RVing Fulltime with Tom and Ella

2019 December 21 Saturday

2019 December 21 Saturday in Liberty Hill, Texas

og was the big story on today’s trip into Lakeline Mall. Also of Interest, I saw a car run a red light. Fortunately I saw him coming and did not pull out in front of him. Just another reason people should not be driving the speed limit in limited visibility. But I guess eventually natural selection will take care of those people.

The Santa set was busy from open until I left at 2 p.m. I’m sure Santa Charlie will be busy until the end of the day.

Eating Cheetos, playing Fast Track, and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallow. What a nice way to spend am evening.

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

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All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams
Day 80 in our Texas home
37 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall, Cedar Park with 1 at La Cantera, San Antonio

2019 December 20 Friday

2019 December 20 Friday in Liberty Hill, Texas

There is no sunshine this morning therefore no Sunrise photographs

mm, warmer this morning, but do you see the predicted high for today? Yep, just three degrees warmer than the current temperature

ork started an hour early this morning on the Santa set in anticipation of more of a crowd. School is out!

got to work only to find out that our set manager will not be finishing out the year with us, because of a family emergency that called her out of state.

he day was busy as expected. And I imagine that tomorrow will be busier yet. The school age children were there today also, because the local schools have gone into Christmas break.

t was raining when I left work this evening. Apparently it had rained most of the day. This didn’t seem to make any difference to the traffic on the roads.

stopped at Wal-Mart again tonight. This time I was able to get my medications. I was also able to buy more grocery items that weren’t on yesterday’s list.

t was dark when I arrived home, so no sunset photo.

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams
Day 79 in our Texas home
36 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall, Cedar Park with 1 at La Cantera, San Antonio

2019 December 19 Thursday

2019 December 19 Thursday in Liberty Hill, Texas

awoke this morning with a sneezing spell. That’s not a good thing for Santa.

ood morning, sun. It’s nice to see you on this cold Texas daybreak.

usiness on the Santa set is puking up. I expect tomorrow to be very busy indeed, because the local schools will be out for Christmas break.

al-Mart was my first stop tonight. I had once again ordered online for pickup this evening. After the groceries were loaded, I went into the pharmacy. But the prescriptions were not ready.

he next and last stop before getting home was Golden Chick tho push up some supper.

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams
Day 79 in our Texas home
36 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall, Cedar Park with 1 at La Cantera, San Antonio

2019 December 18 Wednesday

2019 December 18 Wednesday in Liberty Hill, Texas

t got right down chili last night. I had to even close my bedroom window. And for a change, I slept under the sheet and the comforter. Ella also had a fleece blanket throw over her.

he drive into work was uneventful other than dropping Ella off at the over-the-hill gang building so that she could attend a grandies meeting. Praise the Lord. They are signing and mailing Christmas cards today.

stopped and finished filling the truck fuel tank, that I only got a partial tank in last night. The gas was considerably cheaper here, by at least $0.10.

Weatherbug predicts that it will dip below freezing again tonight. However, that will be the last time for freezeing temps at least for theneedy 10 days.

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams
Day 79 in our Texas home
36 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall, Cedar Park with 1 at La Cantera, San Antonio

2019 December 17 Tuesday

2019 December 17 Tuesday in Liberty Hill, Texas

left home a little early this morning because I needed gas in the truck. I got to the gas station only to realize I didn’t have my billfold. Ah oh! I called Ella and ask her to look around home to see if it was there. It was not.

he last time I could remember having it was yesterday morning when I drove through Burger King for breakfast. So I checked likely places in the cab of the truck. Then I checked the unlikely places in the truck. Not there.

had enough gas to get to work, and, maybe, home. At the mall, as I was getting into the Santa suit, I found the billfold in the coat pocket. Whew!

s of last Sunday, we have officially seen over 3,000 children at the Santa set. This next week will easily double that number – possibly triple the number of children already seen.

ow do we know how many we’ve seen? We gave each child a sticker that said, “I’ve seen Santa.” We had 3,000 and now they are all gone. And not every child took a sticker and hardly any parents took them for babies who visited Santa.

peaking of babies, the first couple of hours today were nearly exclusively babies … very very few cried.

s I stated earlier, I needed gas in the truck. This evening, after work, I went to a station and got a half tank full. Why only a half tank? Because I’m sure I can find it cheaper elsewhere. Why didn’t I go elsewhere first? I really needed gas so I stopped at the first available place.

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams
Day 78 in our Texas home
35 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall, Cedar Park with 1 at La Cantera, San Antonio

2019 December 16 Monday

2019 December 16 Monday in Liberty Hill, Texas

do not believe that cloudy quite covers. I would have to say it is completely socked in with cloud cover.

oday Santa had a little girl who wanted blocks, clothes, and vitamins. We were busy right up to 12. Even though Jessie is alone this morning, photography has made about $900.00 for this morning. Plus I got to see some of my special needs people. That’s a good day.

e had a nearly steady steam of children and adults to see Santa today. I’m sure that Charlie had a very busy night after he took over the big chair. I’ll find out tomorrow morning.

