Grandma called and said the walls were closing in on her...We took Grandma Stewart out to the Galleria in Dallas. That's Sylvia wheeling her around (much faster than walking with her...she could never cover the mall on foot). We lunched at Nordstrums and had a Santa Claus sighting. That's my painting rendition of the great one above. We strolled the mall, and listened to the holiday orchestra, watched the ice skaters, and posed with one of Santa's elves!

I had a great time in the Stockyards. Each year, A Stockyards Christmas event is held in the Fort Worth Stockyards. I volunteered along with Martha and Jim Falkner, Beth Lehaie, Joanne Faries and Meredith Greenwood Brown, to pass out a Trinity Writers Workshop book of Christmas stories and poems to children who came to visit Santa. We helped children write a letter of their wishes, which he kept for further review. It was a lot of fun. Truth be told, I brought donuts and everyone else did the work while I took photo's. I did talk Fox 4 news into filming us for the 6 o'clock news. We were on for about 3 seconds. Got to mention one of my favorite places. You know the feeling when you are sick and tired of burgers, chicken and fish...and all you want a great steak? Cattlemens...a Fort Worth legend. Enough said.

Ho Ho! It's Christmas time. What a great season. It's the time when emotions can go up and down with great depth. I admit that I may cry in church...or laugh with friends at a party. Up and down we go. I wouldn't trade it for anything. And the feelings you get when you gift your children and friends...truly repairs the heart!

I caught Nannette and Reg stealing this sleigh. Turns out, they were going to give it to me at Christmas! Okay, in that case, I not calling the cops.

Can photographers ever be serious? I'm just making this up of course. Reggie and Nannette are two weeks from the wedding. (Christmas weddings are tough on me. I stake out the balcony -get the perfect angle -commit to memory the scene I'll turn into a painting -and bam...the minister will hold up the rings and the bride will raise her head to look into his eyes, and I'll realize I'm holding my breath. When you're in the balcony while God is blessing a marriage, you can feel the breeze from angel wings on your cheek.) Anyway, they wanted to have breakfast with Sylvia and me before the wedding. We went to a place I've often taken Syl to. They were decorating for the holidays...and there was the sleigh. Some idiot brought a little point and shoot (Oh wait...that was me. Don't you hate those guys who always seem to have a camera?) and before you know it...a photograph appears!

Making friends is the best gift that God gave to man. If the whole world could make friends...would there be anymore problems? Wouldn't we all care for each other? The four of us think alike. I'm blessed this Christmas.

Did a new safari! I had a great time having lunch with Brandy and Arthur. They are cool. I'm going to do another safari later adding in their kids! Arthur is in the sports entertainment field. I'm not saying what yet, and don't want to spoil the surprise...you'll just have to wait for the safari to be posted. The slide-show is here Brandy and Arthur. I used my favorite safari song. When I was done I couldn't believe how cool it was!

Their wedding will be a a great chapel. The Northeast Wedding Chapel in North Richland Hills (Hurst?) ...maybe Ft. Worth...It is about 1 mile north of 121 on Pricinct LIne road. Here is their link. www.northeastweddingchapel.com