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Hello Everyone!!!
First of all, I'd like to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I'm going to take the opportunity to reflect on the many blessings I
have received this year...and I plan to NAME NAMES! HA!
...A "kiss and tell" of sorts! I have so many folks I'd like to
mention, so I jump right in.
I'll tell you something about myself...I AM CRAZY ABOUT CHRISTMAS!
Everything is so beautiful! SO MAGICAL! So full of love and joy. My
heart feels so big at Christmastime I can barely contain
myself...and YES! I do have a great big WONDERFUL BLOW UP SANTA
WAVING HAPPILY FROM ATOP MY DECK!
Marah and I put the tree up Thanksgiving weekend, so we've been
enjoying our tree for a few weeks. We are all ready for Christmas!
Wayne's birthday is TODAY (the 19th) so he's lucky to have such a
BEAUTIFUL time to have a birthday.
We had a little celebration for him and some friends came to visit
and hold his hand into number 41! All of our dear friends Emmett and
Laura Dubansky-Williams, Mary Day, Dave and Marsha Shirk, Frieda
Hudson, Nancy Hudson, Becky, Tim and Tobey Rice, (Tobey is
EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE TWO YEAR OLD!), Roger and Elizabeth Cordes all
came to spend the evening with us. We are so richly blessed to have
so many dear friends. I am humbled when I think on that.
This year has been an exciting one...I can't believe it is about to
come to an end. High's, low's, up's and down's all seem to level off
at this time of year and we can look back favorably, take a good
deep winter breath and say "It's been a great year."
I've made so many new friends who have come again and again to
listen to me play. I hope all of you who read this know that even if
I don't know your names, you are in my heart and I appreciate you so
very much. There's no way to describe what you mean to me....even
though we may not "know" each other.
I want to thank my new friend Nancy Difede...without her, we'd not
be reading this newsletter!! She has to be at the top of the list
because she took my hand and led me thru the wiles of WEB DESIGN
after another harrowing experience! MERRY CHRISTMAS NANCY to
you and your family!! Thank you for all you do for me!
My friend Sean Eaton is home, safe and sound from Iraq. I am sure he
is getting lots of hugs and kisses from those who couldn't wait to
get their arms around him
and Miss Arielle is thrilled to see her dad I'm sure! THANK YOU SEAN
for your love and protection of us all.
My dear friend Brenda Campbell has been right with me with love and
friendship that I just can't say enough about. She may not realize
it, but she has adopted Wayne and me into her fold and we adore her!
MERRY CHRISTMAS BREN!!!
Another PRECIOUS PERSON that music gave to me is JOYCE ALLEN....out
of Hamilton, New Jersey. Joyce always has a READY SMILE, a hug and
the biggest heart you could ever experience! She is kind, funny,
thoughtful and I just LOVE her! (She and Brenda Campbell came and
spent time with me at the Dumb Bell Ranch last fall and I loved
their visit so!) Anyway, the mail carrier showed up with THE MOST
AMAZING PACKAGE last week and I was moved to tears. I will post a
picture of me with the wonderful pen and ink that Joyce did for me
of The Old Theater, the marquee and surroundings for my shows in
there in September. Joyce was in attendance and I was HAPPY for
that! Joyce....a special note to you....Your kindness and love is
like a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa...it's just such a
comfort and brings a smile to my face to know you are in my life.
God has blessed me richly in knowing you. THANK YOU JOYCE for all
you are to so many.
This year has had it's share of worries and funny enough, as if on
cue, things start to sort themselves out. My friends Emmett and
Laura have experienced the uncertainty of health in the illness and
thankfully progressive recovery of their daughter Jennifer. My dad
had brain surgery in Jan and open heart surgery in May. To see him
today, you'd never know he'd
ever spent a day in a hospital. I thank God for that. My uncle Mike
Webster got home from heart surgery at Duke this past Saturday and
is on his way to being as good as new. He and my aunt Staffie mean
the world to me, so I'm relieved to know that he can only get better
from here. Keep everyone's health in your thoughts and prayers! GOOD
HEALTH is such a blessing!
My brother and his wife are expecting a baby in May. The due date is
the day after my birthday! What a great gift that would be!! ANOTHER
HALEY! Look out world!!! The more the merrier, I say! It's up to you
Quint, to bring us a boy!!!
My friends Dave and Marsha Shirk are folks I need to thank as well.
