Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

I would like to nominate Lydia for President! Yep, she is only 11 years old but if she can kickoff a campaign that raises over $28,000 in less then two weeks we need her in Washington! Way to go Lydia and congrats for keeping the faith and reaching your goal. We were in Nashville this weekend and got to see Lydia's interview live on Fox. What an amazing young girl!

Now that Thanksgiving is over our attention moves to Christmas. Although I will admit that I am an early Christmas shopper, I struggle when I see Christmas decorations coming out shorty after Labor Day. I can't really start to put up the decorations until Thanksgiving weekend, and it just does not seem right to listen to Jingle Bells in the middle of football season. BTW Roll Tide!!

There seems to be some rumors that many people are calling this season Happy Holidays and I just want to go on record as saying the Warren household wishes you a Merry Christmas. I will be the first to admit that I have signed my Christmas cards Happy Holidays for many years, but this year I will be signing Merry Christmas. In the past I did not understand why people would make such a big deal out of the use of Happy Holidays now I wondering if I was becoming desensitised to the phase. We will be putting up a Christmas tree not a Holiday Tree. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas

Comments are really welcome on this as I am interested to hear your thoughts on using Happy Holidays,

Retirement Is??????

Awesome!

Does this man look like he is missing getting up at 5am to take morning reports?



Our time with Amoco/BP has taken us to Lafayette, New Orleans, and Houston in addition to five foreign countires. Yes, we can no longer take walks in the snow to Arbat Street for a stop at Starbucks. We can't take the tube into Central London and catch a play on the spur of the moment. No trips across the mountain to Marcass Bay for Bake and Shark, walks at Crathes Castle, or horseback rides in the shadows of the pyramids.

What we can do is stop at Ron's mom for a quick bowl of soup before heading off to evening services, catch up with classmates from high school, post lots of pictures of a really adorable little guy in Texas,



enjoy time with our family, and look for ways to be of service to Him.

There is a little girl near Nashville that has a dream of saving a child from a life in an orphanage. Just in case somebody should click on this blog that might not know of the Hollis Family please take the time to read their story, and listen to how God might lead you to respond. Lydia and her dream is where we will be donating in honor of Ron's retirement.

Yes, life is going to be different now and we can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of our Sunset years!

Life's Blessings

Ron just called and he has finished his work in India, turned everything over to his replacement, and will soon be flying back to the states for the final time. One of the issues I have been struggling with as we move towards retirement was what's next, and my dear husband had the answer for that today as he said the Twilight years are after the Sunset years! I love it. Recently they started drilling another well in India, and part of the process has something to do with breaking a coconut at the well site as an Indian ritual of blessing the work.



Like so many others this past week I have been mesmerized by young Stellan's story. Last week when I checked in I was shocked at what Stellan and his family were going through, and was almost late for a Dr's appointment as I continued to refresh the screen throughout the morning for an update. The battle young Stellan has fought has been especially dear to me as our grandson, Wyatt, is just a few weeks younger then Stellan.



As I am sure so many of you know the story has a happy ending and Stellan is now home after nothing less then a miracle. Now that is a true life's blessing and something to be thankful for!

I am so thankful for the next chapter of our lives that will soon unfold with my Retired Oilfield Hand! In honor of Ron's upcoming retirement and our grandson we will be making a donation to a charity that benefits children/young adults for each comment left on this blog in the next 24 hours that shares something you are thankful for. In that Ron's nephew is currently battling brain cancer we are leaning towards M. D. Andrerson where Eric is undergoing treatment.



Our post when we left Moscow had ten comments and we are hoping for at least twenty to celebrate Ron's retirement, children everywhere, and young adults! Come on now and leave a comment of your Thanksgiving blessings.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Then They Do

The lyrics below by Trace Atkins are one of my favorite country soungs. I even made a dvd one time with old pictures of Andy and Ashley thru the years using this song as the music. I have highlighted a few lines that really hit home with me.

In the early rush of morning,
Trying to get the kids to school:
One's hanging on my shirt-tail,
Another's locked up in her room.
And I'm yelling up the stairs: And everybody's late,
"Stop worrying 'bout your hair, you look fine."

Then they're fightin' in the backseat,
And I'm playing referee.
Now someone's gotta go,
The moment that we leave.

I swear that I can't wait till they grow up.

Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.

Now the youngest is starting college,
She'll be leavin' in the Fall.
And Brianna's latest boyfriend,
Called to ask if we could talk.
And I got the impression,
That he's about to pop the question any day.

I look over at their pictures,
Sittin' in their frames.
I see them as babies:
I guess that'll never change.
You pray all their lives,
That someday they will find happiness.

Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.

No more Monday PTA's,
No carpools, or soccer games.
Your work is done.
Now you've got time that's all your own.
You've been waitin' for so long,
For those days to come.

Then they do, and that's how it is.
It's just quiet in the mornin',
Can't believe how much you miss,
All they do and all they did.
You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true:
Then they do.

Ah, then they do.

Last month we had the opportunity to use some of the time that is now our own, and enjoyed an incredible three weeks traveling in Egypt, Isreal, Turkey and Greece. As we move toward retirement next month it was really special to have a chance to return to Cairo where our international travels began in July of 1990.



As wonderful as our trip was it paled when compared to my trips to Texas and Tennessee this month. Ron and I are so blessed that dreams Andy and Ashley have held over the years have come true. Andy is happily married with a beautiful baby, and working hard in his own business.



This weekend I was in awe of our daughter as I watched her perform her duties as an on call veterinian.



Yes, they don't need us as much now, and truly our work with them is done. Do we miss them? You bet - every single day but we are thrilled they are happy in their chosen fields. We are honored to still have a relationship where we see them often, and try really hard to give them space to live their own lives.

Recently,I joked with my cousin that Ron and I were leaving our emptynest years and moving into our SUNSET YEARS.



Thoughts of retirement and stepping into the Sunset Years are scary and exciting at the same time. I am so grateful to be sharing this adventure with my soulmate of 34 plus years. For the four or five of you that still checkin on us keep stopping by, as we share our thoughts and reflections on retirement. I have considered changing this blog to the Sunset Years, but that would take a consult with Rob and Dede to accomplish:)

Have a great week!

Paka!