Christmas Eve At Sunny Gulf Shores

My phone started going off this morning and the news was all from Illinois. My friend Glenna sent this first picture. It looks like they are having a white Christmas at home,

 Mark sent the next few texts, that Rhoda may not be able to get in to move a round bale in for Evan and he would have to square bale him until I get home. Turned out though that Rhoda made it in after church and sent the next few pictures below.

She reported that Evan got a new bale and all the waterers are working great. Mark got the plowing done and sent a text that he may be getting too old for this job. He also cleared off mom and Joan's driveways.  While he was busy dealing with snow we were out in the white stuff (the sugar white sands of the Gulf Shores beach) with the grandchildren. Below are a few pictures of our fun day.

 Swimming in the Gulf, playing in the sand

 visiting with each other

 Great volley ball games

 The foot ball games followed but we were too busy laying out in the sunshine to even go watch the games. We heard later that Joan and Karin's team won but only after the other team mates started playing with strategy. Later came a fun appointment with Rachel, the official photographer in the Meister family. She was willing to take pictures of my 10 grand children for me for Christmas. Below they have their shirts on and are heading down to the beach for them.

 She took a lot and I'll have to have the mom's help pick out the ones we want to print and frame but below is one of my favorites. The two youngest are looking at each other just trying to figure this whole picture thing out.

 We got done with the pictures just in time to head to Greg and Beth's condo for a Christmas Eve Fish Fry with all the fixens. That fish was the best we have ever tasted, thanks to all who worked so hard catching them and then cleaning them. Greg and Nolan did all the frying and brought it to us hot and delicious.

 The night turned cool so we sang Christmas Carols around the fire. Nancy LOVED this.

IF you would like to see the other pictures posted so far from today click HERE. After we left Greg and Beth's most of us walked over to our condo where we had a praise singing with lots more Christmas carols. We are so very thankful to be with family in the warm sunshine on this Christmas eve but even more thankful that Jesus left the glory of heaven and was born to a poor couple in a stable KNOWING He was going to be treated cruelly and die a terrible death just to save us. How can we NOT be thankful.