Ella called to daddy that she’s was without electricity. I told her to throw each of the circuit breakers off and back on. She said she had already done that.

I said that it must be in the electric pedestal where our shore power comes from. She said she didn’t no how to do those. I told her that I’d do it when I got home. And I would also empty the black water tank. She said she would do that because she knew how.

When I got home I closed the valve on the black water tank and cheeked the electric meter on the pedestal. The little wheel was slowly turning. So, I knee that there was power going into our home.

went inside and heard the fan on the electric heater running and the light on the microwave was lit. Ella said, “Yay, it’s been on.” She knew that the power was out because the Christmas tree lights weren’t on. I clicked the switch on the power cord and nothing happened. I plunged something into the same wall socket and it worked. I clicked the switch on the power strip again and the Christmas lights came on.

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

All content (except quotations) ©2019 Thomas E. Williams
Day 77 in our Texas home
34 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall and La Cantera.

2019 December 15 Sunday

2019 December 15 Sunday in San Antonio, Texas

his was the sunrise From my motel room Best Western Plus in San Antonio, Texas. I didn’t get to sleep until after midnight this morning, woke several times in the night (strange bed and no wife). Woke again at six, worked on editing the sermon for the 29th, showered, took the above photo, and went to the motel lobby for breakfast.

was on the road back toward Liberty Hill shortly after 8 a.m. I needed to fill the truck with gas before going too far. So, once I was on highway 281, I stopped art the first station I saw.

s I was filling the tank, a thick fog enveloped everything. It was eerie that it didn’t slowly build to foggy. One minute it was clear and the next it was fog.

fter about 10 miles the fog lifted. It was still there but no longer at ground level. And then, somewhere down the road, I realized the the sky was clear.

he drive up 281 was much nicer and less eventful than the drive to San Antonio. I continued on the highway to Burnet* where I stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch.

When I arrived home it want quite 11:30 so I decided to go on to Cross Tracks Church. Ella had sent a message that she was going to me at the 11 o’clock service. The sermon was underway so I sat in the back of the church and tried to find Ella. I realized she was not in the sanctuary.

s soon as the sermon was over, I slipped out and sent a text to Ella, “I’m at church. Where are you?” I saw a text that said, “Pick me up at Schlotzsky’s.” So, I started the drive to Schlotzsky’s when I got a call from Ella, “Where are you?” I replied, “I’m on the way to Schlotzsky’s.” She said, “We came to the church to look for you.” “Okay” I said, “I’m on my way back to the church. I got back to the church, expecting her to be editing for me. But she was nowhere to be seen. “I’m at the church, where are you?” I texted.”To your left,” came her text. We were finally in the same place at the same time and h headed home.

fter a short nap we headed toward Adam’s for a Christmas dinner. They are taking a cruise over the Christmas break.

e made a stop along the way at Wal-Mart to buy some Christmas gifts for grandkids and great grandkids.

isiting with the kids and grandkids was a fun way to spend the evening. And, as a bonus, we laundered a load pic white clothes while we we’re there

*pronounced “Burn it”.

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

Day 76 in our Texas home
33 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall and La Cantera.

2019 December 14 Saturday

2019 December 14 Saturday in Liberty Hill, Texas

The full moon this morning just before sunrise.

nd then the Day Star rose.

received a call from Kerri before I left home this morning. She still needs help in San Antonio. I will be going to San Antonio after I am done at Lakeline at 2 o’clock. I will jump into Rudolf the Red Nose Pickup and head for the shops at La Cantera parkway
San Antonio TX. I’m to start at 5 o’clock there.

he thing I had dreaded most about going to San Antonio was the 2-hour drive back after 9. As I have stated previously I do not like driving in the dark. That problem has been solved because I will be spending the night in a hotel motel in San Antonio.

nd the other situation was that I was going to have to go down, work till 9, then drive all the way back, and then be at Lakeline by 10 a.m. With this new plan, I will be off work all day Sunday. Which is really good because we have laundry to do and Christmas dinner with Adam and family on Sunday evening.

bove was the plan as it was planned. This is the way it played out. The 1-1/2 hour drive took 3 hours. I parked in the mall parking lot and called the set manager. It went to voicemail. I really needed the restroom, so I went into the open-air mall to search for one. Some helpful shoppers pointed the way. I called again and it went to voicemail again. I asked directions to the Santa set from some shoppers and a young gentleman showed the way.

got to a spot where I could see the set without being too obvious (I was in full Santa suit). This time I got a call back. She let the other Santa go and escorted me into the set. We were busy until about 8:45. The set closed at 9.

