Christmas recap

We had a really great Christmas. We love any day when it's the 3 of us being able to enjoy family time together. But to add on top of that... wonderful reflection time, gifts, favorite movies and songs, and a yummy home cooked feast was great. I cooked my first turkey! And made all southern side dishes passed down to me from my mother in law which were all family recipes passed down to her!! A real southern meal --- cooked by a yankee! :) Whatever that all means - I really don't understand the segregation anymore and north/south animosity, it's all about how you were raised, not where you grew up geographically anyway....

so anyway -- the meal really was no big deal!! I plopped the turkey in - and 4 hours later took it out!! The side dishes took a couples minutes to prepare - but I had done that already when Raymond was napping the day before -- so I literally still got to spend the whole day with the family except for probably 20 minutes.... and still serve them a feast!

Our neighbors who I talk about often (who are actually not our neighbors anymore - moved about 10 minutes away)... came over with their 2 kids and we all had a great time. They are our surrogate (is that what you call it?) family since we were missing our extended family down here in N.C. It was actually our year to go to New Jersey --- but because we both took off time when grandma passed in May - we couldn't make it up there this year. I am already getting excited for next Christmas and our trip to New Jersey!!! But we have a whole year full of fun to look forward to before that!! Terri & Mark coming over was a total last minute thing though... we were just going to eat just the 3 of us -- but when we saw them on Christmas Eve and heard they had nothing to do on Christmas day that was unacceptable to us! So they came and feasted with us and we still had tons of leftovers! haha

I will post again later or tomorrow pictures from the day and another post about our gifts we all received... but most importantly we took time to reflect on the love we share and most importantly the love that God gave us over 2000 years ago.... our Savior in flesh.

Hope you all had a wonderful, peaceful, joyous celebration too! :)

I'm back!!

Well we had the best week with MomMom and Papa!!!! It really was one of the best (and fastest) visits yet!!

I am sorry that I haven't made comments on any blogs recently, that I haven't answered emails and that I even missed my dear friend Candy's birthday (you never told me your birthday was coming up!!!!!! What is the actual date!?!?! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!)

I am soo thankful that Christmas is Tuesday, because this was the hardest goodbye yet with MomMom & Papa. It gives me something to look forward to - and some extra reflection/family time. To focus my attention on Christ, His love, the peace he brought/brings and our little family and forming our own traditions will be just what I needed. It was soo hard to say bye to my parents this time because..... well because it's hard every time! But also because we won't be up in New Jersey until March and I just am homesick -- this is the first year that I won't be able to visit 'home' for Thanksgiving AND Christmas - every other year I've been able to go 'home' for at least one of those holidays.

But more than that - I just miss having my parents around. I wish they had more time with Raymond. They are soo good for him and vice versa! I loved having more people to just absolutely cover Raymond with love and to play and teach him in their own unique ways! It was just the best. All my relationships just seem to get stronger and better with age. My love for my parents increase every year - and the peace in my life increases every year. Life is good - God is so great ............as I always say on my totsites.

I'll post pics from the visit with MomMom & Papa soon.

Hope you all had as wonderful as a week as we did - and that you are OVERFLOWING with the peace and joy of the season.

MomMom and Papa are HERE!!! :)

MomMom and Papa are here (arrived yesterday)!!!!! I am glowing!!! :)

Tomorrow we celebrate Christmas - Brandon even took the day off!! I am sooo happy!

I LOVE my parents and LOVE watching Raymond and them interact - I love just being able to serve them, cook for them, and just love on each other! It is soo nice!

Actually tonight MomMom is cooking - I am cooking Christmas dinner tomororw but today is MomMom's day - she is making homemade pot roast mmmmm! :) I can't wait!

Life is so good - God is so great! :)

December 9th - 80 degrees!

It's December 9th and 80 degrees - that's all I really wanted to post! :) It doesn't feel like December at all! I can't believe how soon Christmas will be upon us!

We have all the windows open and have been playing outside all day - and we all went for a bike ride! Tonight after Raymond's nap we are going to the Chritmas parade downtown - I'm excited for that! We also went to our smaller town parade yesterday morning - it was cute! :)

We've had a fun weekend - and I hope you have too! :)