A return to blogging...

I have heard it said so many times, "time flies by". It truly does as 5 years have gone by so quickly... What brings me back to blogging?...by dearest best friend in the Santa Community, Cindylu from Alabama whom I am missing so. I first met Cindylu at a Santa convention in 2006 in Branson, MO called "Discover Santa". It was to be one of the first of many conventions we would be at together. There were over 500 Santas and Mrs. Clauses who attended this first of its kind convention. We didn't really get to know each other right then and there in Branson, MO, but after we returned home though different chat sites we belonged to such as yahoo and ning, now forgotten along the way of social media!! While Cindylu and I are similar in many ways, we are different in many as well. Cindylu is a SASSY SOUTHERN WOMEN who speaks out on many things and speaks the truth even if it might offend someone. I on the other hand, often hold things back and try not to offend anyone. It was my first reality check with north and south culture !! However, that "Southern Spirit" kept drawing me closer and closer to Cindylu and we became what we considered "True FOREVER Friends"!! We continued to correspond through e-mail and social media until we finally came face to face at our second national Santa Convention in 2009 called "Celebrate Santa" in Gatlinburg, TN. We both volunteered to present at workshops and had a grand time together. Friendships like this don't come along very often and we enjoyed it to the fullest. In 2012, Cindylu and her husband Charlie co-chaired to bring the Santa Community back to Gatlinburg, TN for a convention called "ClausFest 2012". I volunteered to be Cindylu's executive secretary and helped in many facets of the convention. We had a GRAND TIME in Gatlinburg and sealed our friendship in concete!!

Photo from ClausFest 2012. Two more years went by and I once again volunteered to help with "ClausFest 2014" and back to Gatlinburg we went!! It takes 1 full year of non stop planning to put on these successful conventions, but it is all worth the time and hard work. It is so fun to see Santas and Mrs. Clauses from not only the entire USA, but from other countries such as Denmark, Australia, Canada. It truly is an international gathering.

Photo from Clausfest 2014. Over the years, Cindylu and I would exchange daily e-mails or phone calls on occasion. She never got Skype hooked up, but it was on her "to do list" !! In May of 2015, Cindylu began to have some strange symptoms that brought her to the doctor. After multiple tests and scans, it was found she had one carotid artery which was totally blocked but also had a large anneursym on the other side of her second carotid artery. The doctor determined the best plan would be to unblock the one carotid artery by placing a stent in. The surgery was successful and she returned home to wait for healing. However, she ended up back at the hospital with a clogged stent. She underwent a second surgery to have that stent removed and a new one placed. She once again returned home to rest and heal for about 8 weeks. She continued to have some strange and unusual symptoms, but the doctor assured her in time, they would disappear. On July 14, she returned to the hospital for her anneursym surgery. It was a long 4 1/2 hr surgery for a large anneursym, but she came through it great and woke up laughing and chatting with her family surrounding her. She was to be discharged the next day to continue to rest and heal at home. However, on the morning of July 15, she was found unconscious on the floor of her hospital room. Scans showed she had brain swelling, a brain bleed, and a small stroke. Today is day 43 for Cindylu in ICU. Some days are better than others for her where she is able to squeeze Charlie's hand, open her eyes and nod while others she remains in deep sleep. Her ventilator has been removed and she has a trach and feeding tube. Charlie is most often found at her bedside giving positive re-enforcement while the Santa Community prays daily for Cindylu to heal and return home with Charlie. I cannot put into words how much I miss my daily e-mails to Cindylu or occasional spur of the moment phone calls. I know in my heart, there will never be another friendship that will be like the one we have. I continue to pray with Novenas and devotions asking God to help her heal and allow her to remain on earth in the Santa community where she is loved and admired my many. I still have her last e-mail she sent me the day before going into the hospital for the anneursym. Her words are treasured and remind me she too felt the same way about our friendship........ "Keep those prayers coming, ok? Thanks for being such a good friend to me through all these years. You have no idea how much I have loved and appreciated your friendship through all the things we've been through. When I say you are the BEST, I really mean that YOU are the BEST! With love, Cindylu" I miss you so much my dear friend and I am not giving up on that we will once again see each other at a Santa convention. The prayers continue for you around the world. With love, Debra Ann

A favorite day for Santa....making and testing cookies !!! 

