"Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree..."

Dear Dairy,

Oh, how happy I am to get my big tree up once more.  It has been many years since I bothered with it favoring instead smaller trees.  Decorating it was also a time of memory because I have glass ornaments for every trip I've taken over the years.  Russia, Japan, China, Ireland and Scotland are all represented on the tree.  I even have a glass spotted ray ornament from St. John and an Eiffel Tower for my wonderful trip to Paris!

My cousins, Mary and Penny, came over and helped hang a few of the ornaments but mostly we talked about the death of their niece, my cousin, last week.  We are still all stunned by it.  I so wish I could go to the memorial service on December 15th but it is too soon after my surgery.  My heart and prayers will be with them though as we navigate through this difficult time.