Passing Torches

   Orange was put to sleep on November 22nd as he had a blood clot that started the night before causing him to go lame. Jim and Betty had us over before they left for St Louis and we also got to see Debbie and Linda who was driving them. Jim had a health scare but is doing better and their trip to Florida was delayed only by a week. Sandy and Andy were over for Thanksgiving as well as the week before Christmas. Gramma left for Florida early in December with Gloria but because of her defending of Mark and complaining to Jane about her siding with Andrew we did not see her after November 18 when they were all over for pizza. We had Christmas at Phil's and Jane went early by bus while we left Saturday the 23rd and stayed until the 27th while Phil and mom went to Texas to look for houses for him when he moves there in January. We've had a little snow this month resulting in one snow day and below 20 degree temperatures since Christmas. On December 17th we were blessed with Paul Vincent's birth. He is doing well but had to stay a few extra days because of jaundice, so we have not been able to go see him yet but it will be soon in the new year. Changes forever come and go, peak and ebb, life is a gift and hope pushes us on. Jane will be home tomorrow and MSU won their Holiday Bowl football game. 2017 is passing the torch to 2018, starting the lighting up of the challenges awaiting!