Santa Randy Back by popular demand at B's on the River in Watertown, MN
- A Morning with Santa. Decorate cookies, hear a story or two by the local ECFE and have your picture taken with Santa. When: Saturday, November 27thTime: 10:00 am - Decorate Cookies, 10:45 am - Story Time, 11:00 am Pictures with Santa. 

Don't forget your camera & a container for your cookies!..

Happy Thanksgiving

So Many Things to be Thankful for.....Faith, Family, and Friends.  Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.     
Pilgrim Santa Randy & Debra Ann

Celebrate Santa 2010

Last year we were able to attend the 1st Celebrate Santa which took place in Gatlinburg, TN.  Unfortunately this year we are unable to attend.  Today is the big Santa Parade down Parkway Street in Gatlinburg.  We wish we were there and will miss seeing all our Santa friends.  We hope next year we will be able to attend.  May your week be filled with fun times.

GO MINNESOTA SANTAS !!!!

Lent.....40 days to spend more time with God

Ash Wednesday....what a moving reflective evening service. The temps were mild, the air was crisp and clean and the sky was lit up with stars.   Breaking away from the normal schedule and spending an evening with God is such a wonderful experience....to have the freedom to do so is even more amazing.

These last 2 years have been such a struggle for so many.  I watch what so many have worked so hard to accomplish only to slip away......our lives are changed in moments.  My favorite words to God have now become, "Lord, send down your Spirit and renew the face of the earth".  We all need a renewal of life and it needs to come through the Lord.

We need to come together as families and communities and pray together and for each other, especially during these next 40 days.   Take extra time out each day for prayer and reflection.....say your morning prayers before you turn on the TV or computer...say a rosary on your drive to work instead of listening to that morning radio crap talk...go to your church on Sunday to worship as a community.  People in other countries don't have that opportunity or freedom to worship in public.  We get so wrapped up in our daily lives that Sunday has just become a weekend day...I can't believe when people say "I thought it was Saturday today" or "What day is it on a Sunday"........WHAT......how can you not know it is Sunday ??
The people of the church I have attended since being married are so wonderful.  I get squeezes on the shoulder as they pass me up to communion, hugs after church, and people who hold my hand and look me in the eyes as wish me a happy and blessed week.  You can't get that from staying home on Sunday or praying by yourself.  Make this Lent the begining of your renewal with God and the religion you have the freedom to particiapte in.

Blessed Be--Debra Ann

♥♥♥♥♥♥Hugs & Kisses for a
Happy Valentines Day♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Short Snowy February

Even though February is our shortest month, it doesn't look like its going to bring us much closer to Spring in Minnesota anyway.  The snow just continues to pile up.  I guess I should be grateful for these snow showers as they really are pennies from Heaven.  Randy's snowplowing is helping carry us through the winter.  Something tells me God will be providing more of those pennies not only in February, but March which typically used to be our snowiest month.

While February is our shortest month, it holds some important days on the calendar.....February 14th, Valentines Day and February 17th Ash Wednesday.  No, I haven't forgot about Ground Hogs Day February 2nd and President's Day on February 15th.  Personally, I was thinking with the way the economy has been going perhaps we should ask Congress to combine Ground Hog's Day and President's Day as one day to be celebrated together.   Of course we all know that wouldn't happen, the Democrates and the Republicans would have to agree on something to get it passed.

I guess I better get busy finding Santa Randy some heart shaped suckers to hand out on Sunday February 14th.  I am sure his fans will be excited to receive them.  I better also start thinking of some Lenten Resolutions since I haven't been doing so well on my January Resolutions.........