Their places in my life and so dear and so deep. Marsha and I have
determined that we're sisters from different mothers...and that's
just fine by me. We're either giggling, laughing, crying or doing
SOMETHING together daily. Dave tolerates my endless immaturity well.
(Frankly, I think he likes it!) and Marsha seems to UNDERSTAND my
endless immaturity! HA! So, that will never stop! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Frieda Hudson....well, gee. I just don't even know what to say
there. Frieda and I also have a ton of fun! We enjoy movies
together, talking electronics, eating good food together, talking
music and Frieda is also "an easy to be with friend." Like Marsha
and Laura, she just seems to "know" me at times and always has a
ready smile, joke or a comforting hug if needed. I love you Frieda!
MEAN IT! HAHAHA! And we can't talk about Hudson's and leave
out Nancy...who's become my adopted kid sister/niece! I love you
Nancy-boo and you are ALWAYS a bright spot in my day.
I have to thank JIM CLARE, MARK TEACHEY, CATESBY JONES and JOHN
GOLDEN for all the many months of time and preparation for the show
we recorded back in September. You guys are just AMAZING to me
and I love you all so much. Can't wait till we can do it all
again!!!
My pals Martha and Gene Myers are now OFFICIALLY TARHEELS...having
moved into their new home in Brunswick County, they won't have to
feel left out for being "VISITORS" to North Carolina any longer!!
WELCOME HOME YOU TWO!!! Martha and Gene are gifts from music as
well...and what fun we have! It's like they've always been a part of
my life. Martha is the kind of friend you know is always right
beside you in thought and she's a GRAND cheerleader for those of us
who are lucky enough to be loved by her. I LOVE YOU MARTHA AND GENE!
I have been so fortunate to have new friends and maintain friends
who have been with me for a long time. MERRY CHRISTMAS WISHES TO:
Gary, Kitty and Katie Mitchell, Ann Ehringhaus, Mel Stanforth,
David Tweedie and Amy Howard and little Lachlan, Sundae Horne and
Rob Temple, Caroline and Emmet and "OOPS" who's in the warmer and
will be with us next Christmas! Gerald and Beth Hampton, Marcy
Brenner and Lou Castro, Martin and Judy Garrish, Beth Robertson
Berry, Lynn Carter, all my friends from my home town, all my
Nashville pals, Jae Ellis and I'm sure I have left names out.
Forgive me and let's blame it on my age! Just know you're in my
heart.
I want to thank my husband Wayne for our true friendship. We started
out that way and have maintained that through thick and thin. God
blessed me richly and our marriage and friendship are immeasurable
to me. Many of you know Wayne...and for those of you who don't, he's
something else. He's my number one fan and supporter. He stands
right beside me musically. He listens to every note of every song
and hears them the same as I do...which means so much. He is right
there whether it's helping to sell CDs, setting up and tearing down
stages, carrying gear, you name it. Wayne is right there. I don't
know what I'd do without him personally or professionally. He's seen
me in every facet of life, as they say about true friends, and loves
me anyway! (Even in the mornings before I have my coffee!!) Wayne
was the very reason I wrote "It's A Beautiful Life." We were
traveling home, riding quietly. He reached over to me and said,
"Annie, it's a beautiful life." To which I replied...you're right
Honey. HOLD THAT THOUGHT! And I wrote the song in the time it took
to drive across Swansboro. Thank you for your inspiration and your
enthusiasm Wayne. It doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY HONEY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Marah....honey...MERRY CHRISTMAS! You're my pride and joy...I'm
beaming as I type this! YOU'RE A WARM LITTLE LIGHT IN MY HEART THAT
IS ALWAYS RIGHT THERE. I LOVE YOU BOOGIE!
As we go through the Christmas Season of 2005, let us take time to
remember the less fortunate, those who are hurting, addicted,
lonely, suffering in any capacity and those who are lost. Pray for
every soul to find the meaning of Christmas. Blessings are available
for the taking, but the effort to reach for them has to be made. Ask
for the strength to do so.
ENJOY THE SIGHTS, SMELLS AND ALL THE SPECIAL THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS
OF CHRISTMAS!!! Get into it! Laugh! Smile! ENJOY THE SPIRIT OF
THIS MAGICAL SEASON!
From my home to yours on Christmas and every day of the year, please
know you're appreciated! MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS!
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT 2006 TOGETHER!! "CARRY THE
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS WITH YOU ALL THROUGH THE YEAR!"
We love you all,
Annie, Wayne, Marah
and all the menagerie from the Dumb Bell Ranch |
