This is a newsletter that my husband and I sent to family and friends after the new year began.  We didn't get Christmas cards out this year.  This is the first year in 38 that we haven't sent Christmas cards, but I just didn't have it in me this year.   I have edited this for cyber space.  I left out names, etc... You just can't be too careful these days, you know!

My husband and I experienced the true meaning of the Circle of Life in 2010.

In April, we lost my husbands’s mom.  She had fallen and broken her hip a few weeks before.  She seemed to be recuperating well from the fall after a brief period of rehab.  She was home and as happy as she could be.  However, she died unexpectedly and suddenly.  We were stunned but relieved that she didn’t suffer more than she did.  She was a strong woman who taught us the value of hard work and family.  I remember, when I first started dating my husband, thinking that no one person could possibly do all that she did: raise 5 children, teach school, help on the farm, cook huge breakfasts and dinners every day, keep her house immaculate, and always look so beautiful!  We will miss her forever, but the memories of her will always be present with us and our children to be passed on to future generations.

My mother died in October.  Mother had always been the one upon whom others relied for remembering everything: experiences from her childhood, events of our town's history, happenings at our church (along with the the other churches in town, etc...) everyone’s birthday (family and friends), and so on...........  She never forgot anything! Mother’s main concern in life seemed to be trying to make everyone around he happy.  She worked hard to raise the three of us and help out with our cousins.  She was the most selfless person I think I ever knew. However, during her last year she struggled so much. It was difficult for us to see her this way.  On her last night, my cousin and I sat by her side.  We witnessed the peace that came over her face. What a blessing that was!  Her legacy will remain in our hearts and be passed down for generations to come.

In July, we welcomed our 6th grandchild, Lil' B. She is the sister to Lil' E (3 years old) and the daughter of our middle daughter and her husband.  Lil' B is a happy, little cherub-faced doll. Imagine the joy her birth brought to our family after we had been through the sadness of losing her Great Mamaw!

Then, in November, we were blessed with the birth of grandchild number 7!!!  "Little" Little Man, brother to "Big" Little Man (2 1/2 years old) and son to our youngest daughter and her husband,    joined our family!  He is a sweet big brown-eyed little fellow who loves to be held and rocked; this is no hardship for us, believe me!  He was born just a few weeks after Mother died, so again, the Circle of Life was evident in our lives.

These two new babies are cousins to our oldest daughter and her husband's three girls:  Miss K (10 1/2 years old), Miss J (8 years old), and Miss R(5 years old).

All of our daughters, their husbands, and children were able to come home for the Christmas

holidays!  We had a house full of laughter, squeals of delight, running and pattering feet, 

card playing, food, more food, and still more food.  There was snow with which to build a 

snowman and a hill to sled down.  There was a tractor to ride with Papaw, my husband's dad.  

Many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends gathered to reminisce and to enjoy the company of 

each other.

How blessed we are to have had such strong mothers, and the blessing continues with our friends, Papaw, and our extended families, wonderful daughters, sons-in-law, and seven healthy grandchildren!

We hope you have a wonderful 2011!