This year was an incredibly relaxed Christmas. Despite all my worry and stress about feeling behind … it all came together … as it always does! The thing is, and I know I mentioned this last year too … I’m dealing with MS and need to remember to do my best to slow down, which, in all honesty … I’m definitely getting better at! The problem is, it seems now more than ever … if I have even just a couple of things on my plate, for some reason it seems like 100. Somehow my brain, MS, and stress level can’t process more than one thing at a time and I get seriously overwhelmed.
But all that said …
By the time Christmas day rolled around … it all fell into place and I had a great day just rejoicing, celebrating and loving on my family!
The images below of Wynter capture a memory I pray I remember always! A few weeks before Christmas, one of our dogs mutilated one of Wynter’s stuffed dogs, so she put all the pieces in a box and left a note for santa, asking him to fix it. She also taped a photo to the box of her with the “plootl” in happier days.
The night before Christmas, we got home late, the kids got to bed late and I still had a few presents to wrap. I found myself spiraling down the well of “I still have so much to do and you’re {CJ, that is} laying in bed watching TV?!?” PLUS, I have to hand-stitch this stuffed animal together?! I have to admit, I was a teensie bit tempted to leave the ol’ animal and make some excuse that santa probably forgot his sewing kit! ;)
Fortunately, I was able to rally my thoughts … both towards CJ and the animal … and sewed up her beloved poodle. She’s also had a kangaroo sitting on my sewing machine for a couple of weeks, so I decided to put it’s arm back on and put it under the tree with the poodle.
Come Christmas morning, it was the first thing on their minds … “Did santa sew plootl?” And they ran upstairs to check it out. I SO wish I had video to capture the moment of sheer delight, joy, amazement … “yes … santa had sewn the poodle and even the kangaroo!” All Piper could keep saying was, “that’s amazing!” And she really meant it. They were in total awe. Santa even circled “yes” on the note with his bright red sharpie!
Their excitement was a gentle reminder of how precious these memories and moments really are. They won’t be here forever … or for very much longer. I need to remember to cherish them every chance I get.
And next up … Taylor’s been wanting a puppy. She’s been volunteering in a pet store, washing and drying all the new little puppies that come in … and of course, that means she wants to take every one of them home with her! A couple of chihuahuas, in particular, have caught her eye. But then she found a website. A website specializing in teacup chihuahuas … and of course, a dog purse/carrier to go with them! After a lot of discussions, we decided to get her one for Christmas … a puppy that is. Well, and the carrier to go with it.
And since the puppy we picked is still at the breeder, I printed a picture of “moxie” and put it inside of the doggie purse and that’s what Taylor opened for Christmas {as captured below}.
And um, if you know the dynamics of CJ and Taylor’s relationship … then I need to say this to you right now … “Go ahead and pick your jaw up off your keyboard … this photo is fo’ realz!” And the truth is … it’s a reenactment! I was standing in awe watching the first one that I totally forgot to pick up my camera!
And just like that, Christmas is over. Another year gone by. More presents collected. More shoulda-woulda-coulda’s. But in the end, all that really matters are that more memories were made.
Keep on working, great job!
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