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14 | THE COLONY NEWS | DECEMBER 2021 | FEATURE PAGE By Betty Oehler For the first six years of marriage, Ed and I skipped Christmas except for what was socially necessary, and this worked well for us and our families. Then came change, beginning with Jesus becoming real and personal to me. As December approached, I told Ed this year I'd like to celebrate His birth with a special dinner and going to a candlelight service. I said nothing about exchanging gifts, but I knew I wanted to give him one and that it would be binoculars. We were season seat holders for the L.A. Kings, with seats far up from the rink, and sometimes he wished he had a closer look at activity on the ice, even some fights! Christmas Eve came and after dinner, as Ed sat on the sofa, I said, "Just sit there a bit, I have a surprise," and made a quick trip to get my gift from under the bed. He opened it and began laughing — a lot! Suddenly, he bent down, reached under the sofa and... what? a gift! Then we both couldn't stop laughing. Binoculars, both of us! He remembered my wanting them at the theatre and while hiking. Even without the second gift he had tucked under the sofa, and more laughs in the story of the binoculars as I, the pesky customer, had bought the last pair in the store at Sears off the display rack, I love the memories of that Christmas. Meet the Newbers! We are a group of special ladies who moved to The Colony at about the same time and were all looking to make new friends with similar interests. That was over seven years ago and we hit the jackpot! We found great friends who enjoy each other's company, play cards, go on road trips, dine out, and laugh and dance together. We are thankful, blessed and grateful to have found each other. Merry Christmas! Linda(w/Milo), Jo, Marsha, G'Angela, Loretta, Norris and Diane Holiday By Brenda Sindorf It was December 1956. I was eight years old and living with my very pregnant sister and her husband. They lived on the Marine base in San Diego, CA. She was the first to bring a baby into the family. Their apartment was saturated with holiday cheer, Santa cookies and a Christmas tree over the top with silver tinsel, lights, and a huge angel on top. And so many presents! Mixed in with all of this was every bell and whistle a newborn would need. I was just itchy with excitement for the baby to arrive. And he did, on December 22nd. My emotions were crazy with excitement as I waited for my sister to walk through the front door. And she did on Dec. 24! I was sitting in the rocking chair by the Christmas tree when the front door opened, and in comes my sister with this tiny human being wrapped in blue. She carefully walked over to me and put this little guy in my arms. I was over the moon and felt so special. A picture was taken and to this day, I have this picture with me grinning from ear to ear holding this precious little baby. Well, this precious little baby is still precious, but he is a whopping 6'4" and still the best Christmas present I have ever received!