First, Merry Christmas to all on this board. I joined in June and have so many ideas running around in my head, I know I'll never get them all done or even remember all of them. I have three grown children and have visited two of them already and the third is a Marine in South Carolina (thankfully still in the states) and have sent their gifts. So it is just me and the DH - who by the way, just left for work - hospitals - they never close. So I'm here alone today (hurrah for me) I work full time also but have today off. So I'm going to read this board for a while longer, then go downstairs to sew, sew, straighten up, sew some more, maybe plan another quilt, etc. A day to myself and no Christmas rush. This evening I'm taking food out of the freezer and my DH and I will open our gifts after supper. Some folks at work feel sorry for me that no one is coming to our house at Christmas. Me, I'm just very thankful for everything we have in our lives, we have our health, our jobs, three wonderful independent children and we have each other, lastly we both have wonderful hobbies to keep us sane. Now, I'm off to surfing for more wonderful patterns and then off I go to sew, sew, sew, and make my "to do" list for next year!!!

Merry Christmas to you too. I have spent the last week in the hospital with my brother who just had surgery for cancer. We just got the news they got it all! That's my Christmas gift!

Congratulations! That should go on our "best present ever" thread. What a Christmas miracle and blessing you've just received!

Merry Christmas to each and every one of my quilting brothers and sisters. Grandma always said that what you do on New Year's Day will set the tone for your entire year. Personally I plan to be working on a quilt and visiting Threads of Time in Danville Ill. It's my very favorite fabric store of all. They've got a thing going on between Christmas and New Years that if you spend $175 you get double reward points for the entire year of 2011! That's like a full time 20% discount. I'm going to offset the rising cost of fabric by making sure I get those double points. I may by a retreat pass for $350. That will get me not only the double points but also I'll be able to stay at the retreat center for as many nights as possible at no charge. Think they'd let me move in???

What a wonderful and cozy time you will have this
Christmas. My DH and I also are with each other and we know our grown children are safe and in their homes as it should be. This is a blessed time and I wish you both the warmth and caring of each other's company.

Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thank your son for us for serving! My boy (Navy Seabee) gets to spend this Christmas on US soil (without having to go back overseas right away) for the first time in four years! He is staying at the bas in MS with his fiancee! My other two children live local and will be out here with their father today to celebrate. Two step-children are visiting with their mother for the Holidays. I would love to sit and sew all day today.....

I have had two parties now, so today is my day just to relax and be on the board and read things that I may have missed the last couple of days.

our family christmas is today, we will be heading out shortly to my neices house in MA. We will all be together and do all the party things then head back to NH. tomorrow it is just us and our DD. and everyone else spends time with their families.

Merry Christmas to you and enjoy your day

Merry Christmas to you too :D:D:D