Hello and happy Christmas Eve! We arrived at my parents’ house yesterday afternoon after a long, wet drive through the Virginia countryside and into the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It’s usually a pretty drive but the rain made it rather arduous, plus our car was loaded down with our family of five and all the accompanying luggage and Christmas presents.
The kids sat 3-across the middle row so we could use the back for cargo. (Keep in mind, they’re all the size of average adults.) Fortunately they were able to tune out the world (and ignore their discomfort) with the help of their various electronic devices, and they didn’t even bicker, which is a Christmas miracle right there.
Our rooftop carrier was packed to the gills, and I don’t think there was a spare square inch of space inside the car either. There was absolutely no visibility out the back window, which made for interesting driving conditions. How my husband fit everything in, I will never know.
Despite all that, we made good time and only ran into one minor traffic delay. We did see the aftermath of a 3-car accident on the other side of the highway, which definitely caused us to be a little more cautious (and grateful that we weren’t sitting in that traffic!) It appeared that everyone involved was fine, at least from what we could deduce from our vantage point.
Soon after we got here, my brother and his family came over for dinner, and the cousins all picked up right where they left off at our Easter visit. My kids love entertaining their younger kids, playing games and doing crafts. It’s sweet to see.
After that, we loaded up in the car once again and headed downtown to see A Christmas Story at their regional theater. It was a really nice production, and we all enjoyed it. I had never seen the movie the play is based upon so I didn’t have any context, but the kids had so that was good, and Paul and my parents loved it. It was a great way to kick off the holiday weekend.
Needless to say, when we got home, we were ready for a good night’s sleep. I slept hard, but somehow my body clock still had me up and raring to go this morning at 5:30. Funny how that works!
I’m hoping to fit a run in before church, and then tonight we’re celebrating my daughter’s birthday. She was my surprise Christmas baby 15 years ago today, born a full four weeks before her due date. She’s been marching to the beat of her own drum ever since.
I hope you and yours have a wonderfully lovely Christmas Eve, and in case I don’t make it back on tomorrow, I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas!!!
Thank you so much for your faithful readership, sweet comments, and the encouragement you give me each and every day. I appreciate you all!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Your blog is one of my favorites, and I look forward to Sunday Coffee Talk every week! Have a great holiday!
It’s a real pleasure reading your blog every day. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Yelena
Calgary, Canada
Merry Christmas to your family!
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thanks for all that you do for us, Jo-Lynne!
Happy birthday C and happy birth day to you my friend. Have a wonderful and relaxing Christmas!
Merry Christmas and thank you for being an encouragement and inspiration to me during a difficult transition in my life! God Bless you and all your loved ones!
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Along with a VERY Happy Birthday wish for your daughter! I am new to your blog and have truly enjoyed it! Thank you for all the work you put into it! It shows!!!
Merry Christmas Jo Lynne! I enjoy your blog and postings so much! Enjoy your family time????
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and Happy Birthday to your daughter.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Enjoy the time.????????. Happy Birthday to your daughter.????????????
Merry Christmas Jo-Lynne to you & your family! I so look forward to your blog each day, providing my little visitors allow it! And I especially like sending you an early morning IM on IG, when we are having our coffee on our front porches! You truly have been blessed with the gift of writing and humor! And always keeping it real, makes you all the more like a best girl friend to all of us! We all need some time to relax and re-energize, so hopefully it has started for you! Enjoy your time with your Virginia family!
Merry Christmas! Family gatherings make the holidays the best. Wish we were going to do that but looking at the bumper to bumper traffic on I 95 yesterday made me glad we weren’t out there. Thank you for all your continous work every day. It really is a job with lots of commitments. You handle it all very well.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Although I don’t follow a lot of blogs, yours is my favorite! I appreciate all the time and effort that you put into the content. I look forward to what 2018 has in store! Enjoy your special time with family!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS JOLYNNE! ????
Thank you for being part of my life!
Glad you made it to your destination safely. Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to your daughter! Enjoy the holidays. Looking forward to enjoying more of your blog in the new year.
Merry Christmas!
God Bless you All!!
Merry Christmas ! Thanks so much for all you do. Look forward to your blog everyday and FB lives.
Merry Christmas Jo-Lynne! Enjoy the fun time with your family! I’ve been using my new bag and can’t wait to take it to church with me tonight.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thanks for another great year on the blog! Enjoy your family time ????????⛄️????????
