My New Year's Wish for you...

Happy New Year from Mom, Mimi, Merry

Bon Voyage to Kate!

Today the family, at least those who were in town, gathered together for a farewell lunch in honor of daughter, little sister and aunt, Kate. As I write she has started her long journey back to Nicaragua, loaded down with goodies for a new restaurant, seeds for planting, gifts and requests from neighbors and a multitude of things that she needed but couldn't get on Little Corn Island.

I write with mixed emotion about this quest of hers, so very sad that she has gone but all the while realizing that it is something she has to do and is doing so with great joy in her heart. What mother and Father wouldn't want their child to be happy and what better way to send her off than to have their other children around for support!!

Thanks to all of you who took the time out of your busy schedules to give Kate such a special ending to her Christmas trip home.

Lunch at Figo Pasta

Afterwords, next door for Cup Cakes at Gigi's!

Okay, baby Kate, I will leave you with one good message; put God in all that you do and if you just happen to find that special someone along the way, make sure he fits in with the best of the best (including Shannon and Alan) ! I'm just saying...


Bye Kate!! Bye-Bye Kate!! We LOVE YOU!! BonVoyage!! Come Back Soon!!! We'll miss you!! Bye-Bye! bye-bye... we love you... bye!


Later, from home, going to the airport... "Bye, Mama."

Sweet Memories of Christmas 2010

William holds my hand at Christmas Eve Services

The sweet ending of a Christmas Eve fondue dinner.
.

The family coming in on Christmas morning...

Christmas Day Morning with phone calls from absent children.

My sweet family making good conversation before our gift exchange.
Laughter and Guitar Shirts that made real sound!
Very special Christmas Boxes.

The snowy trip to Nana's house!

Arriving at 600 once again.
The next day being back at the prettiest sight you'll see... ...and Kate making home made pizza!!

I must say...I did NOT miss the real Christmas this year! Oh, thank you God for blessing this family and thank you family for all your gifts of love.

Christmas Eve...I'm getting ready.

More Christmas abundance!

Okay, so some of you have to work while I get to take my daughter and two of my grandchildren to Studio Movie Grill for lunch and to watch The Chronicles of Narnia...in 3D no less!

And can you imagine the fun I am having delivering the four perfectly prepared and packaged pound cakes that I commissioned grandson, Andrew, to make for me as the most delicious Christmas gifts ever!...One of which we took, along with salad and wine, to our most beloved, long ago, Shiver Summit neighbors; for an evening of dinner and fellowship.

Such glorious, glorious ways to fill our hearts with Christmas!

Now everybody do the S-C HAPPY DANCE!

An Amazing 2010 Caroling Party!

Hosted by the S-C family and contributed to by the Regas', S Crofts and the T Crofts, makes for a wonderful evening of song, chili, cookies and fellowship. This has been a 25 year family tradition!

Thanks, Kim and Tom, for the photo!

A gift called, "Run Down"...

Kate shopped today for the special ingredients that go into a community, island dish, cooked over an open fire, in a cauldron, called "rundown." It is made for large groups of neighboring people on Little Corn Island, of which she was invited to join. Her first cooking of the rundown was a gift to Mike, Joe, Issy, her father and me. We took all the ingredients to Mike's house (Mary had a ladies party to attend) and Kate preceded to put together a huge pot of "rundown" for the family. It was awesome! Before dinner we had a lovely cabbage salad served with freshly fried plantains...also awesome!!

After dinner we played with Lucy (the family dog), chatted together, looked at pictures from recent trips and enjoyed their comfortable home. It was another wonderful before Christmas event!

A California/Florida Christmas

Morgan and Aidan

Ford and Morgan flew out to California this past week to spend some of their Christmas vacation with Aunt Kristin, Uncle Alan and the boys. They will join their parents in Florida to celebrate Christmas week with their O'Donnell grandparents . Have a great time guys! We'll miss you but soooo glad you are having some special time together. Keep sending those pictures!!!

King of Kings! Lord of Lords!

Now I can say, "I'm ready for Christmas!" Hallelujah!!!

Look closely (in the middle) and see if you can see our Kate (reunited with childhood neighbor and friend, Arden) singing to the Christ Child.

The baking of the Christmas Cookie!

Joe and Isabelle came over on Friday to share some time with Kate and me. We smothered, covered ourselves in flour and cookie dough after enjoying the same with large plates of hash browns at Waffle House! Miracle on 34th Street, Rummikub, computer exploring and fabulous trampoline photos were among other activities.

Messiah tonight, church and the Caroling Party on Sunday! I just love the days leading up to Christmas!! Gotta run and get busy, much to do!

