Another happy and joyful Christmas Eve filled with many memories at the Collier Home.

Once again the family and friends gathered at our home to celebrate on Christmas Eve. This has been the tradition for many years. Friends of our children and grandchildren are always welcome and it has been more of an open house than a family gathering.

This year we were blessed with a surprise visit by our Granddaughter Bridget Underwood. She flew into Columbus Ohio to visit with a girl friend and contacted another Granddaughter Valerie who also lives in Ohio and rode with them to Indianapolis and came to Brownsburg with our daughter Teri for the evening. It was a great Christmas present to see her.

We also had as our guest Brett's relatives Leonard and Sherril Berry. They are a delightful couple and we were honored to have them with us.. I believe Sherril is the sister of Brett's grandmother but not positive about that.

We missed Mike and Renae and Kris and Earl. Perhaps next year.

The evening is always filled with visiting, stories, some gift exchanging and lots of good food and some singing.

Already looking forward to next year.

Right now on Christmas night we are awaiting the birth of Brett and Laura's second child. Another Greatgrandson to add to the list. It is now ten p.m. and Laura is at the hospital. Questionable as to whether or not he will be a Christmas baby.

Remember to Love much, Laugh often and Live happy

Friday December 3, 2010

Rejoined the New Horizons Band today. I had started with this band in 1994 and learned to be a percussionist. Played with the band until 2006 and left because of taking a job driving for Link, a public transportation system here in Hendricks County. I have missed the band and decided to go back now that I am no longer employed. This is the first time since I retired as an Air Traffic Controller in 1982 that I have not had a job or been looking for one

THANKSGIVING 2010

Once again part of the family gathered for the Thanksgiving holiday. It has been a tradition for many years for those who age able to gather together for this holiday. In past years beside meeting in various homes we have gathered in Gatlinburg Tn on two occasions. In the earlier years when the grandchildren were young there were times when the whole family was present. When they got older , went to school and had jobs it became impossible for 100% attendance. Who ever could make it did.

This year we decided to go to a restaurant in Indianapolis. Our daughter Teri made the reservations for six. It was going to be Grandma and I, our son Scott, Teri and two of her friends. As it turned out our son Mike from Long Beach Ms called and asked what we were doing for Thanksgiving. I told him what was planned. He then told me that the two friends of Teri's was actually he and his lovely wife were the two friends of Teri's. There showing up was supposed to be a surprise but he wanted to know if our bed in the family room where they always stayed was going to be available. He thought he better call ahead. I had to tell him that we no longer had the couch that made into a bed as we had given it to Steve, our son who lives in Metamora. They have a shop there and when Grandma and I go down to visit we use that for our sleeping quarters. He said that was ok and they would stay with Teri. As it turned out they stayed with our son Dan who had an apartment in his home that had been used by his mother-in-law who had passed away several weeks before. Mike and Renae came to our house upon arriving in Brownsburg and we visited for the evening before they went to Dan's

Thursday we went to dinner at one p.m. As we sat down at our table for eight (remember it was supposed to be six) We were wondering what was going on when who should appear, our son Steve and his lovely wife Brenda. We were all surprised except Teri who had planned the whole thing

We enjoyed a very nice Thanksgiving dinner and visited for several hours. After dinner Steve an Brenda had to return to Metamora to their shop because the next day was the first day of the Christmas shopping experience and they had to open up.

The rest of us went to our granddaughter's house. She and her husband had fixed dinned for her her family and Bretts family. She had asked us to come over after dinner for dessert. We had a very happy visit and it made for the end of a very enjoyable day.

The following day , Friday some of the family women were going shopping and Grandma and I and Mike and Renae decided That we would drive to Metamora and surprise Steve and Brenda with a visit. Turnaround is fair play and Mike and Renae had not seen their new shop.

On the way down we decided to make a stop at the casino. Good decision I won some money which was enough to offset Grandma's loss with a little left over. Mike and Renae left a little richer too.

We travelled to Metamora and visited for about an hour, Visiting was difficult because Steve and Brenda had to work taking care of business.

We drove back to Indianapolis as we had been invited to Teri"s for supper. We had turkey enchiladas and black beans. Had a nice visit and returned to Brownsburg about eight o'clock. Visited with Mike and Renae for another hour or so and then retired

Mike and Renae came over about eight thirty the next (Sat) morning and we had breakfast. Visited about an hour and they departed for Long Beach Ms.

This was just the latest in a long line of holiday vacations our family has had. Everyone has memories. It is my hope that down the years in the future this side of the Collier clan will be gathering somewhere to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. I know that sometimes it has been a real sacrifice to attend a family gathering from a distance but I hope you have found it as much of a blessing as I have. Looking forward to next time. A wedding I believe. Yep we celebrate those to.