hen I had to find where I’d parked the truck. I wandered around until I found a store that I remember. Once I got my bearings, I was okay.

erri sent an email with directions to the motel. I arrived at the motel about 9:30. I was told that the reservation was made but not paid for.

called Kerri, who called Becky, who called I don’t know who. But the motel would not take any of the payment options.

ome time after 10 I received directions to another motel. Before going to the motel, I stopped at What A Burger for my second meal of the day. Then I headed toward the new motel. I drove into the drive one turn too late. The motel is on a one way frontage road. That means I had to drive further down the road, cross under the freeway, take the frontage road on that side for 4 miles, cross back under the highway, take the original frontage road back to the motel and pull in the correct drive. Check in was quick and easy (and paid for).

got to my room by 11. I then called Ella to say, “I’ve landed.”

God bless and g’nite

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

Day 75 in our Texas home
33 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall

2019 December 13 Friday

2019 December 13 Friday in Liberty Hill, Texas

gracious good morning to you! May your day be filled with wonder and joy. The sun is shining and the birds are singing … or at least making a racket.

he toll road was relatively free of traffic this morning.

I saw one vehicle stopped by the police this morning which may account why the majority were traveling closer to the speed limit.

s of 1:00 p.m. we had a slow but steady stream of traffic to see Santa. As usual I had more visits than the photographers had photo sales. I don’t understand why they aren’t trained in any sales techniques. I don’t understand why they don’t take photos of those who “just want to talk to Santa”. It is digital photography, you have not incurred any expense by clicking the button on the camera. It costs the potential customer nothing to look at the image on the screen. If they don’t want to buy it, you’ve lost nothing. If they like the photo, you’ve turned a profit. What am I missing here?

round 1:30 I received a call from the district manager for Cherry Hill (the photography company) asking if I would be willing to go to San Antonio and cover the evening set at Rolling Oaks Mall. I said yes.

was willing to drive the hour and a half (if traffic was good), work until 9 p.m., drive the two hours home, and be back at Lakeline Mall at ten o’clock tomorrow. I was willing, but not wanting to do it. I never received a “go ahead” and at 4:30 the set manager said he was told that it was covered and I could go home. Whew!

he items I brought home yesterday for the food pantry, were taken to our church today. Ella made arrangements for a friend, who was going there tonight, to take them. I’m glad that was taken care of.

God bless and g’nite.

Visit my devotions blog new devotions every day (nearly)

My NEW sermons blog Armchair Sermons. Sermons posted Sundays 10 AM central time.

http://armchairsermons.wordpress.com

Tom and Ella Daily Journal of Our Lives

https://tomandellajournal.wordpress.comhttps:/

Day 74 in our Texas home
32 days as Santa at Lakeline Mall

2019 December 12 Thursday

2019 December 12 Thursday in Liberty Hill, Texastrip in from Liberty Hill’s to work today was mostly uneventful. However there were a string of fire trucks that we’re coming up behind me but turned before they got to me. I wonder where they were going? I pray that wherever they’re going everyone will be safe.or some reason unknown to me, the door to our dressing area has not only been unlocked but standing wide open for the last few days. Now I know that maintenance also uses this for storage. So I can only assume that they are the ones opening it. But I do wish they would shut the door again when they are done. Because if I set out there in my Santa suit, and kids go by, it can be confusing to them.I had a grand day today. Several bus loads out special needs adults were in the mall shopping today and many puff then came to see Santa.hree years ago Ian, an 11 year old boy with Downs Syndrome, came to see Santa. Though he can talk, it was difficult to understand him, so he also communicated partially with ASL on a limited scale. I also knew a little sign language. After his pictures were taken, his mother went to look at the photos while Ian and I sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and pretended that the big Santa chair was a sleigh. When mom came to get him, he went over, hugged her, kissed her, and told her goodbye. He was going to stay with Santa.ast year we were closing the set to change Santa’s when I saw him standing in line. I waved him in, got the pictures and again visited for a short time while mom looked at photos. Again, he didn’t want to leave. He told her he was going tho sleep in my chair.oday his mom brought Ian for photos. Today, when she was ready to leave, he went with her. However, an hour or so later, she came to thank me for the joy I give to get son. I said that he gives me so much joy also. Ian parked himself on my lap and was ready to stay again. It took some persuading for him tho go with her.n my way home I stopped at Wal-Mart to get the groceries that I had ordered online before going to work. I also went in to get Ella’s prescriptions. The pharmacist had been at the Wal-Mart back in Iowa so I told her that the temperature back there was 29°.felt rather proud of myself for remembering the groceries AND the medications. That is until Ella asked where the pizza was. I had forgotten that she had ordered pizza for me to pick up.God bless and g’nite.