Imholz Christmas in 2007

Haven Littleton, 4 years old,

God's Christmas angel

Welcoming the New Year

Ho,Ho Ho Everyone!

Maybe an Elizabeth Taylor perfume or an outfit from Victoria Secrets....? I saw its show the other day. I thought the wings some of the models were wearing were a cute touch.

SO, as I was fine tuning my wish list, the computer died, and my dish washer sprung a major leak. My crumpled-up wish list has found its way to the waste basket.

FOR MY CHRISTMAS NEWS

Haley, my oldest daughter, mother of three, five years and younger, is currently not pregnant this season. She teaches dance, but it's her three children who keep her in shape. Andrew cheerfully continues to work at Dell while singing a Christmas tune about college tuitions and a mortgage pear tree.

Remember my telling you Ruedi was a bus driver last Christmas season? Ditto this one as well...
Robin, who participated so beautifully in a church Christmas program, was as equally radiant this year.
My college graduate baby daughter gave her honey, Bret, a chocolate lab, named Maddux. Bret insisted that Annaliese and he sould have joint custody. After 25 accidents in Annaliese's apartment, Maddux has been declared potty trained. They're SO proud!

NEW NEWS...!

My sister, Diana, landed a decent role in "The Singing Christmas Tree" at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. Playing a bossy Italian character, Angelina, she was a FUNNY lady! There she was in her element: acting, running around the stage chasing Luegi, her "stage" brother, with a wooden spoon, e-v-e-r-y-b-i-t the professional.

Last month Ruedi and I flew to Switzerland, to visit his family in Atldorf. Ruedi turned 70 in November, and it was a fabulous family reunion. Oh his family love to cook! As we visited family members, they did not hold back. They brought out the best of the best. Of course, they run up and down mountains daily and inbetween walked to and from town. I would utter softly "yummy" and look for the closest chair.

That's what New Year Resolutions are for. And...as soon as I move next to a mountain...

Christmas 2007 is a reminder to count my blessings, as we face 2008. My granddaughter, Haven, put all the pieces of life in perspective for me. She looked up to me and exclaimed,
" Oma, you have a big tummy." An emormous smile took hold of her face, and as her eyes sparkled, "Are you carrying a baby in your tummy?'

"No, Haven, Oma is simply full of joy, love for her family and friends, and grateful for life." (Note: albeit the Swiss cuisine may have been a small contributing factor...)

It's my Christmas wish that your tummies be full of glad tidings and most of all, God's richest blessings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love,
Ruedi & Charlene

FACING THE NEW YEAR BRAVELY

Elam James Littleton,

16 months

&

Five years old,

Gibson Littleton,

I mean,

Buzz Light Year,

Opa leading his grandchidren into the new year with great anticipation for a prosperous 2008.

& Cousin Bernard, 4 yrs. old

Ruedi's 70th Birthday! WHOA!

On Ruedi's last bus tour, the Church of the Nazarene gave Ruedi a surprised birthday party. He received such cute gag gifts, I had to share. These people have a sense of humor!

Ruedi and I are leaving for Switzerland on the 15th this month. Ruedi will celebrate his 70th birthday with his brother and family on the 17th. I'm going because my children and sister pitched in and bought my ticket. Because it was a surprise, I have had no time to exercise, lose weight (as if I would) or ask for an emergency extreme make-over. I have to go AS IS.

Thank the good Lord for my magnanimous personality! ;-)

Blind Leading the Blind

It was all set up; nothing could possibly go wrong..............unless you are who you are.

Every month, the neighborhood ladies have a luncheon together the second Thursday. I was feeling pretty good, had gotten my hair cut. I had used some make-up my daughter, Annaliese, had given me. I was ready to go!

All I had to do was pick up Frances and be on my way. Everything was timed perfectly.

A young couple had completed building their home in the Sycamore Highlands where I live. Living with them was Holt's mom, Frances. Frances is so nice! Having to deal with Alzheimer's, she is so amazing, and we had chemistry!

Last month I went with a neighbor, Shelly, to pick up Frances because Frances doesn't drive. Today, I was picking up Frances by myself.

"No problem!"

