2025 Christmas Letter/Journal

 Dear 

Hope this year has been kind to you.

We spent fourteen days on a Carnival Cruise from January 18 to 30. We visited Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Ocho Rios, and the Grand Caymans.

In February (16-22), we went on a seven-day bus tour to San Antonio, Texas, with the Club & Diamond Tours. We had a guide the whole time we were there. We visited the Witte Museum, the San Antonio missions, the LBJ Ranch, watched an IMAX movie about Freedom, and then visited the Alamo. 

It was around 30 degrees when we took the River Cruise along the River Walk in San Antonio. 

We stopped to shop at Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas. 

On March 14, we took an all-day bus trip to Scottsboro with Backroads Tours  LLC. 

In April (7-11), we took a five-day bus trip to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum, with the Club and Diamond Tours. 

At the Cincinnati Museum, we watched an IMAX movie about National Parks and toured the museum. We were supposed to take a riverboat cruise along the Ohio River, but it had rained so much that the trip was cancelled. 

We saw houses, land, and trailer trucks covered in water. 

From April 27 to May 3, we took a seven-day bus trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with Travel Lady, Lawrenceburg, TN. 

We visited Mount Airy, home of Andy Griffith. 

We did the Wild Horse Adventure tour. We visited several lighthouses, the Graveyard of the Atlantic, Wright Brothers National Park, the Village of Mantle, and Festival Park Living History Museum. 

On May 9, we did a mystery bus trip with Backroads Tours LLC.

On June 21, we took a bus trip to Nashville for a Dinner cruise on the Andrew Jackson Showboat with Backroads Tours LLC. 

In July (12-20), we took a nine-day bus tour to Cape Cod & Martha's Vineyard with the Club and Diamond Tours. 

We visited Martha's Vineyard, Hyannis, Sandwich, toured the Outer Cape, Provincetown, Chatham, JFK Museum, and the Foxwood Casino in Rhode Island. 

One of our members had a UTI infection and had to spend several days in the Hospital, and they had to fly home. 

Another member fell inside her room, and she had deadbolted her door. She could not get up, so we had to call the fire and police departments.

She was taken to the hospital, but later joined us. 

We had another couple who were not happy with the trip, so they flew home. It was still a good trip.

In August, (2-10) we flew to Denver, Colorado, and then took a guided bus to ride several trains with the Travel Lady from Lawrenceburg, TN. 

We rode the Georgetown Loop and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, with lunch in between. 

We rode the Pikes Peak COG RR.

We were going to ride the Durango & Silverton RR, but there was an accident on the Million Dollar Highway. A couple with a child in the backseat went over the edge. The road was closed the whole day. A helicopter was called to get the car. Both adults were killed instantly, but the child survived. 

We had already started up the mountain on the Million Dollar Highway. We had a great driver; he turned the bus around, and we went back down the hill.

We saw a forest fire, and everyone kept getting alerts, but we were heading away from it. 

We stayed in a hotel that had a winery and orchard around it.

We stayed in the Durango Hotel, which was like a museum. 

We stayed at the Cliff House, a hotel within walking distance of downtown Manitou. We visited Garden of the Gods, Mesa Verde, and Manco, CO. We toured several towns and museums. 

On August 23, we took a bus tour to North Georgia Junkbox Review. We were entertained with a musical. Backroads Tours LLC.

In September (3-15), we took a thirteen-day trip to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. We spent three nights at the Flamingo Hotel, with Bean/Smith Travels & Diamond Tours.

We visited the William Clinton museum in Little Rock, AR. We visited the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, OK, and the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Boulder City, AZ.

We visit Grand Canyon National Park, the Route 66 Museum in Kingman, AZ, the Mohave Museum, the Petrified Forest National Park, and the Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Museum in Amarillo, TX. We visit the Fort Smith Historic Site in Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

We stayed in ten different hotels. 

October 13-19, we flew to New York and spent one night there. There we ate dinner and walked the streets of NY.

We boarded the NCL Getaway for a seven-day cruise.  

A deadly storm slammed the East Coast with winds, waves, and floodwaters. Waves pounded beaches, and storm surge flooded coastal roads. So, the ports in New York were closed. We sat in port for two days, missing several of our excursions. 

