THIS AND THAT * Kirk Cameron, who is best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the ABC sitcom “Growing Pains” has a new book out, “As You Grow.” * I watched the FIFA World Cup games until my favorite player’s team lost. Until that moment I was watching almost every match, and then when Portugal lost and Ronaldo walked off the pitch, I was basically done.

A NEW YEAR’S BLESSING May God make your year a happy one, Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes; Not by making your path easy, But by making you sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from you, But by taking fear from your heart; Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, But by keeping your face bright even in the shadows; Not by making your life always pleasant, But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, And by making you ready to be there to help. God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead..

IT’S CHRISTMAS! A Stocking for Jesus We celebrate each Christmas Jesus Christ’s great birth. We remember the gift He is to us And that our souls have worth.

THIS AND THAT * Even though Academy Award winner, singer, actress, songwriter and producer Irene Cara has passed away far too soon, her songs will “Live Forever.” * May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve. * Are you all watching the Christmas movies on the Great American Family Channel? * Have to laugh that actress, and I use that term VERY loosely, Alyssa Milano gave back her Tesla because of Elon Musk purchasing Twitter, and then bought a VW ev.

THIS AND THAT * If you are Christmas shopping for me, I am a size seven day Royal Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas and Cocoa Cay. * The Olde Tyme Christmas Parade was absolutely fantastic! Kuddos to the committee members who worked so hard getting the community to come together for this special occasion.

MERRY DECEMBER! * Happy Merry December! * You may or may not know this about me, but I love to collect pens. I guess I shouldn’t say I love to collect them; what I should say is that I always take a pen if someone is giving them away for free to advertise their business.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING Saw this and had to pass it on… ‘Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn’t sleep, tried counting backward, tried counting sheep. The leftovers beckoned— The dark meat and white, But I fought the temptation With all of my might.

THIS AND THAT * November looks like a world covered in an apple cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon. * I heard that some “celebrities” are leaving Twitter.

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY TO TRENT Oh, my blue Heaven, Mr. Trent Avery is turning seven! My, how the time has flown, And look how much you have grown! Swimming, softball, soccer games, Flag football and all kinds of board games. Mix it all in with Mario Kart And racing as Donkey Kong Jr. from the start. It’s first grade for you With so much to learn and do! Hunting with Dad is a lot of fun, With Drake, Grandpa and a BB gun. The theme for the party is football With the family invited, one and all. There will be cake, ice cream and candy, And topping it off with presents is dandy! You are my lucky number seven And a very special gift from Heaven. You’re the best little brother to your big sister, And it has to be said, you are one cool mister. Wishing you a birthday of laughter and fun Because today you are now six plus one! Have a wonderful year of being just you Filled with adventures to see and do! Happy Seventh Birthday to my Superman. Love you more, Grams

THIS AND THAT * Actress Angela Lansbury passed away a few weeks ago. I really love watching her in the TV series “Murder She Wrote.” Also, she was a wonderful Mrs. Potts in the movie “Beauty and the Beast.” (I have a china Mrs. Potts bank that I bought at Smith’s many years ago. Roma said she bought it because she thought it was cute.) And I loved her as Miss Price, in the Disney movie “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.” She was an actress with a repartee of Broadway successes and movies through several decades that only a few can aspire to. Here are just some of her film successes: “The Long Hot Summer” (I am not going to lie, I watched it for Paul Newman), “The Court Jester” with Danny Kaye, “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Samson and Delilah,” “Fantasia,” “National Velvet,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “The Grinch,” and “Blue Hawaii.”