Countdown to Christmas

Here at Turner Resort we're all decked out and realizing there are only a few short days til Christmas... Are you ready? We're not either!! But therein lies all the fun, right? At least we're not dealing with a Nor'easter blizzard, as is the East Coast, and Jim's brother and his family, who have just recently moved to Virgina from Hawaii! The kids kept asking for a white Christmas, having not had many of those, and by golly, they're getting it! Take a look-see at Kim's blog! Whoo-ee, that's a lot of snow!

One of my Christmas traditions is having lunch with my dear friend Mary Lou. Friday we met at Panera at Jordan Creek Mall.

And part of Mary Lou's tradition is to make me divinity - without nuts of course, just for me, along with a growing number of other goodies!! It's hard to believe we've known each other for almost 25 years. And how we first met is a laugh and a half...

So, if you'll allow me... I'll take a moment and travel back down Memory Lane to my senior year in high school. My best friend, Victoria, and I were managers for the boys' track team. One weekend in the spring we and the team headed out on a 2 hour bus ride to the annual track meet at the UNI Dome. Only that year the coach made a mistake and we arrived on the wrong weekend! Well, the bus driver had made plans to have lunch with a friend and she wanted to take that lunch before we headed back. So the rest of us spent an hour running around the parking lot while we waited for her to return. Of course, we all acted like total morons on the way back - realizing we'd wasted an entire day. The poor bus driver had to continually tell us all to sit down and behave ourselves on the trip home. Well, that night, I was relating this story to my new boyfriend of only a couple weeks. I went on and on. And then he got kinda quiet and began to laugh. Before I had time to ask what was so funny a woman came on the line and asked if I was one of those goofy managers on the bus. I didn't know what to say... to laugh or apologize.... for you see... The bus driver that drove us to and from Cedar Rapids that day was none other than my boyfriend's MOTHER!!!

Needless to say, I learned many valuable lessons that day. And to this day, I will never forget! We still laugh about it! Many years later, we are still the best of friends. She is the reason I have Brandy. And she is who I credit most of what I know about horses to today. She graciously ushered me into showing, breeding, trail riding and camping. And if it weren't for her, we wouldn't have Charmer either, as she owned Charmer's daddy. Ahhhh, memory lane!

So back to where this blog entry began... The first time Mary Lou made me divinity was my senior year in high school, when I dated her eldest son. When I went off to college, she was the first person to send me a care package... and it was filled with no-nut divinity! I was in Heaven and will never forget it! She continues to make it for me every year and I treasure it as much as I do our friendship over these many years. Thanks, Mary Lou!!

Not every one is out Christmas shopping ... After chores I peeked out the south barn door and found Mia's twins fast asleep under our big oak tree out back.

When they heard the camera click, both turned to look at me.

One yawned and said, "Oh, hey, it's only you. I'm going back to bed." They've been hanging pretty close to the house with all the gunfire around us right now.

Back inside, we're both busy as elves wrapping and finishing presents. Jim is helping Santa's elves finish up a gift here...(censored)

So as we near the big day, take a few moments to relax and take it all in. It goes by so quickly! We hope when you gather around your tree for Christmas you'll be surrounded by your loved ones, all warm and toasty. Merry Christmas everyone!!