Merry Christmas 2008

The Parsons are now in Mesa, AZ for a month from Dec. 15-Jan. 15. The week of Christmas Joanne returned to Portland for a medical follow-up and spent Christmas with the girls and their families. The following photo gives a hint of the needed attire!

Truly the angels were busy! Melissa and Mike used exceptional ingenuity to find a man with a 4-wheel drive to come to the airport to pick me up! Literally thousands of others were stranded there. Certainly the car wasn't leaving the driveway. The scenery was exquisite but Portland was at a stand-still. Cars and buses were stuck, some light rail track switches frozen up, etc. On Monday a very, very nice stranger in his 4-wheel drive vehicle picked Melissa & me up as we were knee-deep in snow trodging up the hill to a Barbur Blvd. bus stop. (We were only going out as we were on our way to the Good Samaritan Hospital appointment.) Imagine the coincidence of the timing that he would be driving up our street just then!

Christmas was a magically perfect day as we shared santa's arrival, a family brunch, and then a delicious dinner and delightful fun-filled evening at the lovely home of family friends. Indeed the following photos taken that evening represent a mom and grandma's ultimate Christmas dreams!

Melissa and Mike

Michelle with Trevor, Adam, and Justin

Harlow, Mary and Shawn

A fun-filled evening playing games with the O'Brien family was enjoyed on Saturday evening.

Sunday's gathering with Mike's dad and family gave the perfect completion to a most memorable Christmas visit.

What a contrast upon returning to Mesa! There are beautiful blue skies and the temperature is toasty. Quickly one is reminded why we come south for the winter.

The spectacular holiday lights adorn our street at Valle del Oro. We send our greetings to all our friends and family as we welcome 2009!