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I am officially in withdrawal now. Christmas is over for another year. Sniff. Our tree is down, all of the cookies are eaten, and it is back to "real" life - whatever that is. We had a good Christmas though...it was a little different than normal but still wonderful. This year, I was working right up until Christmas Eve - actually even then, I was working because I was responsible for the music for the service that night. I also did not finish my shopping until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, I got up in the wee hours of the morning to sneak downstairs and surprise everyone by filling their stockings with goodies. It was fun playing Santy Claus. Then, I crept back upstairs and crashed into my bed from which I did not emerge for several hours. I hardly ever sleep in, so I decided to indulge in this luxury on Christmas morning. They had to wake me up for the traditional family breakfast at 9:30! Also, I was officially a slacker this Christmas. I did not wrap any presents until Christmas morning!! Thankfully, Hannah came to my rescue or I would still probably be wrapping them. We did not start opening presents until 12:30 or 1:00 and it took a few hours to be done. Our parents were not able to give us gifts this year, but we were all imbued with an extra shot of Christmas Spirit, and there seemed to be no shortage of presents under the tree. In fact, my little brother said, "There are more presents this year than when Mom and dad give them to us!" My dad was quick to suggest that this become a new family tradition. My brothers love to give my Dad gag gifts - this year he was treated to his very own set of Rudolph antlers and glowing nose and his very own dollar tree plunger!! My brother Josh is also graced with gag gifts each year, and this year, he was super excited to get his own special pair of Sponge Bob Underpants!!! :) I know his wife, Kristi, was especially delighted! ;)
The day after Christmas, I headed to Greenville to spend a couple days with my grandparents. It was great to see them, and my grandmother was doing amazingly well! I enjoyed working puzzles with my grandpa, talking with my grandma, and watching movies with the both of them. I also got to relax and lay around, which was amazing - I NEVER get to do that! :)
One of the most special things that happened is God did a miracle for us this Christmas - He sold our house in Albany. It is kind of a long story, but just suffice it to say, God did the impossible, solved a crisis in our lives, and gave us all a most wonderful Christmas present.
Hope you all had a very merry Christmas, too............and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
