Sometime this fall, we decided it would not be practical to be together for Christmas. We both felt we needed to be with our friends or family this year. Well... it might have been the right thing to do but it was oh so hard to be separated from the one you love so much. As Christmas day approached, we both decided that this would be the last time we are not together at Christmas.

However, we did make a number of phone calls and the week leading up to Christmas was filled with wonderful joy and a sense of peace and wonder as the big day approached. We shared what we were doing and made the best of it.
 

Jim and Ken was busy baking Christmas cookies this year and having fun giving them away to friends. There is something nice about giving things away that you have made. I think that between us we baked over 3000 cookies. It's a good thing we gave most away and didn't eat them all.

Here is Jim's Christmas gift to Ken.  It is something to help Ken fulfill one of his life goals, a way to help him follow his dreams. Now if Jim can learn to play the piano we will be ready for that duet.

Here's Jim on Christmas morning wearing a beautiful and oh so soft shirt that he got from Ken. And like the violin for Ken,  Jim also received a gift to help fulfill one of his dreams. Ken gave him a complete set of art supplies. Looks like no excuse now for learning how to do water colors.