Christmas Day, 2004

Me & Fred with four of our Girls ...

Syd, Perri, Stef and Erica

Dave & Wendy, Sydney & Perri

Shawn & Jane, Stephanie & Erica


Sydney & Stephanie, Christmas Day, 2004


On Christmas, the grand-girls usually sing carols
and read the Christmas story
This was Stephanie & Sydney's time to read

Perri's place to hide during Hide & Seek

Christmas Eve, 2004 .. Photo taken at Mom's

Those who wish to and who don't have other obligations,

gather each Christmas Eve for fun, food, pictures & lots of talking

We usually order Mexico Way for dinner

You see Mynnie Roos, Mee-gan & TayTay in this photo

I tend to rename everybody I like! Just ask my Fred

Home: More than Just a Word

by Marybeth Whalen

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 (NIV)

Devotion: I opened up my email to discover another one of those forwards we all get from time to time. I almost hit “delete” but my eye landed on this acronym for the word "Home"

Honor the Lord

Obey His Word

Minister to one another

Establish walls of truth

I was glad I took a look at this, because it made me think about whether or not these four components are present in my home. When looked at in this light, the word “home” means so much more than just a place to live. Isn’t that what we want all of our homes to be? More than a place to sleep and eat and occasionally clean, we want our homes to be a place where lives are shaped into God’s design. This little acronym zeroes in on four important goals we should have for our home. The exciting thing is, no matter who lives there, or what problems we are facing, or what limits we feel like we have, with effort and intention our homes can be places where these four things happen.

Honor the Lord: We can honor God with our lips, but yet our hearts can be far from Him (Matthew 15:8) — and the people who live with us will be the first to know when we do this! Let’s seek to honor Him behind the closed doors of our homes, living out our devotion to Him in a visible, gentle way as we realize that our families are watching.

Obey His Word: Obeying His Word at home is not always easy. The Bible tells us to be submissive to our husbands, to love others more than we love ourselves, and to pick up our cross (as we pick up after our children, or care for our elderly parents). When we do these things with humility, those we most want to impact will notice. More than that, they will file it away in their hearts, and our lives will echo in theirs in ways we can’t possibly foresee.

Minister to one another: Ministry requires us to love others, to reach others, and to lay down our lives for the sake of those God has placed in our sphere of influence. This must happen at home first. And yet, if we’re honest, it’s usually the last place it happens. We go out and give the best of what we have to offer to others, then give our leftovers to the people we profess to love the most. Let’s minister to those in our own homes first.

Establish walls of truth: When I first read this, I will confess that something prickled in me. Establish walls? How is it Biblical to establish walls? I questioned. However, I soon realized I was thinking of walls as a means to keep people out. When in actuality, we need to be building walls of truth—God’s truth, designed not to keep others out but to guard our hearts and give us a safe place to retreat and to rest. These walls of truth make our homes into fortresses—a place to run to when our daily battles wear us out.

These are not things we can just do once and move on. They are daily requirements, regular sacrifices, and even personal struggles. We won’t ever do it perfectly and there will be days we feel we are taking one step up and two steps back. But with God’s help, we can keep working to make H.O.M.E. mean so much more. Dear Lord, make my home a place that includes these four components. I want my home to be more than just a place to live in—I want it to be a place where lives are impacted and relationships are strengthened.

Lord, I need Your help to do these things. Thank You for Your promise to always help me when I ask. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How to Dance in the Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of this, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

Many thanks to Bobby & Mikeford for sending this via email.

Christmas Memories 2008 - Rita

THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS I REMEMBER WAS WHEN I GOT A BLACK AND WHITE TEDDY BEAR WITH A SILK RIBBON, AND COLORING BOOKS AND CRAYONS. THERE IS A PICTURE OF ME AND KAY SOMEWHERE OF THIS. I THINK WE WERE LIVING IN WYANDOTTE AT THE TIME. THE HOUSE WHERE BOBBY CAME HOME TO.

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS WAS WHEN WE LIVED IN LINCOLN PARK AND I REMEMBER MOM BEING ON THE PHONE WITH DAD. THEY OBVIOUSLY WERE DISCUSSING WHETHER HE WOULD BE HOME OR ORDERED TO WORK. AND I ALSO REMEMBER THE TALK OF DAD NOT GETTING CHRISTMAS PAY ON TIME. BUT THAT NIGHT WE WERE WOKEN UP AND BROUGHT DOWNSTAIRS TO OPEN OUR GIFTS.

