing people to stress out. 

Lowe's was doing a booming business during the pandemic because people were afraid to go anywhere, so many took on home projects and gardening.

 I enjoyed spending time attending to my flowers and herbs. 

The Coronavirus has kept many inside this year, beginning in the Spring. It soared through  

Summer and autumn are now winter, and the Coronavirus is still here.

The CBS bible study that I attend every year is now virtual. It is excellent that we can still see one another through Zoom and be safe. 

We have grandchildren attending Universities, High School, and Kindergarten on odd days.

Every Thursday and Friday in September & October, we kept our great-granddaughter, Ava.

We did the social distancing, and we would take her to our local parks, where she enjoyed feeding the turtles and fish. 

For the last two weeks, Hubby and I have been picking up our great-granddaughter from school. 

Her uncle is a senior this year and usually takes her to and picks her up, but in the last two weeks, he has not gone to school on Thursdays and Fridays. (because of the pandemic)

Hubby went back to work part-time in June and full-time in September. 

Last year was a sad year for my niece; she lost her husband to cancer. 

However, 2020 has brought her happiness; she found another love, and they were married on October 1. 

The Coronavirus is still on the rampage, but the numbers are going down. 

Most states have a mandate that you have to wear a mask covering your nose and mouth before entering a place of business. 

High-risk people are encouraged to stay home and have their groceries & personal items delivered.

Stores limit the number of people inside their stores. Restaurants have spaced their tables at least 6 feet apart. Many places of business have a shield or partitions to protect their employees. 

Some places will only accept credit cards because they do not want to handle money that is often contaminated with germs.

The flu season is just around the corner, and the medical field is rushing to develop an anti-virus serum to distribute to the public and help prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus.

We have missed so much of our annual Halloween parties and Thanksgiving meals with family, and now Christmas is just around the corner. 

Our family get-togethers may be small this year. 

Hubby contracted the Coronavirus from a co-worker, and I got it from him. We missed having a Thanksgiving meal with our families. 

In November, I went to the Mountains with my cousin and aunt. We ate out a couple of times and did a little shopping, but mostly, we just enjoyed each other's company.

We bought a Modular home in July, but it will not be finished until late January. This Coronavirus has put a dent in many aspects of our lives. 

My dad fell and broke his hip and died shortly in November. 

Our family will celebrate Christmas on December 20 and have a sister gathering on Christmas Day.

We just have to take one day at a time. 

This year, we have had a birth (a great-grandson), a death (my dad), a marriage (my niece), and a sickness.

We have been swamped this year, but in a different way. Life as we know it will no longer be the same.

Even in a pandemic, life goes on. 

 

🎄🎄🎄🎄Wrapping Presents on the floor

Yesterday, I decided to start wrapping my Christmas presents.

I put all the presents into boxes, and I started cutting the wrapping paper.

I had to sit on the floor to wrap the presents, and at times, I was on my knees.

I am not a spring chicken anymore, and today my knees were talking to me.

I was having a difficult time getting out of bed. 

My mind was playing tricks on my body. 

My mind said you are still a spry chicken, while my body said, 'Who are you kidding?'

When I was down on my knees wrapping my presents, I knew I would pay a high price for it tomorrow.

Well, today, my knees are talking very strongly to my trickery mind.

My body is telling my mind, 'You old woman, don't you know better than to listen to me?'