It is All About the Family

Christmas was wonderful, as it always is.  I hope the same goes for all of you.  Justin and I arrived in Blacksburg around 10AM on Thursday.  The drive here was quite stressful, with lots of fog and very cold.  But once we were here, we have been able to relax and enjoy to the utmost.  Traditions have changed this year, which I almost like.  While I respect the idea of traditions, sometimes switching things around may yield more enjoyable results.  One of these things, for us this year, was going to 7PM mass instead of midnight mass.  As much as I always loved midnight mass as a child (and as an adult) because at the end of the service, it was really Christmas, I just need sleep too much to go to midnight mass.  I cannot enjoy the service because I am fighting to stay awake.  So, I was very happy we were able to change this part of Christmas and definitely hope that we created a new tradition.

I do have to say that I partly appreciate Christmas so much because of the closeness I get to enjoy with all my siblings.  During church on Christmas Eve, I was thinking about how joyous all of us were.  There were four siblings together, which is about the best you are ever going to get with all of us.  All 6 of us only seem to get together at weddings or funerals.  Anyway, it was me, my sister Abby and my brothers Will and Douglas, all seated together with my mom.  I have to say, I would have thought 5 years ago that it would have been impossible to be this happy and content without my father.  It almost amazes me how adjusted we all are.  He is missed but we are all fine, even at the holidays.  I think that is a reflection of my parents that they raised such strong and adjusted children.  But I think, when my father got sick, that I never expected us to feel like a whole family again after he died.  And I realized and recognized on Christmas that we still are a completely whole family.

Hope you have enjoyed your Christmas and time with the family.  We are heading home tomorrow.  Trying to motivate myself to write today.  I have  already written 2 articles but it is a bit odd when you know that you aren’t getting paid for a holiday on Christmas Day.  Makes me want to work extra hard to make up for the missed income.  That may be the first negative I have found in my new career–no paid holidays.  But if that is the worst part, it is worth it!

To Smile.