We did visit Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John Bay, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

On our return trip to New York, we took a bus tour of New York, where we saw 59th Street, Columbus Circle, Lincoln Square, Central Park, 49th Street, Times Square, the Garment District, 34th Street, Penn Station, Macy's, Trump Tower, the Apple Store, Rockerfellow Center, Hershey's, and the University of NY. We stopped to tour the Grand Central Terminal and go up to the Summit.

The Summit is a three-level multi-sensory art immersion. 

The first level was on the 91st observation floor. (All Glass)

The second level is on the 92 observation, where you are standing on a glass-bottomed ledge that extends 1,000 feet over Madison Ave. 

The third level is on the 93-observation floor with an open-air terrace.

From October 30 to November 5, we took a bus trip to Washington, D.C. with the Club and Diamond Tours. 

We visited the Lincoln Memorial, the Roosevelt Memorial, the MLK Memorial, the WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Memorials, and saw the Capitol, the White House, and the Lincoln Monument. We took a trolley through Arlington Cemetery. We visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Nov 19-21, we took a bus tour of the Biltmore House Museum and stayed on-site. 

We toured the grounds, the house, and Antler Hill Village with Backroads Tours LLC.

We stopped at the Bush Bean Museum and Restaurant in Danville, TN.

We visited Sweetwater Farms in Philadelphia, TN.

Dec 5-7, we took a bus tour to Eufaula with Backroads Tours LLC. 

We enjoyed dinner, lunch, and hors d'oeuvres with entertainment at the Shorter Mansion.

We toured eight homes, including the Shorter Mansion. 

We visited the movie town of Spectra and Wetumpka.

This was our last cruise and bus trip for the year. 

I have already planned cruises for February, March, and October. 

A trip to Greece to follow the Footsteps of Paul in April. If the Lord's willing and we have good health. 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 

2025 Oct 11-15, NCL Getaway Cruise 7-Day Canada and New England Round Trip New York, Bar Harbor & Halifax Part 1

 Day 1: Oct 11, Saturday, Flight to New York 

We stopped at Jack's in Athens for breakfast and ordered gravy and a biscuit.

We drove to Huntsville Airport and boarded United Airlines Flight 4240, Group 3, at 7:33 A.M., Gate 2, Seats 4c & 4b. We flew into Washington Dulles, IDA, and arrived at 10:52 A.M. 

We loaded @ 12:17 IAD on flight 3704, gate A63, group 3, Seats 22 B and 22 C. Arriving in New York at 1:49 P.M. 

On the plane, we met several people going on the cruise. Mike and Rhonda Flippo, Mickey and Shelia Hines, who was a retired police officer who worked with my Hubby's brother-in-law. 

We followed our guide to the shuttle, which took us to the Marriott Marquis. 

We took our luggage to our room, R3911, and then we went looking for a place to eat. We stopped at Junior's Restaurant, 1515 Broadway St., which was just across the street from the hotel. 

We ordered Fish and chips, two drinks, and a raspberry swirl Cheesecake, and spent $47.58. Our server was Kevin. 

Walking the Streets of New York 

After dinner, we walked several blocks in the crowded streets. Vendors covered half of the sidewalks. We stopped inside the Disney Store. Took several photos. We came back to the hotel, took a hot bath, and fell asleep. Woke up, watched some TV, then fell asleep. Awoke around 4 A.M. and wrote in my journal.

Check-out time is 11 A.M.

Photos

245-7A.M. Huntsville Airport

246-249 8:14 A.M. Leaving Huntsville Airport

250-262 @10:38 A.M. Flying into Washington Dulles Airport

263-270 @12:30 P.M. Leaving Washington Dulles Airport 

271-275 @1:37 P.M. Flying into New York Laguardia Airport

277 @2:28 P.M. Leaving Airport in Shuttle 

278-296 @2:50 P.M. Travel Long Island, Murray Hill, Turtle Bay, New York 

297-301 @3:45 P.M. Our room 3931 

303 @4:16 P.M. Juniors Restaurant 

Fish and Chips from Juniors 

304-331 @5:03 P.M. Walking the streets of New York 

Day 2: Oct 12, Sunday, Boarding the Ship NCL Getaway.