YOU ALL REMEMBER THE CHRISTMAS CATALOGS THAT USED TO ARRIVE AND WE WOULD FIGHT OVER WHO GOT TO LOOK AT IT NEXT. ONE YEAR I MARKED A DOLL THAT CAME IN A BLUE SUITCASE WITH ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT OUTFITS AND LATER DISCOVERED IT ON AN ORDER LIST MOM HAD WRITTEN OUT {SHE WAS GOING TO TELL SANTA I WAS SURE!!!!} WELL, MUCH TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT, SHE DIDN'T COME. I GOT A FOAM POSEY DOLL INSTEAD. SHE WAS PRETTY UNTIL BOBBY PICKED GLOBS OF HER FOAM BODY OFF!!!

THE GIFT WHEN I WAS LITTLE THAT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE WAS THAT SAME POSEY DOLL, I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL LATER THAT SANTA PROBABLY COULDN'T MAKE ENOUGH CLOTHES FOR THE OTHER DOLL I WANTED.

WHEN I WAS SIXTEEN THE GIFT THAT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE WAS MY ENGAGEMENT RING. I GOT IT ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN 1972 AND WASN'T SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE UNTIL WARREN WAS ABLE TO PAY IT OFF.

CHRISTMAS WAS MADE SPECIAL BY ALL THE SECRETS THAT WERE KEPT. THE LAYING IN BED, TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING. WAKING DURING THE NIGHT, HEARING MOM IN THE KITCHEN BASTING THE FATTEST BIRD I HAD EVER SEEN. COMING FROM SCHOOL TO FIND THE FATTEST TREE TOO. HAVING EVERYONE COME TOGETHER ON THAT SPECIAL DAY, NOT TO EXCHANGE GIFTS, BUT HAVE AND ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY. HOW DID WE ALL FIT AT THE TABLE?

FAVORITE FOOD: TURKEY AND TANGERINES. THERE WAS ALWAYS COCONUT IN THE CANISTER,THE SILVER ONE, I WOULD SNEAK CHEEK FULLS OF IT :)

LEAST FAVORITE FOOD: DATE NUT BREAD { LOVED THE BREAD, HATED THE DATES}

ONCE I MARRIED, THE NEBLETT TRADITION OF ONLY OPENING GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS MORN TOOK EFFECT. USUALLY BECAUSE BECAUSE WARREN WAS NEVER OFF ON THE HOLIDAYS, BUT GOT TO TAKE AN HOUR OFF IN THE MORNING TO STOP BY . THE BEST CHRISTMAS WAS WHEN HE ACTUALLY GOT ENOUGH SENIORITY TO REQUEST THE HOLIDAY OFF. I THINK IT WAS IN 1982. WE MARRIED IN 1975, SO IT WAS WONDERFUL TO FINALLY HAVE HIM HOME.

CHRISTMAS EVE IS USUALLY USED TO FINISH BAKING AND AT NIGHT WE GO VISITING. THE KIDS NOW USUALLY WORK OR HAVE OTHER FAMILY TO VISIT. BUT CHRISTMAS DAY IS WITH US, THEN GRANDMA N., THEN BACK TO OUR HOUSE TO EXCHANGE GIFTS WITH OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THIS YEAR THO WE ARE GOING TO PETERSBURG, MI TO SHARON AND LEO'S. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

I USED TO DECORATE EVERY ROOM {EVEN THE BATHS} NOT ANYMORE. WARREN DOES THE OUTSIDE, I DO INSIDE, BUT NOT TOO EXTREME.

YES WE HAVE CUT BACK, DUE TO THE FACT WE BUY WHAT WE NEED DURING THE YEAR AND IT'S TOO HARD. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS SEEING OUR GRAND KIDS OPEN THEIR GIFTS. ABBY LOVES TO TEAR PAPER SOO THIS SHOULD BE FUN. ALEX HOPES TO NOT GET JUST CLOTHES. I EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE JESUS WAS GIVEN GIFTS WHEN HE WAS BORN IS WHY WE GIVE GIFTS, TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY. HE ASKED DID HE HAVE TO GIVE US GIFTS ON HIS BIRTHDAY TOO? CAUSE HE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY!

