Sunday Dec 26 - Boxing Day

Just a quick update for those of you checking in with the mansfields. We rallied and Christmas has come and gone.

We had a very late start. The tree had been up for a few weeks but we did not have the heart or spirit to get it decorated. So it all came down to this last week. Last Sunday we went to see Scott in St. John Lutheran's annual Cristmas concert. Barb and Mary Kay went with us. It was something that Kathy really enjoyed doing each year. Very contemprorary but a start for the holiday season.

On Monday, Cheri took the boys out shopping. I think they really enjoyed spening money. Especially someone else's. But it was a very kind and considerate act that filled a need. The boys were able to get some things without me there.

On Tuesday Scott and Trish invited the boys over for an early celebration. Wednesday we went swimming. And on Thursday, Cheri and her mom invited us for dinner and helped the boys make holiday cookies.

Friday night Jim and Carolyn Bradley invited us to go with them for evening services. Best of all, they were going early for the choir and band and saved us seats. So we rolled in at 4:25 and were able to sqeeze in up front. We decorated the tree in time for the presents!

Kathy had several presents saved away that I gave out. I'm sure these were hard to accept.

Saturday saw us have 20+ over for brunch and dinner. the Wilhites in the morning and the Davidson's in the evening. We had to put people to work to pull it all off. And there was certainly a void without Kathy. But we did the best we could.

Oh, and here's a little history on Boxing Day

Monday 12/20 - No Greater Grief

"No greater grief than to remember days
Of joy when misery is at hand"
- Dante, Hell. Canto v. Line 121

• Visting the Missouri Botanical Garden for the holiday displays
• Reading "Polar Express" in the evenings
• Making homemade cookies (sugar, chocolate chip and oatmeal-raisin)
• Putting up the outside lights
• Decorating the tree
• Advent Calendar chocolate
• Watching "It's a Wonderful Life"
  
• Singing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"
• Staying warm on a cold winter's night.
  

Friday 12/17 - Traffic Report

YAHOO just announced a new feature to its website: Real Time Traffic. It's the first national website to do so. Although many TV websites across the country have provided this service for year, this new YAHOO service provides the first national service on a major portal.

http://maps.yahoo.com/traffic

Sunday 12/12 - A Slow Start

It's a slow start for us for the holiday season.

Christmas was always a favorite holiday time. But as you can imagine, it's not so cheerful this year.

We don't have the lights out. And the tree isn't up.

But there's time yet.