Christmas came early :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...every where you turn!
Though my tree is itty bitty this year, I had fun
digging out my ornaments and decorations that
have been packed away for three years. My angel
tree topper is more than 30 years old, and the nest
with robin's eggs was a gift from my mother more 
than 25 years ago. She always had a bird's nest
and cardinals on her Christmas tree.
My first Christmas in China was spent with
several friends from BNDS. My friend Kirsten
is now teaching in London! This was taken
at Sanya Beach, South China in 2014.
My second Christmas away from home was spent
in the Maldives, diving with the whale sharks with
my love.  This little Sri Lankan cutie helped build
this beautiful 'sandwoman' on Christmas Day 2015.
Christmas 2016 was spent in Cambodia, visiting the mystical,
spiritual, magical, and mysterious temples of Angkor Wot
with my good friend Elena. We had some incredible experiences.
For now, I am looking forward to an early Christmas, a first
Christmas, in my Florida home, with Emily coming down
for a weekend visit. After the semester ends, I am flying
to Japan to celebrate Christmas with Ellen :)
Nothing gets your home in order for the
holidays than to have company and to plan
a cocktail party for the neighbors!


Although we are not yet finished with renovations,
it sure feels good to be home!
This is our favorite spot to sit... drinking
morning coffee with Len and planning our day.
With the final week of school in the books,
(only exams are left), it was time to pick
up my Sweet Emily Tess at the Ft. Myers
airport. Christmas came early for Momma K!
Emily the cat whisperer came to town! 
It's her first time to visit my FL home :)

Big sister took care of the furry beast for the last several months
until I got home from China. Before that, Ellen had him for
nearly two and a half years...until she up and got married and moved
to Japan!  Our paths nearly crossed mid-air on my way home.

He loves sissy <3

Friday morning, we borrowed Jerry & Joy's golf cart for
a joy ride around the neighborhood.  I wanted to give her
the grand tour of all my neighbors and their boats :)
Len made us a couple of Tequila Sunrises before
the neighbors joined us for cocktail hour at our place.
Friday at 5 o'clock is always Happy Hour in Turkey Creek!

While Emily and I sipped our drinks, Willis was
showing off on his 'cat walk' along the back porch.
Dern cat!
Company started arriving so we had to get our
social game on!  It was a bit daunting, as many
snowbirds are down for the season, and I
have never met some of these folks- whew!

In no time at all, every seat was taken and
my island was filled with more food than ever.

Jimmy and David were discussing boat projects;
now that's a conversation where I can hold my own :)

And they just kept coming! Oh my goodness.
We counted 49 people and a Willis in my wee
little home. It made me happy to see everyone
having a good time with each other.
After 1.5 hours of party, this introvert and her slow to warm up
daughter had reached their max.  We bailed with Karen, Margi,
and Kathleen for some Friday night Bingo at the Community
building.  We're living large, I tell ya'- Emily got ALL
that TC has to offer- golf cart rides, good food, friends and bingo!
And yes, we all won some money to boot :) 

During 'snack break' we had to go introduce ourselves to this
elderly couple. They were the King and Queen of bingo.
They played ALL the cards, with ALL the colors, and
ALL of the lucky charms and photos of the grandkids. ADORBS.
On Saturday, with just one full day left in Em's
whirlwind weekend, there was only one thing
left on the 'must do' list...take her for a boat
ride on Kantiya.  I was so happy to introduce
her to my new (to me) sailboat.  I am really
proud of her' she's a beautiful vessel. Kenny
joined us for the ride to LaBelle.

Emily took to crewing once again like a duck
to water.  This was her first time ever going
through a lock.  We have to drop 8 feet at
Ortona Lock to go to town. She handled
the lines like a salty pro.
And then she took to her spot... she and her sister's
 roles on our previous sailboat was to be the 'bow
babes.'  Kantiya is so spacious, she can be a
stern babe, too!  Warm sunshine, and a sailboat
on the water...who could ask for more?

Margi met us for a late lunch at Forrey Grille,
our favorite eating spot in LaBelle. And with
that, Emily pretty much had the full experience
of my life in Ortona in a matter of 2 days, lol.

I am a momma that has prided her self
for instilling many traditions in her family.
This was one of the most difficult things
in going through a divorce and moving
to China for three years...I felt like I 
blew all of that apart...and in some ways 
I did.  Now that I am home, I wanted
to bring back some of those, starting
with Christmas. Sunday morning, Emily
and I celebrated our Christmas morning 
with the traditional Christmas brunch-
breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls
and fruit salad.  It felt perfect <3

Another tradition, was of course, our Christmas stockings.
I was so happy to have discovered the family's Christmas
stockings tucked away in a box.  These stockings are special
to me as they are crochet. Every year I would add a ribbon
or charm to represent being another year older. I took so
much joy adding charms to the girl's stockings for the
last three Christmases that I was in China.  As I shopped
for them and tied them on, I reminisced on all the previous
year's charms on the girl's stockings. Emily's charm for
this year was a little home for the home that Chase and
Emily purchased together this year- taking their relationship
to that next level. I will be delivering Ellen's stocking to
her in Japan when I leave next week. Ellie's charm for
this year is double hearts, to which I added she and Herb's
initials to represent their marriage earlier this year <3 <3
This momma's heart is happy and full.

And Willis couldn't be happier with tissue paper- dern cat.
With one early Christmas down, the next one is gearing up!  I have finals this week, I'll turn in my grades by Friday, and then on Sunday, December 10th I fly back to Asia.  I am making a surprise visit in Beijing to see my colleagues and former students, and then it's on to Japan to see my Ellie bug! The Christmas blessings just keep coming.  Life is good.

Getting back to the happiest girl in the USA!

G/nite, y'all!

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