Celebrating Christmas is one of the joys that make us all happy. This is the 57th Christmas we have celebrated as a married couple. Collecting decorations through the years has accumulated to quite a lot! Being one that has a hard time getting rid of collections the boxes are really too many for me to place about our home these days.
This year has been quite joyous for Grayden and I. We were able to go on a World Voyage for the first five months of the year.
After three surgeries, we are praying that he will be feeling better. His next appointment with a specialist is scheduled for the middle of February! This is shocking to us that we have to wait that long.
The chatterbox wren loves to sit on the railing singing his tunes!
We both enjoy daily walks together when Grayden is up to doing so. This morning we got a thrill when we came home from a walk. Going up the driveway we heard the call of a Bald Eagle! He began flying around and ended up perching in the oak tree out back.
Saying we were both delighted is an understatement! He stayed around long enough to allow me to go inside and get my camera!
Though the photos are not perfect, it was a perfect moment for us.
We have lived in our home for 50 years now and this is the first time we've ever had an eagle land so close to us in our yard!
Observing nature has always been wonderful for us. Bald Eagles have really made a comeback over the years we have lived here between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers.
Thank you for stopping by, my friends, I hope your days are full of joy!
How incredibly wonderful to have a Bald Eagle in your garden! Yet equally I love your Wren. They bring to mind Jane Goodall's The Eagle and the Wren.
ReplyDeletePrayers and good wishes for Grayden's full recovery. No one wants to be poorly, but what a blessing you had returned home!
Have a good week, my friend!
Thank you, Deb for telling me about The Eagle and the Wren. I was not familiar with that fable and had to look it up. A great reminder that we all fly on eagle wings Love Jane Goodall and her work is astonishing!
DeleteThank you for your good wishes for my sweetheart. You have a nice week as well, my friend!
Martha Ellen, I am so sorry to read about Grayden's health struggles these past months. Praying right now that he will get good care and healing. 57 Christmases together is a blessing. That eagle landing so close by is great. I would be thrilled, too.
ReplyDeleteWe appreciate your prayers, Ellen. The eagle stayed so long and allowed us to really enjoy his majesty.
DeleteI was really happy you were able to go on your world voyage! Now I’m very concerned about Grayden. I hope good health is on the way for him! You are very fortunate to see a bald eagle in the wild. I have only seen them in a controlled environment. My very best wishes to you during this Christmas season. You have what you need to create a festive atmosphere! Love and hugs!
ReplyDeleteNellie, I appreciate your friendship so much. Thank you as always for your kindnesses. Sending you wishes for a lovely Christmas! Love and hugs to you as well.
DeleteHello! Your tree is beautiful!!! Prayers for Grayden's health. And your photos of the wildlife are stunning. Enjoy this blessed season, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Billie Jo. I know you and your family will enjoy a wonderful Christmas!
DeletePraying for a speedy recovery for Grayden’s return to good health. I am so sorry you have both had all this stress. May 2024 be your happiest! An eagle in your yard, incredible! Also enjoyed the sweet cardinal on the pretty apple feeder, and all the other dear little things that are a true gift. You have decorated your home beautifully. Wishing you both a wonderful Christmas Martha Ellen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise. It has been stressful for us both, but especially Grayden. He's always been so healthy. We were thrilled beyond words at the bald eagle sighting yesterday! He was so patient to allow us to view him as he scanned the area! Wishing you and Gregg a wonderful Christmas as well, my friend!
DeleteHello My Dear Friend, just letting you and Grayden know that I am thinking of you and Grayden, and sending a big hug xox
DeleteDenise, you are such a sweetheart, dear friend! Thank you so much for thinking of us. Grayden is doing much better---hooray! We both are so grateful for these better days in the new year. Though issues need to be addressed we both feel hopeful. Should we build an ark? Stay dry and cozy, dear one.
DeleteYour Christmas tree is so pretty, Martha Ellen. I love how it sits beautifully in the corner of the room. I'm so sorry Grayden has had health issues this year. I am saying a prayer for both of you. Your Santa flag is so cute, and the Christmas plates are delightful. Wow, the Eagle is a grand bird and always a sight to behold. How wonderful that you saw him in the oak tree coming back from your walk. And the red cardinal is really a treat to see also.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas season to you, Martha Ellen.
~Sheri
We appreciate the prayers so much, Sheri. It was so grand seeing that majestic Bald Eagle. It was quite a joy to see him for so long! Merry Christmas season to you as well, Sheri.
DeleteYour tree is splendid and I love how the lights reflect on the various windows from the corner -- you get "extra value" for all the lights! It has been a year for you, of highs and some lows. Sending all good wishes for Graydon. i hear the same thing about surgical specialists and the delays from those both here in the states and in other countries as well. For some things, it can just be aggravating to wait -- maybe pan or not being able to plan but for other, the delays can be more serious. I hope all goes well for you over the holidays and the upcoming months. Merriest to you!
