Now that the Christmas Holiday Season is coming to an end I truly hope that you had an enjoyable week and that you shared it with your friends and family. 

 

Santa came a few days early for me with the news that I was cancer free and that I had taken my last chemo treatment.  This was surely the best present I received this year.  After living with this and the treatment for over three years, it is a little hard for me to believe that it has finally happened, but I will accept it and take it one day at a time. My heart is a little heavy over the loss of Karen Renzelli and Kim Kassella, but I know that we had no control over this and we must accept God's plan.  My sincere condolences to their families.

 

My kids had planned a cousins holiday party on Sunday and there were about seventy members from the Queen, Keister and Smith families. It was so wonderful to celebrate with everyone and we hope this will become an annual event.  I was so happy to share my good news with everyone, especially all those who travelled down that road with me.

 

I would be remiss if I did not mention my last treatment at the hospital and the good wishes from everyone in Dr. Bragger's office, the lab staff and the staff at the infusion center.  Although I am so happy to be done, I will miss everyone and the wonderful care they gave me.  A public thank you to all of you.

 

Our family did our Christmas Eve fish dinner at Lisa and Andy Lang's house.  Yes, we had our seven fish dishes. Leslie and Dixon Pruitt hosted our Christmas dinner and Leslie has turned out to be a great cook.  I am so lucky that I have all of my children here and that we were all together.

 

Now we are preparing for the New Year and we will have our traditional kraut dinner.  Tradition means a lot to us. As we approach the New Year, I pledge to live it one day at a time.  I hope each of you will resolve to do this also.  I have learned that I am not in charge and that someone bigger than I am will take charge of each day.  We may search for answers but we will not always get them.  Each day will be a gift to us.

 

Best wishes to each of you and your families for 2019. Happy New Year And until next week "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."