Merry Christmas! Love Roanoke , we used to live in Richmond and went to many soccer tournaments with our kids then in Roanoke. Was hoping we would see a little more snow here in North GA for Christmas but not so. Enjoy your family and God Bless you in the New Year! Julie L
Thanks for taking time for us. I was excited to see you posted. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! And Birthday wishes for your daughter!
Merry Christmas Jo-Lynne!
So this made me laugh – “…and they didn’t even bicker, which is a Christmas miracle right there.” Ha ha!! We’ll be traveling in the car with our teenagers tomorrow, and hope that I’ll be able to say the same thing when we arrive at our destination 😉
Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas!!!
Happy Birthday to your beautiful 15 year old! I love that picture of her. I am so happy that you took the time to post a Coffee Talk this morning. When it popped up after my morning devotions, I got a big smile on my face. Merry Christmas to you and your family! I pray that y’all will be blessed with a very safe and peaceful drive home at the end of your visit in VA! God bless you and thank you for all of the work you do for us, and keeping it real!
Jo-Lynne, hands down, you are the best blogger out there as I have learned SO much from you. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas (and a Happy Birthday to your daughter). You are a hard worker and I hope the holiday season brings you lots of joy as well as relaxation time.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. I love your blog and appreciate all the work you do to keep it interesting. Blessings.
Merry Christmas to you and your family really loving your blog – I’ve got a few more mums on board here in the uk Who are also loving your style! Hope you find time to unwind
Have a very merry Christmas and enjoy your time with your family! Happy Birthday to your daughter! ???????????? How fun for her to get to celebrate with relatives.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to your daughter! Thanks for posting today! I’m so glad I found your blog this year, you are a positive light in this world! 🙂
Merry Christmas Jo-Lynne! Thanks for such a wonderful blog. Really enjoy it!
Merry Christmas Jo-Lynne and to all of us, her blog readers!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Today is my son’s 17th birthday so we have extra celebrating tonight too! I always say we know what’s for dessert on Christmas Eve. ???? Enjoy the family time!
I’m so glad you arrived safely. Spending time with family is precious so enjoy every minute of it.
Thank you for all the positive thoughts and beauty you bring into our daily lives. You have quite the devoted fan base. ????
Have a wonderful Christmas Jo-Lynne!
Merry Christmas to you & your family! Thanks for your blog & please sleep in tomorrow if you can!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. And, happy birthday to your daughter. ( I have a Christmas Eve baby, too. She was 3 week late! Today she turns 43 :). Best Christmas present, ever!)
Merry Christmas to you and yours!! Happy Birthday to your daughter!!!
Merry Christmas Jo-Lynne!
Merry Christmas, Jo-Lynne! Enjoy this precious time with your family celebrating His birth! Happy Birthday to your daughter, too! Blessings!
Merry Christmas!!! My Danielle was born Dec. 18 , 21 years ago and was 5 weeks early!! The best Christmas gift ever!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I pray many blessings throughout 2018 and beyond!
MERRY Christmas!!! Enjoy your time with your family!!
Hope y’all have a very merry Christmas! Enjoy your vacation!
Merry Christmas to you and your family too!!!!! I appreciate you <3
Merry Christmas to you! ???? I love your blog and Instagram……thanks for keeping it “real” and oh so helpful for putting together cute outfits. You have the “gift” of knowing who your readers/clientele are and speaking to us as if we know you personally. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for 2018, my friend! ????
It’s been so beautiful here in So CA this past week; it’s “cooled” down for us (68 degree days with the sun shining) which means I can wear my booties and cardigan sweaters- yay! I’m setting up right now for an outside Christmas Eve dinner tonight.
Holiday Blessings to You ! ????????
I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!!!
Diana
Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday to your daughter!!!
Merry Christmas!! I look forward to your blog every day so thank you for being a bright spot for me on a daily basis. Enjoy your family!
I started reading your blog a few months ago. I look forward to your posts especially the coffee talks as I enjoy my 2-3 cups of coffee Sunday mornings.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas, Jo-Lynne! And Happy Birthday to your daughter! Christmas Eve babies are the best- my birthday is also today.
Merry Christmas to you and Paul and the teens. We plan to be at one son’s home and the other to come up on Dec 26. We are enjoying 2 little nephews of our son and daughter in law. Hope you enjoy your family and have a blessed time together.