Merry Christmas

Today is the day after Christmas. I'm at work today and as hard as it is to leave the house when all the kids are home on school break, I am thankful to have a career that I am proud of and a place to work that is amazing. I love what I do, my coworkers have become some of my closest friends and the company I work for does so much good for so many people. So overall, yes....I would much rather be home with my family right now, knitting, still in pjs and watching movies but if I have to be at work, at least it's a great place to be!

Our Christmas was very nice. We had a much needed lazy day yesterday full of presents, games, good food, cooking, knitting, napping (YES!! I took a nap!!), laughing and movies. The five of us stayed home all day. Never got out of our pjs. It was wonderful. I started knitting a new project and I was able to knit for a few hours straight! It was glorious!!!

Christmas Eve is our night with relatives. For as long as I can remember we all go to church at 5:00 then back to my parent's house for a delicious dinner. We follow the dinner up with presents for all! So many nice gifts were exchanged. We had a secret cousin swap this year. This was new to us and it was so much fun. Each boy got a secret cousin and they had to think about what to buy. The exchange was fun and i'm sure we'll keep this tradition going for years!

This time of year always makes me sentimental. Honestly, I'm always sentimental but this year really brings it out in me. But this holiday felt a little harder for me personally. This past year we lost a lot of people in our family as well friends and friend's family members. 

I couldn't stop thinking about my friend Christina's family. I don't know how they are able to go on every day without Christina and Tyler. So young, so beautiful, so happy and in love and to be taken away in such a violent senseless way still and will forever haunt me. They were on my mind all day.

I also thought about my Aunt Connie. She and Mommom must have loved watching from above as Michael lead us in song on Christmas Eve.

Mr and Mrs Koffler, our neighbors who lived long good lives and passed away within 6 weeks of each other. They would be so happy to know that the couple who bought their house are always working on it, making it look nice just as they did.

My cousin's husband, Pat. His presence will be missed at New Years! He always called Liz the Chili sister. I hope he joins us in spirit this year as we bring in the New Year at his house.

My aunt's husband, John. She mentioned to me that she didn't have it in her to put up a tree this year. I hope the joy and excitement on all her grandkids faces this Christmas took away some of the hurt.

And my friend John's mom, Amy's mother-in-law and Grandma Gracie to Jack and Matt. She just passed away last week after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. These two people are my dear friends that I can't imagine life without. They feel like my family and it breaks my heart to know what they are going through right now. They had lots of tears these past few days.

My heart goes out to those that are missing people at the holidays and especially for those going through all the "firsts" without them. I am beyond thankful for my people...my husband, my three healthy boys, my mom and dad, my sisters and brother-in-laws, my crazy nephews, my grandparents, my inlaws, my dog, my chickens, the herd of alpacas that give my parents so much joy, a job I love, and a hobby that brings me close to so many people like you that are reading this. 

Sorry if that was a bummer at the end!!! But my heart was all over the place this holiday and I needed to write it down somewhere! 

I hope you all have a happy New Year!