End of the year events are full of family and fun times even when health issues are of concern. This year was no exception but required more of an effort on my part to get past the sadness that usually arrives this time of year. I miss family that have passed away. I have to be aware of my own health issues and take care of myself so I can be strong and helpful for others who also have health challenges. It is also the time of year that the days get shorter and have less sunlight which contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for many people or the lesser version simply called the Winter Blues.
A positive attitude is necessary. Traditions help to get into a routine and the holidays are full of them especially for those that consider themselves religious. This year was a challenge for me but I am thankful for routine and mustered up the energy to make the time memorable. I organize and file my pictures captured from the year's events. Putting together this blog may be therapeutic as it helps me find and appreciate my blessings. It is very satisfying to complete a post and push that publish button. It helps me to move forward and grow in the new year. Maybe it helps others with similar situations or at least helps them to understand. This was a year when I found blessings in abundance that were there when I really needed it! God knows.
What an abundance of food that was gifted and/or available for me to prepare a feast for all! I did not make my traditional kolache this year for the first time that I could remember. I was happy to see my niece, Amanda, continued the family tradition as she shared a photo with me of her kolache baking. Jacob and Cora sent a case of kolache to our house early before their visit which was thoughtful and diminished any pressure to bake I may have imposed on myself this year when I really wasn't into it. They also sent a case of their favorite honey-wine (mead) in many different flavors which would add to a festive spirit. Then Keith's cousin Chuck Courtney from Iowa sent us a Honey Baked Ham again this year. We could then get a smaller turkey that takes less time and have enough meat. Keith took charge of the turkey which he does well in the Green Egg cooker outside with just the right seasoning in a spatchcock method. I was happy to make all the side dishes which began the day before and left me with time to enjoy family more! Keith had also just bought an ice cream machine (Ninja) to add homemade ice cream to the desserts.
The weather before family came at the end of November was warm enough for Keith to get out and fish by himself at Stockton Lake. He and his cousins didn't have much luck the last time they visited just before Keith had his stroke October 4th. I was happy that he was back on his meds and had success this time. He caught 14 white bass in just a couple hours right before Thanksgiving! They went in the freezer as we had plenty of food for our family feast.
The warm weather continued and much of the country experienced a rare showing of the northern lights for several nights. This was a very special blessing I will always remember as I had never seen anything like it before! Then it was time for the Light Up the Lake drive-thru display in the Damsite Park on Pomme de Terre Lake a few miles from our home. This is the 5th year and it had grown to about 100 displays from area businesses and churches. We enjoyed it several times until it was taken down after New Years Eve.
Case of Kolache
Case of Mead
Honey Baked Ham
14 White Bass
Norther Lights Displayed over the PDT Office in Hermitage on November 12th
Light Up the Lake Displayed on PDT Lake November and December
Family Thanksgiving Dinner
Family card games played on my mother's embroidered table cloth that she brought over from her homeland of Czechoslovakia in 1939
We Celebrated Jacob's 45th Birthday
First Snowfall on December 1st
Bobi Kitty Loves Christmas!
Christmas decorations in my home were displayed from mid-November 2025 to January 3, 2026 this year simply because of the combined holidays when family would come to my house. Last year, I had put up the little tree along with the Thanksgiving decorations when family came. Cora was very pleased and it really motivated me to do more. In previous years, I had decorated for Christmas just the week before and it all was put away before New Years. We had Kayleen for 5 days after Christmas which included Keith's 77th birthday and New Years. The weather had turned colder and staying inside was mach brighter! Kayleen had all her presents ready to open and enjoy. Bobi Kitty had his bag of treats and a new catnip toy.
I always enjoy the sunrise each morning and it is especially nourishing for my soul this time of year. It is also a quiet time of prayer to thank God for all my blessings.
Another health event occurred for Keith after his October 4th stroke. On December 7th, we were eating a Sunday dinner after church at the Rusty Spoon located in Weaubleau. Keith had a piece of pork tenderloin get stuck in his esophagus and he could not swallow or dislodge it by himself easily as he had done in the past by coughing. We packed up our meals and went home. After a couple hours, he realized that this was an emergency situation and called EMT using his Lifeline device for the first time. He was taken by ambulance to CMH hospital and by 8 PM had an emergency procedure (EGD). The meat was half removed and half pushed into the stomach. Because of the swelling and the fact that he was on blood thinning meds, the procedure was incomplete at this time to do a biopsy and stretching. I stayed overnight with him and brought him home early the next day. He is on liquid/soft food diet until the EGD could be completed the following week. He was off his blood thinning meds but his heart went into AFib in the hospital while prepping so the procedure could not be done and was cancelled. He is now rescheduled at the end of January for the EGD but not until a cardiologist consult can be made. So now we wait and he continues his liquid/soft food diet. It is a challenge but we can be grateful that Keith was able to enjoy all that delicious Thanksgiving food before this event happened! Most of the leftovers were added to the freezer or given to Sarah's family to take home. But there was one more thing...
