OUT with the old, IN with the new!

As 2009 comes to a close I'm breathing a sign of relief.

I made it! It's been a tough year!

I'm looking forward with great anticipation to 2010

knowing that it will be better.

What can I look forward to?

For starters:

 Rick & I with my sister and two brothers-in-law are going

on a Mexican riviera cruise in February,

 and we have a Roland & Nelda Jensen

family reunion in July

in Pine Valley, UT.

Let's add to the list!

How about a beautiful Spring season...

and a warm summer...

a fantastic fall with lots of peaches!

Then on to Christmas again.

I'm so grateful!  I'm blessed beyond measure.

Even though the going gets tough,

life remains wonderful!

Goodbye 2009, I'm ready to embrace 2010!

Who's with me?

The Most Wonderful Time

What a wonderful time we had!

Everyone came at noon (well almost everyone)

and we had 'the feast'.

Our annual Christmas Day Brunch.

Everyone looks forward to this meal all year long.

At least the adults do.  The kids seem to be

fine not eating anything.  I'm sure when they

get older they will learn to appreciate

the finer things in life!

After everyone enjoyed the great food we opened gifts.

Tony opened his Austin Collie 'Colts' jersey and was

heard to say something to the effect....

'Sweeeet...best Christmas present ever'

At least that's the rumor.

He looked great in it by the way!

Mr. Claus

Our annual tradition of making Spritz cookies....

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg

1 tsp. almond extract or vanilla

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar. 

Blend in remaining ingredients. 

Fill cookie press with 1/4 of dough at a time;

form desired shapes on ungreased baking sheet. 

Bake 6 to 9 minutes or until set but not brown.

YUM!

Sunrise, Sunset

34 years ago,

my brand new sisters-in-law,

Pat & Lynn,

sang this song at our wedding breakfast.

(Sunrise, Sunset)

Everyone was crying except Rick & me.

We were just happy to finally be

starting the 'sunrise'

of our new lives together.

It truly does seem like just yesterday

Rick & I are soulmates. 

We are cut out of the same cloth,

two peas in a pod,

bread and butter,

We are best friends.

Now as we are hurdling toward the

'sunset' of our lives,

the love we feel for each other

becomes more clear,

more pronounced,

less encumbered,

more pure.

I love you Rickey,

Higher than the sky,

Deeper than the sea.