We, like almost everyone we know, are trying to finish up our Christmas shopping and sending since so many of our family members and friends live in different places. Poor Ted has been to our local post office three times already and I believe that with today's shipments, we are finished getting our Christmas cheer into the mail. May God bless each of you during these happy holidays.
We had snow in Galveston last week. On Wednesday night, the large flakes started falling early in the evening and it was so beautiful coming down between our condo and the dark water of the Gulf. Beaumont and some parts of Houston had up to three inches, which is just downright rare here in these parts.
Four or five of our Yahoo Group BolivarBLUE have December birthdays so we are throwing a big birthday party for Max Watson, Warren Adams, Terri Ward and myself on Saturday night to celebrate birthdays, not Christmas. Jay Cowart, a former neighbor on the Peninsula, has just written to say his birthday is December 24th, his mom's December 23rd, and his son's December 26th. My good friend, Ginger Bragg Doster, in Atlanta, celebrates on December 26th, so Happy Birthday to all of the December babies. My baby daughter, Nicole, celebrated on December 2nd as well.
We've had some more disturbing news from Texas Windstorm Insurance. The Agency had promised us "slabbers" that we would have a definite answer by the end of the year as to whether they were or were not going to pay on our claims for windstorm coverage on our homes. They announced last week that the study group they had hired to determine this issue could not reach an agreement and that it would like be the end of January now before they would be able to make their decision known to homeowners. It is so unfair and it seems so long to wait. It has been over three months now since Hurricane Ike hit and it will be more than four months before they rule. They have successfully evaded the 30-day rule for payment of claims by sending each of us certified letters (at $5.32 a pop) asking for something more. When you call to see what more they want, you are told, "Oh, not to worry. Your file is complete. We do not need anything else." But with the letter, they have complied with their responsibility to respond. It is an awful problem and one that takes the patience of Job. So, please keep on praying for our situation.
Pam Hicks Gresham, a dear, old friend from Georgia, came up with a wonderful holiday plan for the ladies of Bolivar Peninsula who lost so much to the storm. She has organized among her relatives and friends a collection of good, used, and some new jewelry, and is sharing those gifts with the ladies of the Peninsula. Right after the first of the year, we are planning a get together where these gifts will be distributed to anyone from the Peninsula who wishes to participate. If you'd like to have a part in this collection, please contact Pam at pamgresham@comcast.net and let her know your desires. Pam wrote to say she doesn't see how we ladies get along without our "things." Some days, she is more right than others!
As for now, Ted and I plan to travel to the Nashville area to be with Steve and Nikki and the boys, Steven and Brendan, for Christmas. We plan to buy the boys each a young calf to tend and to grow. We think it will help teach responsibility and it will also gain them some money toward college costs if we can keep this idea going for the balance of their high school years. We will also visit with Christine and David, Ted's daughter and husband, while there.
From Nashville, we'll head to Amarillo. Ted must check on some rental property there and we will see Darrell, his son, and Michelle, his daughter in law, and their children, David and Rebecca, as well as visit with Nelda and George, Rick and Dutch, and others on this leg of the holiday trip. Pray for us as we travel, please.
Take care and may God grant you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year.
Until the next page turns,
Brenda
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