We bought a Blueberry Parfait and a pastry in the hotel store for breakfast. 

We met our NCL Guide and checked in for our ride to the ship.

I walked around on level 39 for two miles. We went downstairs to the outside covered breezeway to wait for the bus to take us to the ship. It did not arrive until after 12:30 P.M.

We talked to a couple from Indiana that was going on the cruise. The wife was a teacher and on fall break.

Everyone loaded onto the bus, which took us to port 90, where the ship was docked. We went through security, got our key cards, and boarded the boat. 

Our first stop was the American Diner, where I ordered three sliders, fries, and bread pudding. Hubby ordered a salad, spaghetti, and a slice of carrot cake. I could only eat one of the three sliders. 

We walked to our cabin 13168, where I took a nap. My sister called to wish me a happy birthday. I talked to my daughter. She had been cleaning her RV in preparation for a trip to Universal Studios. 

At 5:00 P.M., we walked down to Cagney's Steakhouse and ate dinner. I ordered shrimp skewers, baked potato, sautéed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, and vanilla ice cream.

Hubby ordered steak, shrimp cocktail, broccoli, mushrooms, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

After dinner, we walked around the ship. We went to the theater to watch the comedy show. 

After the show, we returned to our cabin, hung up my clothes, and wrote in my journal. 

We watched Hocus Pocus 2 on TV.

The Big Apple 

Photos

332-334 @8:09 A.M. Photos Hotel Big Apple, Wonderful

335-358 @12:26P.M. Port and Ship

359-360 @2:06 P.M. Lunch at American Diner

361-365 @5:42 P.M. Dinner at Cagney's 

366-367 @6:37 P.M. Hotel Lights

368-374 @8:59 P.M. View of New York from the ship

Day 3: Monday, Oct 13, Port Day (the ship had to stay in the port because of bad weather) 

The ship was supposed to leave the port at 5:00 P.M. Saturday, but New York closed the port, preventing any ships from coming in or leaving. So we had to stay on the boat until 5 A.M. Tuesday morning.

I walked around our room area, then went upstairs for 3 miles. I could not walk outside because it was raining. 

We went to breakfast at the Garden Cafe, where I had blueberry yogurt, a pastry, sausage, and cranberry juice. 

We went to deck 6 (Atrium)to watch game shows and trivia. 

We ate at O'Sheehan's for brunch. I ordered French Toast with whipped butter, syrup, and seasonal fruit. We walked back to our room, where we watched The Lion King and took a nap. 

At 5P.M., we went to Teppanyaki for dinner, where we watched our chef prepare our meal while entertaining us. 

Our Chef 

Steak and Shrimp 

The chef cooks our food.

We were served Miso Soup with mushrooms, dashi, tofu, and wok-me.

Next, we were served a seaweed salad with ginger salad dressing.

We watched our cook prepare garlic-fried rice with eggs, served with grilled vegetables and a creamy mustard dipping sauce.

Our main course was grilled shrimp and New York Strip (ASUKA)

For dessert, we were served Green tea cakes with cashew nut butter.

After dinner, we returned to the Atrium area, deck 6, where we were entertained by Voices & Keys Duo.

 Returned to our room, where we watched Ghostbusters on TV.

Photos:

375@7:30 A.M. Replica Getaway

376-377 @8:04 A.M. View from Ship (rain)

379 @10:41 A.M. Brunch (French Toast, fruit, yogurt, pastry, sausage)

380-381 Photos taken at Teppanyaki 

382-397 5:12 P.M. Dinner at Teppanyaki 

398-404 @7:29 P.M. Show Voices & Keys Duo 

Voices & Keys Duo 

405-408 7:52 P.M. View from our room 

409-411 @8:21 P.M. Receipts 

Day 4, Oct 14, Tuesday, Leaving New York, Sea Day 

Got up early and went to Deck 16 to see the Statue of Liberty as we sailed by. 

Statue of Liberty (cloudy early morning )

I talked to several people waiting to take pictures of the Statue of Liberty. It was still dark and overcast, so it was hard to take a clear picture. 

I met Hubby in the Garden Cafe, where we ate breakfast. We watched people come and go through the electric door. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.

It was funny watching how everyone acted when the door didn't work. 

