That's a Wrap on a Merry Merry

After a lifetime Christmas mornings - all 40 of them in fact, I spent my 41st Christmas day without my parents for the first time ever. Dad was not in any shape to travel this year. It wasn't what I would have wished for but we managed...all of us. In fact, we did more than manage - Christmas was really really great...just different great. A slide show has finally been completed for visual proof but to me it doesn't always tell the full story. Some of my favorite highlights of Christmas 09:

Santa was sure good to me - I was surprised with a new SLR camera on Christmas morning. I am quite the rookie still with that shiny new Nikon d5000 and sporty new lenses but I plan to spend some quality time with the owner's manual and get the full bang for all those bucks in due time. THANK YOU SANTA!! Almost time to dust off the cropping tools and get back to scrapping some beautiful pages!!

We spent Christmas afternoon and evening with our dear dear friends, The Yoders. Katie knew this Christmas wouldn't feel the same for our family and included us in their family plans. Brian donned his Chef's hat and made an outstanding meal. We didn't break our Rib Roast tradition either -- his was fantastic!! A day of laughter, excellent food, many wii matches and celebrating friendships that feel like family - how blessed we are. Thank you Yoders for including us in your family holiday.

We spent 4 days in VA celebrating Christmas over and over....and over. The Great Physician answered many prayers and as a result, Dad enjoyed a week free from chemo and feeling the ill effects. The timing of our trip was perfect as he felt good enough to attend church services with Mom. We enjoyed a family day with Mom, Dad, Janet and Larry.

We celebrated in Dry Fork style too which is always a hoot and full of the unexpected. I'll have to devote a whole blog post to Joe's Mother's Christmas antics....just trust me when I say, that lovely lady must surely begin her gift planning in June....her creative ways to give money continue to amaze the entire family. It's always super fun and NEVER dull.

An added bonus were the remnants of snow still left on the ground in VA. A storm dropped 10 inches the week before Christmas and we were all thrilled to arrive home to find lots of snow still there. Winston doesn't remember the snow fall from our days living in NC and Miss Lilly had never seen the white stuff. While it wasn't a true glimpse of real snow, they did get lots of time in outside playing on snow banks left by the snow plows. Hey, we'll take it anyway we can get it!! Super fun times with the cousins.

So all in all, it was different but so very good. We look ahead to 2010 with hope.....and with thanks for the blessings and lessons of 2009. We wish the very same for all of you.