This is our family's advent calendar. We have had it for at least 20 years, maybe longer. It was made by Avon, and my mom gave it to us. We have used it every year, and it is a big part of our family tradition. Even when our girls were teenagers and too cool for Christmas decorations, one of them always moved the little mouse to the next pocket every day. This morning Boppaw got to show the little mousie to Eliza, who appropriately oohed and aahed. I don't know how many more years it will hold together, but we'll use it as long as we can.

I'm in Nicaragua visiting my sponsored "son" Javier and his friends. He is actually one of the lucky ones, because he has a house with a roof and a concrete floor. When I walked in and saw this bed, I knew I would not be able to sleep in my own soft and comfortable one if I did not do something. So he got a set of boxsprings and mattress. After I got home and ready to post this picture, I realized my previous December 3 photo was a picture of my bed. What a contrast, and how blessed am I, and are most of us. I hope that Javier will have comfort and rest on his new bed.

Today we had a pool party at our hotel to celebrate many of our boys graduating from high school. These three asked me to take their picture and I told them they had to do the See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil thing. Even though they are in their late teens, they sometimes seem like little kids and the smallest things make them happy. We could all learn from Javier, Deybis, and Wilmer.

Our friend Jeff George (on the left) and his 15 year old daughter Hannah were tragically killed last Wednesday in a fiery single car crash near Roanoke, Virginia. Jeff was a heart surgeon, who saved my dad's life by doing his bypass surgery six years ago. My husband Bill (on the right) and I went to junior high and high school with Jeff. He was in youth choir with us and was Bill's roommate on choir tour. He was our best man at our wedding. Bill and Jeff and other friends went on several hiking trips out west in the last few years (this pic is at Mt. Rainer). We are saddened and shocked by this loss. Hannah was an only child. Teresa, his wife, lost her whole family in an instant. Jeff was a kind, humble, loving man. I know that Jeff and Hannah are with God in heaven, but it is a small consolation to us.

Times like this remind us to hold our loved ones close, hug them, kiss them and tell them "I love you." Because life is truly very fragile.

My wish to all my pbase friends is for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

On the way to a Christmas party last night, driving through Barboursville, WV.

Doesn't everyone over the age of 40 remember this little plastic nativity set? We had one just like this when I was growing up. For some reason, my mom got rid of a lot of the older decorations. So I picked this one up on eBay a couple of years ago, and it brings back happy memories of Christmases long long ago, as the song goes.

It is hard to explain to anyone the chaos that is Christmas Eve in our family. My husband is one of 5 kids, who all have kids and grandkids. We all live in the same town, so we are always together for Christmas Eve. Add in some inlaws and boyfriends, and you have about 35 people for dinner. That's the easy part. It's the gift opening that really starts the craziness. We draw names, but there are 14 kids under 13 years old, so there is lots of shrieking and jumping around. Then you give the adults a couple glasses of wine, and bring out the karoake machine. I'm telling you, there isn't a better party in town!

Since I'm usually behind the camera, I'm rarely in a picture. I also pretty much hate every picture of myself, so there aren't too many pics of me lately. I was too lazy to set up the tripod and self-timer, so this will have to do for a self-portrait.