ReplyDeleteYes, Jeanie this has been one of those high low years for sure. Life can hand us those. You are right, seeing a specialist is a world wide problem. The baby boomers are aging and the medical profession is having a hard time keeping up. Thank you for your kind comments as always. Have a very merry weekend!
DeleteI was sorry to read about Grayden's recent health struggles, praying that 2024 will be a healthier year for him.
ReplyDeleteI think your Christmas tree looks lovely and how nice to see the Bald Eagle, the squirrel, the wren and the colourful Cardinal.
I wish you a Happy Christmas Season.
All the best Jan
Thank you for your prayers concerning Grayden, Jan.
DeleteHappy Christmas Season to you and Eddie!
You have the most beautiful setting for your tree. The lights of the tree sparkle in the window panes. I
ReplyDeleteBald Eagle is such a stately looking bird. I found on you tube a video of the sound that an Eagle makes. I don't think I have heard one. I have seen in the distance but not close like you have.
Prayers I send for Grayden's health. Frustrating that it is taking so long to see a doctor. A doctor my husband had been seeing retired. One of my doctors retired.
A doctor at the walk-in clinic here told my husband that some are frustrated with how it's become in the medical field. Not sure of what all that is but said more will be leaving. Sad to hear.
Wishing you and family a Merry Christmas
Thank you Betsy for your kind comments. Grayden is feeling better these days and we are so thankful! We appreciate your prayers, my friend. This whole process has been very frustrating to us as well as Grayden's other doctors!
DeleteSeeing that Bald Eagle was quite a joyous day for us! They are quite magnificent and that day will always be remembered by us.
Sending you wishes for a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you for your beautiful photos... the eagle is particularly magnificent to look at.
ReplyDeleteI wish you both a lot of joy and, above all, a wonderful Christmas...
A greeting comes to you from Viola from Germany.
Thank you, Viola. We had a wonderful Christmas day with our children and grandchildren. I hope your Christmas day was full of joy as well!
DeleteMartha, I'm so sorry that your dear husband is dealing with so much medically right now. May the Lord bless his doctors with wisdom as they seek to help him. Love all the nature photos. I'm a backyard birder, too, having seen over 40 species come and go (but never a bald eagle -- wow!).
ReplyDeleteMarigold, we thank you for your concerns involving Grayden's health.
DeleteHow wonderful you have seen 40 species of birds at your feeder! Seeing the bald eagle gave us so much joy. It was a great moment that we will always cherish.
Goodness, I am late to the party this time!
ReplyDeleteYour 57th Christmas together! What a blessing that is! I am sure that you were able to decorate for Christmas with the perfect collection of items. Every year is different, and every year calls for different choices. But it's all good. Celebrating Christmas is such a delight, isn't it?
Also . . . what a gift to have been able to take your world voyage! I hope that you will still share more of it. We non-traveling types enjoy the views that you offer, and you are so good at gathering photos and interesting facts to share.
I pray that Grayden will get all of the answers needed to restore him to good health. Oh, those waits are terrible, aren't they? Very frustrating!
You have certainly had some wonderful visitors! A bald eagle is a sight to behold. I have them from time to time in the fields near our old home, but right in your yard is something else!
And since I am so late here, it's time to say Happy New Year!
Celebrating Christmas is a delight, Cheryl, and this year has been different but joyous.
DeleteI hope to share more of our World Voyage in the new year. With Grayden's issues I have been consumed running to appointments with him. Thank you for your prayers on his behalf as the waiting is frustrating to both of us.
Happy New Year to you as well!
Martha, your grand World Voyage was certainly well timed! So sorry Grayden's health issues, and the "waiting," are slowing you both down just now, but I know you'll both be finding joy in the "little things" every day. Wishing him, and you, all the best in the year ahead.
ReplyDeleteTiming was good, Jean, just unexpected and disappointing. Being healthy his whole life, it's taken both of us by surprise. Thank you for your kind thoughts, my friend. Happy New Year!
DeleteSo festive! Wishing you and yours all the best for this new year, dear Martha Ellen, hope it's a good one!
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Happy New Year to you, Amalia!
DeleteJust stopping by to say, you and Grayden are in my thoughts, I do hope 2024 has started well for you and that you have been able to enjoy some New Year walks.
ReplyDeleteMy good wishes
All the best Jan
Jan, that is so sweet of you to stop by, my friend. Grayden is feeling much better these days and we are enjoying our walks again when the weather permits. We have even added an extra road to increase the distance. Taking one day at a time.
DeleteI just wanted to wish you a happy new year, Martha Ellen. I hope it brings you so much joy, peace, and love. ~Sheri
ReplyDeleteSheri, thank you for the new year wishes, my friend! I just left your blogpost about your lovely time with your girls. So happy you had fun with them! Wishing you joy, peace, and love as well!
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