YES I'VE GROWN UP AND SO HAVE OUR KIDS, BUT CHRISTMAS STILL BRINGS OUT A LITTLE KID IN THEM. I SUGGESTED THAT SINCE MATT AND BECKY HAVE SOMEONE TO STUFF THEIR STOCKIN' THAT I WASN'T GOING TO DO IT THIS YEAR. BECKY CAME OVER TODAY, LOOKED AT THE FIREPLACE AND SAID "YOU WERE SERIOUS? OUR STOCKINGS AREN'T GOING UP THIS YEAR?" SO I BROKE OUT THEIR STOCKINGS ONCE AGAIN, AND I MUST ADMIT IT LOOKS COMPLETE WITH THEM ALL UP THERE. ALL TEN OF THEM!!

JUST A SMALL REQUEST, I ONLY WANT ONE THING ... FOR EVERYONE TO LOOK BACK ON THE GOOD TIMES AND FIND CHRISTMAS PAST, BUT ALWAYS LET IT BE A PART OF OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE. TELL THE STORIES TO YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TO HELP KEEP THE MEMORIES ALIVE. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WILL HAVE NOTHING OR NO ONE. WE ARE BLESSED.

THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS US ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEDA DUNE

to... Jason Parker Riddle II

Son of Jason & Angela

Half-brother to Tito

Grandson of George & Lorna; Marsha

Great-Grandson of Aileen & Fern

Nephew of Michelle & Cecil

Cousin to many!!

Thanks to Shelly & Cecil for the above photos

The year was 1993 ... we gathered at Kay & Mike's new home on Janet Street to celebrate Christmas Eve. Lots of food ... our children were younger ... and I had asked for people to share a Christmas memory, but to not sign their name so we could try to figure out who wrote it. There weren't that many responses, and this was the longest ... do you know who wrote it?

Last clean-up of the year at Neblett's Nook

Who is this man in the water and what is he doing?
It's Warren! And I think he's working on the support system for the docks

Here's Warren again ...

And I think this is Rita taking pictures of Bobby taking her picture

Rita using the leaf blower, I think...

Lukas overseeing the leaf burning

Lukas cutting grass for the last time in 2008

Bethany cutting grass .. Rita taking pic's

Rita & Warren's dog ... She's so tiny

-Another Thank You to Bobby for sending the photos-

2008 Hunt Club Members..

Jeremy, son Tanner; Kyle, son Spencer and Luke.

2 Button Bucks hanging in the back.

Jeremy and Kyle said 'sorry Jamie..we though they were Does'!

Luke & Bobby

Picture taken from the blind...thanks Jason

-Thanks again to Bobby for sending these photos-

Brian, Becky & Abby; Alex & Lukas - Halloween, 2008

Becky & Abby, 2008

Alex, 2008

Brian & Lukas, 2008

Lukas & Abby, 2008

Lukas' first concert....

Allan Jackson, Trace Adkins and James Otto.

His date.....was Bethany

-Thanks to Bobby for sending these photos-

"Compassion"

If I could ....

I would keep people healthy

Give to the poor

Show respect

And sympathy

I know people

Go through hard times

And it is not easy

But for those

Who have lost their passion

I will show

Compassion

by Stephanie Moore

Deep down inside we know that the best gifts don't come from catalogs or shopping malls. They don't come in brightly-colored packages or fancy envelopes and they're not sitting under a tree somewhere...The best gifts come from the heart. They come when we look at each other, REALLY look at each other and say 'You mean a lot to me' or 'I'm so glad you're a part of my life.' A gift like that will never go out of style or be forgotten or be returned for a different size. A gift like that can change the world.

Ron Atchison

Christmas Photos ... Looking back

I'm not sure what year this photo was taken...one thing I know for certain is that we were all younger than we are now. I had long hair; George had a beard; Pat was / is still petite; Rita is still acting up when she can; Tay Tay's hair is a little shorter and Bobby's still tall. Dad, for all I know, is still wearing his over-alls in heaven.

This was taken in 1969 - That's Pat sitting next to Dad. Remember when we put Christmas cards up on the walls? Why did we do that you younger ones might ask. They decorated the walls and everyone could see who they were from, that's why.

I didn't remember Dad smoking a pipe 'til I found these pictures.
This was taken on Christmas Day, 1965. Someone had bought Dad a Bible
for Christmas that year.

Christmas, 1965 and Dad was totally surprised when I took this photo.

Remember those wall sconces? They would be in style right now if Mom still has them.