We went to Deck 6, the Atrium, where we met a couple from California, Susan and Kevin.

Next, we walked through the shops where I bought a bracelet and charms. 

We walked to the Harry Houdini area, where we met up with Shelia and Mikey. We sat and talked for a while. 

At 11:26, we ate lunch at O'Sheehan's. There, I ordered cheese & spinach dip with chips and avocado dip. 

Hubby ordered a coney hot dog with fries and hot wings. 

At 12:30 P.M., we went to the Getaway theater, Deck 7 FWD, to the Amulet of Adventure, The Port, and Shopping Talk. 

There, we each got an anchor and a necklace.

At 3 P.M., we went to Sydney Normas Deck 8, forward, where we watched the last 30 minutes of Carryoaky.

We watched the Amulet of Adventure, Diamond and Gemstones Seminar, where we each received a Nahla Amulet. 

We rested in the hallway where we saw our friends from New York.

We returned to our room until 5:30 P.M., then went to dinner in the Manhattan Room, where we sat with a couple from Virginia. 

For dinner, I ordered baked Fish with creamed potatoes, a Waldorf salad, and a brownie with ice cream.

We returned to our room and wrote in my journal.

At 8 P.M., we went to the Effie Celebration Party at the Effy Boutique store on deck 8 aft, where we received a champagne glass amulet and drank a glass of champagne. 

Photos

412-416 @5:42 P.M. Leaving New York and passing the Statue of Liberty 

417- @ 7:15 A.M. Breakfast in Garden Cafe 

418-420 Sea Day 

426-429 @ 9:54 A.M. Houdini Hallway

Canon EOS R6

5203-5249 @4:15 AM Leaving New York

Houdini Hallway

430-434 @6:15 P.M. Dinner in Manhattan Room 

435 @7:04 P.M. Chandelier 

436-439 @7:17 P.M. Our photos that were taken at Teppanyaki 

Day 5, Oct 15, Wednesday, Bar Harbor, Maine 

Breakfast at the Garden Cafe: I ate French Toast and yogurt. We walked to the Manhattan Room, and at 7:15 A.M., we boarded the tender boat and were taken ashore, where we met our bus driver and guide (Herman).

We rode through Acadia Park for a couple of hours and were dropped off downtown. We walked up Main Street to the Lobster Restaurant, but it was closed. 

We walked through several shops and bought seven postcards, a hat, a boggen, and a sweet shirt. 

We ate lunch at Stewman's along the pier. We ordered lobster, potatoes, corn on the cob, and clams with blueberry pie topped with vanilla ice cream, which Hubby and I shared. We saw the couple from California at the pier. We came back to the ship via tender. Went to our room and wrote in my journal.

Our ship didn't leave the port until 5:30 P.M., and the sunset was beautiful. We sat in the lobby above the atrium and watched them make flowers. My stomach started hurting, so I went to the restroom, but that didn't help. I felt sick to my stomach, so I went back to our room. From our room, I watched the ship leave port. I got sick, took a shower, went to bed, and slept all night. Hubby went upstairs to get dinner. I couldn't eat anything. I just went to bed. 

Photos 

440-442  @6:12 A.M. Sunrise Bar Harbor 

443 @ 6:27 A.M. Breakfast 

444-446 @ 10:16 A.M. Moose Store Bar Harbor

447-445 @10:30 A.M. Wood Store 

Canon EOS R6 

5255-5359 @7:11 AM Acadia Bar Harbor, Maine

5360-5387 @8:21 AM Town Bar Harbor, Maine 

The Wood Store 

446-477 @10:42 A.M. Main St Stores Markers park 

478-481 @11:28 A.M. Lunch at Stewmans along the pier

Blueberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream 

Potato and Corn on the Cob 

Lobster, Corn on the Cob 

482 @1248 P.M. Whale at Pier 

483 Receipts 

484-491 @446 P.M. Port Bar Harbor

492-440 P.M. Inside Ship Chandelier 

494-497 @525 P.M. Leaving Port 

2024 Christmas Journal Activies

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 

To all my friends and family

Hope this year brought you lots of health and happiness. 

Just a recap of our adventures this year. 

