Keeping Track of the 12 Days of Christmas on Newark-Granville Road....will post as we go....
With 10 days of travel in December I was further behind than ever, even though I'm one of those people that likes to shop and wrap and prep in December. I do love to buy gifts, send gifts, delight by finding the right gift, but it can bring pressure and hosting and...the ands of December can be tough. Which is why I truly do embrace the 12 days of Christmas...and this year we...
1st Day 25th- had a nice morning- kids agreed to 10:30 am for stockings and gifts...but they all joined us for breakfast prior...corned beef hash this year in our lives on NG Road! We prepped our contributions and headed north to Apple Valley where Scott and Ann hosted us in their beautiful home base with 2 of their three! We played games and enjoyed a delicious dinner. We soaked in the fun of Christmas Eve (quite a few ups and down NG road to church- I could not get the time right, beautiful to be around our table with Love-Fullers, missed Esme, ice skating..tradition!!!
2nd Day 26th- Leithauser Christmas continued...we prepped our contribution and headed northwest to Definance and Archbold! We stopped to see Jim's grave and say our prayers of thanksgiving and soaked in the peace of his resting place. Photos added on the blog post about Jim 10/8/25. Then well over 30 Gisels assembled for games and the wonderful meal of ham, cheesey potatoes, and so many other great homemade yummies...Caroline's mac n cheese- two days in a row- bonus- strawberry pretzel delight...yum! We stopped at the G&R tavern...kids do not remember being there, I remember a tight diaper change in the restroom!
3rd Day 27th we stayed home, rested, read, addressed cards, wrote thank you notes..watched Netflix....looked at pics, made Mom's calendar....
4th Day 28th - westward ho....Indy for Butler/UConn game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, dinner out with Peter, a hello to his Indy family, a visit with Clare and Caroline's Harper, an overnight at Bottleworks Hotel- wowza.
5th Day- 29- tour of Sally's semester apartment, soaking in time with Clare and Caroline...drive home, focused time on procuring bed! News of dear Don Haven's passing: https://www.hoskinsonfuneral.com/obituaries/don-haven Such a legacy, a life, inspiration, and dear friend to us in our lives on Newark-Granville Road.
6th Day-30- woke up sad, missing Peter, time with a full house, Don's death and other sad things- grief in cycles, figure eights....so Sally and I went and donated blood! but, I had my first reaction and just didn't feel great...my fault didn't eat breakfast, travel....spend the rest of day resting, taking it easy- so much for house projects!
7th Day- 31 NEW YEARS EVE- YOGA- ahhhhh quite a bit of yoga with Karen this holiday...ahhhh Last minute giving....and a fun time with friends cheering for the Buckeyes, ringing in 2026 and sharing Amy's birthday- for a bit....lovely way to wrap 2025!
8th Day January 1- NEW YEARS DAY- pork and sauerkraut, and black-eyed pea dip, and pickled herring...and Amanda brought delicious collard greens...add peas, some cheddar cheese and crackers..and topped it off with ice cream cake to honor Sally's 21st birthday at home....a lovely day of setting the table, organizing a bit, reading, relaxing...and ending it around the table- traditions. Oh yes, we toasted this special milestone with champagne, good champagne...recognizing the important mantra- open the bottle, share the bottle- cheers to Sally, 2025, thoese we lost, friendship and 2026!
9th Day- January 2 Sally move-in- early departure to unload two full cars with the frieght elevator, Clare's help and Lucy joining us! The bed we ordered did not arrive for pick-up, so off to Ikea! Joe had only been once for a pick-up. I had gone with Clare, Sally had never been...Clare was our guide. We were successful and came back to the apartment ready to set up a cozy bedroom for our girl. Joe did get lost and we giggled many times..making memories in Indy! Lucy a trooper, taking on her first elevator ride, city walk and cross state transportation since she arrived in Granville seven years ago. We made it home making it about a 12 hour productive day...off Newark-Granville Road.
Sadly while on the drive news of another important passing, Ann Fryman. More on Ann's legacy and hospitality and support of us....I truly feel like heaven opens up, energies pass and change, evolve with Don's going and Ann's I'm feeling that energy is in play here. https://www.newarkadvocate.com/obituaries/pwoo1373770
10th Day- January 3rd Yoga ahhh and then focus to support Don Haven's funeral which was wonderful.
Don planned his service and Wallace and family executed it beautifully. The speakers shared important, special stories, reflections and themes of Don's life recognizing he will be missed, he left a legacy and my take away is the funeral assisted us in understanding, feeling this. Nadia answered the question, how can we help, what can we do...which we all offer as an act of comfort...and she said- we can't do what she truly wants- her Dad back. Her call to us was to serve, as Don did. He showed up, he shared his love with action and valued family, community, country, education, church, faith and friendship. We laughed, many of us cried, we nodded in agreement and thought about Don's life and all he meant to us and the world. He also recomended financial gifts to The Don James Award- GHS Scholarship and First Presbyterian Church of Granville- links in the obit! I also wanted to include one of Don's articles and since it is book club tomorrow, this one felt like a good one:
https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/granville/2024/04/25/you-know-im-right-the-joys-of-reading/73363736007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113201d00----v113201d--32--b--32--&gca-ft=153&gca-ds=sophi
Thank you to all that attended, we greeted and it was so good to see you. Thank you to Don for asking us to be engaged, connecting back to how our relationship blossomed, as Elders, in service. Life on Newark-Granville Road is better and inspired by Don and his family and his friends and his service. We know you were right Don!
11th Day-January 4th Church, prep for return to work and a busy month...Christmas...time to get the gifts out from under the tree and put some things away....
12th Day- January 5th- Sally's first day, back to work for us, Bookclub- wonderful book club! We dicussed Margot Singer's Secret Agent Man- Essays- "braided"together- her word from a talk in September with Amy Butcher about this book. We all loved it, are glad we read it. We're inspired by her courage, wit, intelligance- lucky to have her in the community, at Denison. It was a nice discussion and then catch-up with dear friends.
January 6th- Epiphany and Sally's birthday- extra special one this year!! Twenty-one, how can this be...
That is a wrap- when will the tree come down...hmmmm
At book club we talked about how people use to journal, record all the comings and goings in notebooks. I use my photo collection to remember who was where, where was I, happenings...and this blog. Thanks for reading.
12 Days of Christmas, of reflection, of documenting...living- lucky me to be living and sharing it with so many people. It has been a lovely wrap and start to the year- 2025, 2026- wow..I remember 2005, 2000, 1986, 1990, even 1972 Februrary- my first memory...and I know that isn't guaranteed either- it is a gift to make the memories and to remember them, but it is truly important to make them. Life on Newark-Granville Road lives in the light of Ephiphany, welcomes all that come, join and share, thanks for reading.
