christmas 2007

well happy christmas to all. for those of you out of town, i hope you had a safe, enjoyable christmas. luckily, just in the nick of time, we had a bit of snow on christmas eve that gave us a semi-white christmas.
every year we alternate families for every holiday. this year we spent christmas with my husbands side of the family. because his brother and sweet nephew were in town, we spent friday, saturday, sunday, and monday night with the whole crew and had such a great time. it's been a while since we've spent that much time together. we mostly gabbed and ate great food.
on christmas eve we enjoyed a really beautiful candlelight service at our church. afterward we headed out as we do every year to seek out the greatest christmas light displays in town. we ended up at a house that put on a complete light show to music that lasts 30 minutes. it's on a loop and the shows are different depending on when you go. you park your car, tune you radio to the specified channel, and enjoy. brilliant!
what i've failed to mention yet is that my hubby has been very sick for a while now. the two weeks leading up to christmas he's been very ill with stomach pain and sickness which finally sent him into the dr.'s. it turns out the wife was right...an ulcer. at the appt. he was encouraged by his dr. (monday morning) to get a flu and pneumonia shot. so he did. two hours later he began to feel very badly. all the flu symptoms. BUT they say you cannot get the flu from the shot as it is a dead virus that is injected, so i guess luck had it in the cards that he contracted the stuff at the same time.
needless to say he has been VERY sick, headache, fever, body aches, loss of appetite, sore throat, sleeplessness, etc.... poor guy. so he did not get to enjoy ANY food or treats the whole weekend or christmas celebration. bummer. he's still very sick today.
christmas morning, after a very long, sleepless night for both of us, he slept in. when he was up and somewhat mobile, we opened stockings. what a treat to see my 13 month old son ravaging through his. we were running a bit late, so we headed off to his parents where we enjoyed a wonderful meal (which he did not get to eat). we lazed around, took naps, ate some more (except him), and then watched "deck the halls." when we got home we finally got to open gifts. my boy got some really cute things. one of rich's clients got him this

it's a child's piano. isn't it the most adorable thing? we were so surprised. he it. it comes with a booklet to teach him his first notes. i can't wait till he's old enough for me to teach him!
so as it stands, it was a great christmas, just not as enjoyable for rich. but he's kept a great attitude. he's been a real trooper.
all in all, it's helped us focus a little more on the meaning of christmas and not to be too wrapped up in all the other stuff. traditions and presents, snow and lights are all great and we cherish every moment of these magical memories, but we only have this holiday because 2000 years ago god came in the form of a baby. now that is a magical moment! miraculous actually.
so as much as we are greatful for all the fun, exciting things this season provides, we are more greatful for the opportunity to be reminded what it is REALLY all about. pray we keep these treasured lessons in mind all year round.
god bless and merry christmas!!!