Patricia Johns

Amelia loved getting Christmas cards from her friends and family. This year, everyone was congratulating them on their first Christmas together.

Calls came in from cousins, aunts and uncles, George’s grandmother, and Amelia’s gruff old grandfather Jeremiah the Bullfrog who didn’t remember anything straight anymore.

“So you got married?” he asked, sounding confused.

“Yes, Grandpa, you were at the wedding,” Amelia said.

“I don’t recall… Are you old enough to get married?”

“Of course, I am! You danced with my bridesmaid and stole the wedding cake topper,” she said.

“Did I?”

“And then you asked George’s younger sister to marry you?” she said. “You got down on one knee, and it took three of us to get you standing up again. You don’t remember any of this?”

“Huh,” her grandfather said. “That sounds like some wedding… What did his sister say?”

“She said she’s already married, but if she found herself single, she’d give you a call.”

“She sounds very sweet,” he said soberly. “I wish I remembered it.”

“I’ll remember it for both of us,” she said. “How are you, Grandpa? I miss you!”

---

Amelia was relaxing in a bubble bath. In the other room George was watching Elf for the third time that holiday season. He loved that movie. But Christmas has passed, and the new year was a few days away. They had gotten lost in that holiday week fog.

“George!” Amelia called.

“Yes?” George called back.

“What day is it today?”

There was a long pause. “I’m not sure, dear.”

Amelia wasn’t sure either.

“George!” she called.

“Yes?” he called back.

“Should I make us some turkey sandwiches for lunch?” she asked.

“That sounds great!” George replied.

So Amelia pulled the plug on her bath. That was one goal for the day–the perfect turkey sandwiches. It was enough.

---

George and Amelia stood in their kitchen on New Year’s Eve. They were both rather tired, but were determined to stay up to hear the clock strike midnight.

“What is your resolution for the new year?” George asked his wife.

“Well… I’m resolved to figure out how to bake in this wood stove,” she said. “Patricia has asked if I’d help her with her Amish baking research. So that’s one thing. What about you, Georgie?”

“Well…” George was thoughtful. “I want to learn French.”

“French?” she asked in surprise.

“I’d like to start, at least,” he replied.

From the other room, the clock began to chime. One… two… three…

“Happy New Year, Amelia,” George said, and gave his wife a kiss.

“Happy New Year, George,” Amelia said.

It was their very first new year as married frogs, and George felt like they were doing well. Marrying Amelia was the best thing he could have done, and quite frankly, he didn’t think he could top it in the next year, anyway.

---

Happy New Year to all of you! I hope your 2024 is filled with happiness and blessing. If you’re looking for some books to take you through, have you checked out my book page recently? There are always new upcoming releases being added!

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