On The Eve Of Christmas Eve………….

This morning at 6am I crept down the stairs in the glow of our Christmas tree and rounded the corner in to our kitchen to make coffee.  All of our Christmas lights are on timers thanks to Big Daddy and the glow is nothing short of magical.  Last evening I came home from a 40+ hour work week and there stood Big Daddy waiting for me with my feety pajamas in hand and Chinese takeout in the kitchen.  He is and will always be The Man Of My Dreams.  He looked me straight in the eyes and whispered two words………

It’s here.

And so it is My Love.  So it is.

At that moment I actually thought my heart might burst.  I asked for his hands and I held them tight.  I thanked God for the  life we have and our family.  I thanked God for this Season and my heart that is full.  I thanked him for the good roof over our heads and that we want for nothing.  I ask him to bless and keep us all safe.

Four years ago on Christmas morning Aunt Wanda drove my Mama to a local ER.  She was admitted to the hospital diagnosed with pneumonia. On December 26th she was much worse and I had her transported to a large hospital here in Asheville.  We spent the next 14 days in the Neuro trama ICU.  It was bitter cold In Western North Carolina, snow and ice on the ground and below zero wind chills.   January 3rd her 76th birthday came and went.   Five days later she would suffer no more.

Now my Mama loved Christmas.

She was a Christmas Lunatic and decorated like a Crazy Woman.  Her Santa Clause collection could rival the one at Biltmore House.  Her entire ‘Ruth Year’ revolved around it.

 Two years after my Mama’s death my Dad had a major stroke 5 days before Christmas.  I was in the grocery store with a cart overflowing with groceries when I got that phone call.  As a medical imaging technologist I thought I would pass out when the Neuro guy showed me the scans of my Dad’s head.  Five months later I brought him home from the rehab facility I was forced to keep him in until he didn’t need around the clock nursing care.  He has made an incredible recovery and I thank God for that every single day.

Now I would be lying if I said I didn’t struggle at this time of year.

But I can promise y’all this:

I refuse to let it beat me.

 And I’ll be damned if it will change how I feel about Christmas.  After all, I was raised by a Christmas Lunatic :))

And her sisters!

My dear, dear  friend and neighbor Wendy gave be this beautiful candle.  It’s scent is Limoncello and I love it!  But here’s the cool part of this Christmas gift:  Every time I walk past this candle (lit of unlit) I read it aloud.

Merry & Bright

I will say MERRY & BRIGHT :)))

These pictures are of your living room.  I had my camera in my hand as I walked down those steps this morning.

With a smile on my face & a full heart!

Merry Christmas!

Paige