Two large seafood packages arrived on the 18th from Jacob and Cora. Fortunately, this year's seafood present from them included clam chowder and lobster bisque which Keith could eat right away. Everything else went into the freezer!
Keith was doing well taking care of himself fixing his own meals. Fortunately, he had recently bought himself a juicer in addition to an ice cream maker. So I was free to take care of myself by fixing my own regular meals and continuing my exercises. I was determined to continue biking so I found time in mid-November's nice weather motivated by my granddaughter. This was the first year we could ride bikes together!
Beti Biking Below the PDT Dam
Biking Together in the Neighborhood
When my 72nd birthday came, I was on my own to celebrate. I had done this before by driving to Lake of the Ozarks with a handful of store coupons to shop for myself and Christmas presents for others. I also treated myself to a steak dinner at Chili's complete with a rich dessert. I always like to walk after a big meal so I treated myself to a 320 step climb up and back at the spring at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. I had done this climb countless times before beginning in the1980s. But I had not done it since I pulled the hamstring in my leg shortly after our trip to Italy in 2024 where I climbed the 463 steps of the Duomo (Brunelleschi's Dome) in Florence. I had used these Ha Ha Tonka State Park steps over the previous winter before that trip to get in shape. I considered it a gift to myself for this birthday to try it again. It was not difficult and I was able to return and do it again before the end of the year in good weather. I also wear a Lifeline device when I'm outdoors by myself especially.
Beti's 72nd Birthday on December 17th at Chili's Restaurant
Birthday Dinner of Steak with Mushrooms, Loaded Potato, & Asparagus
Birthday Lava Cake with Ice Cream & Coffee
Ha Ha Tonka State Park View of the Spring Area from the Stairway
When I was near the top of the stairway, I met four young men; one in Army uniform complete with full backpack. They were very fit and very friendly saying hello to me and allowing me enough room to pass on the narrow steps. I casually mentioned what a beautiful day it was for a hike and that it was my 72nd birthday. They were very cheerful as they sang "Happy Birthday" to me after asking my name to include it in the song and be patient while I recorded them in my iPhone. I tried to download it here on my post but it may be to large a file to view for everyone. I will keep it on my phone to enjoy over and over and it did load to Facebook. It was the nicest gift from strangers to add to this healthy climb gift to myself for my special day!
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"Happy Birthday to Beti" sung by 4 nice young men near the top of the stairway at Ha Ha Tonka State Park
(may or may not be able to view here)
Mills Family - Sarah, Chris, Lilly, & Kayleen Mills
(Christmas gift photo laminated on natural wood)
The Mills Family drove from Springfield, Missouri to Omaha, Nebraska and Blencoe, Iowa to visit my side of the family for Christmas dinner time and then drove to Oklahoma to spend time with Chris's mother and her husband. Before they left on their roadtrip, a nice Christmas dinner was put on by Chris's father and his wife in Greenfield, Missouri and I was invited. Making effort to visit family no matter how far away is always worth it and this year we were blessed with great weather for traveling.
Omaha, Nebraska - Sarah (Pearson) Mills, Kayleen Mills, and Kayleen (Osius) Moss from Texas. Kayleen Moss is my brother Ed Osius's granddaughter and the namesake for my granddaughter. She has two children that are close to my granddaughter's age. They all met for the first time.
The day after the Mills Family came back to Missouri, Kayleen spent 5 days with us in Hermitage where she got to open all her presents. Her favorite was a horse stable for Wildstar the unicorn and we both played with it for hours. Our house comes alive when she is here and so full of joy!
On December 30th, we celebrated Keith's 77th birthday with another drive through the Light Up the Lake Christmas displays nearby. We had cake and ice cream at home. Keith spent most of his birthday in Springfield by himself to shop for a new Apple watch which he researched previously for the medical monitoring benefit capabilities.
Keith & Kayleen with His 77th Birthday Cake & Ice Cream
Holiday Cookies Brought to Us by the Pillsbury Doughboy this Year Hoo - Hoo!
The temperature set records for our area that week with a high of 76 degrees. The heather plant in my yard bloomed for us to enjoy on the 27th. God's blessings kept coming as He knows what makes me smile!
We had a nice walk below the dam at Outlet Park nearby. Keith had walked farther than he had in a long time and Kayleen enjoyed all the favorite swings and things she had known since she had been coming to this park at age 4; same ones her mother enjoyed back in the 1980s.
Kayleen looks so big on one of her two favorite old horse swings. This one was named Ethel as in Fred & Ethel. Maybe that was what her mother had named them.
The year ended with Keith and I staying up to welcome the new year with a toast and a kiss. The neighbors woke up anyone who fell asleep with a grand display of very loud fireworks as they do every year. I managed to stay awake with coffee and working a jigsaw puzzle. Kayleen managed to stay awake as long as she could and fitted many pieces to the puzzle before she announced that she would lay down for a short nap. She didn't even wake up to all the loud fireworks across the street!
Bobi Kitty and Kayleen join us in wishing everyone a very
Happy New Year!
