From mine to yours!

I'd like to extend my sincerest well wishes to all of our family and friends, offering prayers that 2023 proves to be a significant improvement over 2022. Social Media being what it is, we are gifted glimpses into the lives of those who hold value to us, but the content of those sneak peeks is 100% controlled by the poster. Like everyone, there's more to our lives than the stuff deemed worthy of sharing, and whatever you're dealing with in your life, it is our wish that you know how much we appreciate you in our lives, and that we are honoured that you have extended the olive branch.

Joyce and I talk all the time of the 100's of friends over our lives that bring happiness and fulfillment through continued connection, but those that we would label as significant, the kind that are first on the help-needed list when life deals you a shot to the solar plexus, wouldn't fill up a post-it note. Please don't read into that! And, no, we won't be sharing any secrets. Those on speed dial very probably already know. 

We LOVE the life we've created, and we have no regrets with the end product of our life's efforts. Regardless of their makeup, ALL of our friendships have made a difference, and we appreciate each and every last one!

Family is pretty darned important to Joyce and I, even more so on "high" holidays like Christmas. When it comes to our immediate family, choosing to "pitch our tent" in 3 different communities means we don't often share time as an entire unit other than those special times in a year. We offer prayers of gratitude to the Lord when they happen. While I wouldn't label us as religious, I would say that God plays a role in our lives, influencing the way we live a fulsome life aligning well with the universal truths outlined in the sacred texts of the all world's religions. There are some families that establish connections of great depth and intensity, and some far less so, with Joyce and I feeling we fall into the bulging midline of that continuum. 

Hey, we like the way we do things ... that's why we do them ... so there'll be zero regrets on our part.

As we've aged, my extended family has begun the inevitable downsizing exercises, starting with my mom's transition from our childhood home to a more manageable condo. Joyce and I followed suit not far after, as regular readers already know, but two of my brothers still hold tightly onto the "knot at the end of the rope" with detached houses. Of my three brothers, my brother Dave's family home is the most accommodating in size, and as such, he opened his front door to those of us that could make it for some Christmas LUV'n, a tradition sorely missing after mom sold and during the pandemic years. 

For reasons that are obvious, there was an empty spot on the couch. 

My brother Rob has made remarkable improvements over the past 4 weeks since returning home from Sunnybrook, but he and Jen sent their regrets when the invitation was issued. Joyce and I stop by Rob's place once a week to stay in touch because it hits home when your family is forced to confront "The Big C", and we're ecstatic that his troubles look like they're in the rear view mirror.

It felt wonderfully strange to share air sans mask with those I hold dear to my heart, and there was so much catching up to do. Granted, not everyone in our extended family was able to come, some bogged down at work or not able to make the long trip back to Barrie, but for all that could, smiles, sparkles, laughs, and genuine affection completely filled the space. While we each contributed to the spread, the bulk of the treats were thanks to the generosity of Dave's house with his Spanish exchange student adding the piece de resistance, sharing her ethnic culinary abilities with Ensaladilla Rusa two ways and smoked salmon canapés. YUM! Thanks so much Dave and Cheryl!

Reacquainting ourselves with each other, it occurred to both Joyce and I how blessed we are with such a glorious assortment of personalities and talents, astutely proud of the great young people our children, nieces, and nephews have become now that everyone is adulting full time!

The wondrous pre-Christmas week continued when we pointed the RAV northeastward for the trip up to Haliburton to celebrate early with my Mother-in-law Pearl and Joyce's brother's family (Gary, his wife Ruth, and their son Jamie). Although previous Foster family get-togethers had included Gary+Ruth's daughter Krista, husband Jeff, and children Levi and Lexi, those chairs were vacant this time around thanks to Jeff's transfer to Germany for an extended service in the Canadian Armed Forces. Gary's family lives pretty much on the opposite side of Ontario from us (Cobden/Pembroke area), so making the long trip from the far east amounts to a special event. Pearl, bless her, denied her 90+ years, whipping up a delicious spread that delighted of our grumbling tummies, and we capped off the visit by sharing our gifts to each other. Jamie stole the show thanks to his wonderfully quirky sense of humour, spurring out-loud Guffaws on a number of occasions. Due to the large amount of KM's between us, we don't share time with Gary, Ruth and family as often as we should, so when we are able, the time races, hours seeming like mere moments. Our travel home was filled with banter about the experience, wide smiles on our faces.

For our own children, Joyce and I have always implored them to balance time with both sides of their families on a alternating basis so we might continue to embrace the Christmas morning traditions we established over the years like fresh cinnamon rolls, Christmas morning Wife-Saver, and dad's rhyming hide-a-present game. Keaton, partner Jessica, and fur-baby Zuke arrived on Christmas Eve day, despite the latest version of Snowmageddon. After a quick catch-up, we jumped into the RAV to go see my mom for a combo Christmas visit / introduction since she's never met Jessica, much to the dismay of Zuke who got left behind. We had a lovely chat, took the obligatory pic, and got a chance to visit with my brother Dave's family for a bit since they had come to spend the evening with mom. White-knuckling it back to the beach through a ridiculous set of streamers was the only downer of the day, and we give thanks to the white pickup that shepherded us home in white-out conditions!

Christmas Eve was truly an event! 

Keaton and Jess treated us to a Raclette. Yeah, we'd never heard of it before then either, but  IT ... WAS ... DELICIOUS! If you're like us with no clue, think griddle on top with cheese melting stations below, creating a host of ooey-gooey tastebud tantalizers that featured steak, sausages, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, and veggies smothered in melted Emmental, Gruyere, or Gouda. An over-eaters Nirvana! The evening's crescendo was sharing the Jim Carrey version of "The Grinch"!

Maddison, hubby Chris, and fur-baby Remington made the trip to the Beach on Christmas afternoon after spending Christmas Eve and morning in the "Shwaa" with his side of the family. The reacquaintance,  gift opening, and laughter aside, we shared an amazing family day feasting on the traditional fare of turkey with all the fixin's. At one point, I pushed my chair back, and basked in the gloriousness of having my family together in our intimate little condo ... all was right, from my perspective. Like the Grinch who finally learns the true meaning of Christmas, my heart swells with pride and gratitude when blessed with times like these.

Suffering the corny old adage, "God bless us, everyone!"