Some of the sight and sounds leading up to a Croft Christmas

The gift of family...

Kate is coming home for Christmas, and we'll all rejoice together

at Kim and Tom's Caroling Party on the 19th. Get ready for a spicy night, because Shannon and Mike are both making chili!

Family..."Our finest gift we bring to set before the King!"...

Can't help it, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" ;)

Daddy's Heavenly birthday is today...

December is a reminder of things good and bad...The good far out weights the bad! What I want most for Christmas is to keep the magic and cherish the promise. :)

The Story Teller...

If you ever just want to sit back and hear someone tell you a good story, here's that someone who can do just that! Just turn up your volume, click on the picture and enjoy..

From Issy, the story teller 1-10 Good Job Isabelle!

12/1... A special day

Mary is having a birthday and we all are ready to celebrate her! Happy Birthday, dear one, you are loved by many!

A birthday lunch with Jessica Regas, Carol Regas Catlett, Merry, Kim, Mary and Molly! What fun!!

Thanksgiving 2010

A lovely Thanksgiving day, good food, good fellowship, Thanksgiving trivia, new recipes from Terr's brother, Tom and Tom S-C's mother, Barbara, Andrew brulee-ing the creme :), a touching visit with Mary's Mother and our friend, Marlene, while Emily and William (and Grandad) put up the Christmas tree...but most of all, we were grateful.

Preparing for Thanksgiving

Do I go more formal or keep it casual and friendly? This morning I am trying different table settings for our Thanksgiving dinner. I have a very eclectic array of dishes, place mats, napkins and the like to choose from, but none that particularly match or that are very high in quality. The Haviland that was given to us by Terr's mom is fragile and the dinner plates are too small for a Thanksgiving feast. The old blue and white that I have used for over 30 years just doesn't color match the dinning room and seems to belong in the kitchen. I pulled out the old glass plates, placed them on top of a gold charger, which looks much better at Christmas, but after throwing a couple of fall leaves under them, I think they could be a possibility. I have beautiful, antique, linen napkins (again passed down through the Croft family), but after putting an extra leaf in the table the table cloth won't fit, so the napkins seem a little out of place...

It's all sort of a hodge-podge of time honored things that when pulled together seems okay...comfortable, not too fragile, but friendly. It just doesn't feel good enough for such a special occasion. Maybe when all the well-prepared food is added to the table and the wine is poured, maybe then it will come to life with eye-appealing satisfaction. Oh, then when we start smelling the bread and light the candles, hungry tummies will leap for joy and the conversation will get louder.

The kitchen will get crowded, Terr will hush the crowd and say, in a loud voice, "Everybody get in a circle and hold hands to pray!" We calm down, and as I look around the silent circle I will see the faces that I love so dearly. I will see what makes my table beautiful and complete. It will be just right for those of us who could gather together this year; and as we bow our heads in prayer, we will be so thankful for each other and for the rest of you who are at other tables being thankful for us, in return.

May God continue to bless this family, to bring you home often and to keep you safe when you are away. I am so thankful that God graced me with you in my life..."There is no other word for GRACE, but AMAZING." It feels so right to say, Happy Thanksgiving. I love you, more than life itself.

Mom/Mimi/Merry

Joe's Colts' Finish 2nd!

Joe waits to be called in to the game.

Saturday was the Atlanta Colts final championship game of the season. The Colts fought hard but were out-played by the opposing team and lost the final round. Joe had some good kick-offs and blocks and excited all the grandparents (5 of them in the stands!) with an exciting last play where he got himself wide open with hands raised to receive the quarterback's pass...he was in the right place at the right time...but sadly the ball was overthrown and went way over his head for an incomplete. :( We were all excited about what should have been.



Joe has had another good season and we are proud of his efforts. He is already into his basketball season but has had to miss several of his practices due to championship football games.

Congratulation to all Grands who finished, and finished well, their fall sport. (Write Mimi a note and send me a picture, I would love to enter it in the Chatterbox news!)

Other interesting happenings that have been reported to me is that Andrew and Emily both auditioned and got parts in the upcoming Spring Play at Wesleyan! Andrew also received a call from the high school director asking him to join the high school musical cast of Footloose. It seems they need a few more good singers and dancers to make a good show. With two plays and a musical review with his Saturday drama company; Andrew will have a busy winter!

Morgan is still rock climbing several times a week. Issy is playing basketball after just finishing her cheer leading season. Emily is taking an extra art class outside of school. I understand that Ford and Morgan are playing a lot of tennis with the pros! Keegan and Aidan have finished up their soccer season with Aidan's team going all the way to the championship play-offs! Aidan played Goalie...

Now, I've got to tell you...that's a lot to CHEER about!