In January, we took our first cruise on the NCL Cruise Ship from New Orleans, where we visited Cozumel, Roatan Bay Island, Honduras, Harvest Caye, Belize, and Costa Maya, Mexico. 

In February, we took a cruise on Carnival Spirit from New Orleans to Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico.

In April, we did several Walking Tours: the Huntsville Walking Tour, the Walking Tour of Courtland, and the Museum Tour. 

We also attended our great-grandson's T-Ball game. 

I took Ava to several museums and bought a new computer.

In May, we went to the Cullman and Moulton Strawberry Festivals. 

We went to Atlas Tee-Ball Games.

We took Ava to several museums, including the Space and Rocket Center, the Train Depot, and the Muscle Shoals Municipal Art Display.

Attended Ava's School Program.

Went to a baby shower.

Attended the Front Porch Story Telling Festival.

Hubby and I took our third cruise to Alaska on the Norwegian Encore in June. 

We flew into the State of Washington, boarding the NCL Cruise Ship for seven days.

We visited Juno, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC.

We attended Atlas's fourth birthday Party and Hazel's third birthday party. 

At the end of June, we took a seven-day bus trip with Diamonds in the Rough to Niagara Falls, Canada. 

In July, we took several day trips with AVA: to Pulaski and Lynville, TN (to see the train depot), and Corinth, MS (including the Corinth Museum & Depot, Welcome Center, Civil War Museum, and Coke Museum). We ate lunch at the old Borrums Drug Store. 

We also took AVA to the Jesse Owens and Oakville Indian Mount Museums. 

My Husband and I rode to Granville, TN, to tour several museums dedicated to Andy Griffith and Lucille Ball. 

In August,  we took AVA to the Savannah Museum, then to the Battle of Shiloh and Museum; from there, we rode to Iuka, MS.

We attended the Killen's Founder's Day in Killen Park. 

We rode to Lutts, TN, to see the sunflowers and zinnia fields. 

We took a bus trip with Diamonds in the Rough to South Dakota at the end of August.

We visited Mount Rushmore, the Journey Museum, Wall Drugs, the Corn Palace, the High Plains Heritage Center, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the World War II Museum in South Dakota. 

We toured Deadwood and the Black Hills.

We took a train trip from Chattanooga to Chickamauga, Ga, in September. 

In October, we attended the Oktoberfest Festival in Cullman and St Florine.

We participated in the Banana Pudding Festival in Centerville, TN. 

We did our fourth cruise on NCL Gem out of Quebec.

We flew into Montreal, and the next day, we took a three 1/2-hour bus ride to Quebec, where we boarded the NCL Gem for a seven-day cruise. 

We visited Prince Edward Island, Sydney, Nova Scotia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bar Harbor, Maine; and Portland, Maine. We took a bus from Portland to Conway, New Hampshire, to ride the train. 

We flew home from Boston, Massachusetts. 

We took AVA to the Renaissance Faire, the Fall Festival, and the Trunk-or-Treat event at Shiloh Church of Christ.

In November, my friend and I rode the AM Track Train from Tuscaloosa, AL, to New Orleans.

We took the trolley to Audubon Park and the WWII Museum in New Orleans.

We took a taxi to the Cruise Terminal and boarded the Carnival Liberty for a seven-day cruise. (This was my fifth cruise this year.) 

We visited Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. 

We rode the AM Track Train back to Tuscaloosa, where Hubby picked us up.

Hubby and I rode to Decatur the next day and bought a new car. (A Hyundai Sonata Hybrid)

That Friday, I woke up with Bronchitis, but did not go to the doctor until Monday.

She gave me a Steroid shot and several bottles of Medicine. 

I went back to the doctor a week later, still coughing, and got another shot and another round of Medicine. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving with family at our house, and everyone had a great time.

In December, I attended a Christmas party with new and old friends at Zoey Bells, and my Hubby and I attended Haynes's fifth Birthday party at the Launch Pad. 

I attended our CBS Christmas Party at the Church. 

Attended our Wednesday Night Zoom Bible Class on December 13. 

My daughter and her Husband are coming home for a week for Christmas, and we will celebrate Christmas with the whole family.

And on New Year's Eve, I will be celebrating with my sisters.

Another year has come and gone. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my friends and family