Good morning, my friends.  Well, I thought about continuing the retirement...day two, but that gets old fast.  The weirdest part about Gary being home is that I'm sleeping later....don't know what that's all about, but he quietly gets out of bed and goes downstairs to put the coffee on and about a half hour later I must smell the coffee!  I think it will take some getting used to that I'm being waited on!

We are busily getting packed for our little Christmas holiday.  I made a big crockpot of beef stew last night and it's all ready for the kids to begin showing up later tonight.  I can't believe that we will be in Hawaii tomorrow afternoon (nighttime here on the east coast) and in warmer temperatures.  Gary called to check on some reservations yesterday and the young woman in Oahu told him that we might want to bring some jackets....it was close to 66 degrees at night!  Gary laughed and said he thought we would be okay since it was predicted to be 18 degrees in Pittsburgh last night!  Sixty-six degrees is a heat wave in December!

I will be offline for a few days.  We will pick up "free" wireless in Maui and that will be on Saturday, December 26th.  I pray that each of you have a safe, relaxing and refreshing time spiritually, physically and mentally over the Christmas holidays.  Reflect on all your many blessings and simplify the true meaning for the season.  A baby born in a stable, laid in a manger...no fanfare, no elaborate tree, no fancy meal and table settings....puts it all into proper perspective, doesn't it?  God bless, my friends and Merry Christmas!