Frances' daughter-in-law called me this morning to confirm my picking her mother-in-law up at exactly 12:00 noon. (Maggie is one of these precise people.) I said that's correct. Maggie informs me that she will be eating with the ladies today, and she'll meet Frances and me there; then Frances can return home with her.

"No problem."

At precisely Noon, I was at Frances' home; we were on our way to the ladies' luncheon at the country club by the golf course. "No problem"

We drove up to the Elk's Restaurant by the golf course. Frances said, "This looks familiar."

We walked in with a couple who had to use a key to get in. I chuckled to Frances, "One of our ladies must have a membership here." I walked up to the hostess and replied we were with the neighborhood ladies' luncheon. She picked up two menus and headed to a group of ladies in the back. The hostess said as we neared the party, "You'll be joining The Ladies' Investment Group." I said, "No, we're joining the neighborhood eat and yak, yak group."

As Frances and I left the Elk's Club, I looked at my watch. It was 12:30, and we were lost, and we definitely were no longer precise. I said to Frances that this is the only golf course I know. She said, "It did look familiar."

I said we should try the other side of the golf course. As we flew by a building, Frances said, "That looks familiar." That's First Baptist Church.

Later, she said, "This road looks familiar." I know; we've been on it twice.

I picked up my cell phone to call my husband to call Ed, a neighbor, in hopes we could be given directions. My cell phone was dead.

I stopped at two places where both people said, "We have a Country Club in Mountain Home?"

Finally told where another golf course was, we flew to 62W for Big Creek. "This looks familiar." says Frances. It doesn't look familiar to me.

We found them! Obviously, Maggie was overjoyed (relieved, a better word?) and later thanked me for having taken her mother-in-law on an impromptu tour of this fair city. And I have learned an important lesson. When the blind is leading the blind,----------- have a cell phone ready!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2007

My daughter, Robin, was at my home helping me take a "family friend" out of the box for Halloween. Close by were Haley's maternity clothes lying in a pile....collecting dust.

"It is SO different that my sister is not having a baby this year," Robin muses.

"Tell me about it. For years, my Christmas letters sang out Haley's pregnant or has had the baby!"

"What are you going to do about all these maternity clothes? Give them to Annaliese?" asked Robin.

"No, they'll be relics by then. She is buying a pink jacket for her puppy, though..... Naw, we can't count on it, Robin."

A light bulb clicked inside our heads.

Friends and Family! Happy Halloween from Robin and me, Ruedi and our newly pregnant Family Friend!

She looks blissful, doesn't she? :-)

My daughter is 28 years old. What happened?

Frances Haley Imholz Littleton will be 28 years old on October 24, 2007. When I was 28, I was immature, enjoying my life as a flight attendant; I was single and living with 5 other roommates in Hermosa Beach, CA. Whoa!

My daughter married a great, great guy, Andrew, when she was 20. Boomer, her pug, was her first "child" followed shortly by three children. The oldest is now five. I think she said whoa too. :-)

We have had different life styles, but through all of my mistakes I have made in my life, I have done a few things right. Ruedi and I have these unbelievable, fantastic children.

Well, of course my grandchildren are the source of my smiles, and I want them to grow up every bit as grand as my three children have. This is where I say God is wonderful. GOD IS WONDERFUL. God has blessed little ole me. ( I wish I could use the word, "little" literally.)

My youngest, a cum laude graduate, this past May, for the nonce, is dating her beau, Bret. (He's the one with the horses.) Annaliese will marry in a few years probably when I'm 82, but that's okay. I just hope it's Bret b-e-c-a-u-s-e I have adopted him in my heart......,and he has horses.

My middle child Robin is doing fabulously well at the assisted living apartments for those who need a little help. She works hard at the warehouse. The staff at the apartments make sure the clients have activities each week. They're involved in bowling and participating in the Special Olympics. Robin has a couple of gold medals in her pocket to boot. Of the three children, she dares to live in the same town, as Ma & Pa.

To see the others I must travel to Clarksville, TN, or Oklahoma City, OK. It's worth the trip. Annaliese's newest addition to her family is a chocolate lab named Maddux. So my family is growing and getting older. I'm mighty proud of them. I hope they know.

Annaliese on the left...

Haley in the center...

Robin on the right...