CHRISTMAS EVE
Anson was entertaining us by showing off his juggling.
I love, LOVE this boy!
Anson got creative when he was wrapping Giselle's gift. He wrote a bunch of random words on little strips of paper, and two of them gave her a clue where to find her present.
The kids decorated sugar cookies while I made my gingerbread house. Deacon was so excited about all the candy. He kept tasting everything. Deacon took his cookie and his mother's cookies home for Santa.
I found the best gingerbread dough recipe about 2 months ago. Wow! We can't stop eating the bread! It's delicious!!!
I put a little snowman made out of marshmallows in the front of my house. Deacon kept saying, "No-man!"
Dad read The Night Before Christmas to the family as usual.
I felt like something was missing.
I know what was missing! It was Richie and his beautiful, little family. :( This picture was taken last year at the rental house we lived in for a year.
Deacon was so interested in the story.
We jingled the reindeer bells and Deacon ran to the back door. He looked up to the sky and waved. He kept saying, "Bye Santa, Bye reindeer!"
Giselle spent the night with us. After they went to bed, Dad and I played the Santa role and filled up the stockings. I asked Dad why we were doing this if obviously the kids didn't believe in Santa anymore. He said, "Santa will always come to our house. There will always be a Santa!" Santa brought Aubrey a bike that she has been wanting for over a year.
CHRISTMAS DAY
We had a very, very relaxing morning. I made breakfast while everybody was opening presents. Our church was at noon and we only went to Sacrament. The primary children sang some songs and a couple sang a beautiful Christmas song. We listened to two great speakers.
After church Giselle went to her house to nap. Shortly after church, Brianna, Travis, and Deacon showed up. At 4 they went to spend some time with Travis' family.
When Giselle came back we had a spaghetti dinner. The girls played chess, checkers, and card games most of the day.
Brianna and Travis came back and stayed for a while. Dad and Deacon watched a football game.
Brianna gave Deacon some underwear for Christmas. He was showing of his underwear in this picture.
Dad has completed 5 puzzles this holiday. He started another one 2 days ago. Anson gave him this hat for Christmas. Dad said this will be his chemo hat.
We found Deacon at the puzzle table wearing Dick's glasses and working on the puzzle.
He whose birth we commemorate this season is more than a symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Creator of the earth, the Johovah of the Old Testament, the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, the Redeemer of mankind, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace. . . . Gordon B. Hinckley
I know that we don't celebrate Christmas to give each other gifts, but giving gifts, especially to those we love makes Christmas even more special. This year with everything that has been going on with Dick's health and him having to stop working, he's been on sick leave. His sick leave pay is less than half of what his usual income was. We have been busy filling up all the forms for Social Security disability and for his retirement disability from his work. You can't get benefits from both unless you haven't worked for at least six months. Going to work for me right now is not an option because I want to be with him with whatever he will be going through in the next few months. We are also worried that if I start working it will mess up everything with the Social Security Office. Last but not least, I couldn't work right now even if I wanted to because of the way my ankles/feet feel right now. I am hoping it will pass soon. It's been going on forever. Needless to say, I was so worried about our finances because of our big change in income. If we can only make it until May, we will be alright because Dick will get his retirement disability. I thought that buying presents for our children was not even an option. Because of so many people in our community, we had a wonderful Christmas. Santa mailed us $100.00 from the North Pole. Dear angel friends gave us money, gift cards, and so much more! That almost came close to what Dick was making before he became ill. We are so blessed! We had a box of oranges, grapefruit, a turkey, and a ham delivered to our house. We have been given so much. What a wonderful community to live in! We have felt so much love from so many. Today Anson told me that this is the best Christmas he has ever had. He claims he's never gotten so much. I don't know how that is possible because we had less income. When he told me that this has been the best Christmas, he asked me, "Don't you think it has been the best?" I told him that it was the best because we have Dad with us. Anson said, "Can you imagine if he had to be in the hospital getting chemo?" We didn't know that Dad was listening. Dad yelled from the other room, "Well if I had to be in SLC, we could have at least seen the temple lights!" Dad knows I've been wanting to see the lights for the past two years. We used to go all the time and we haven't seen them lately. When Dick said that, Anson and I just looked at each other and laughed. Anson said, "I love you Dad!" I told Dick, "You always make cancer sound so positive."
This picture hangs in our TV room. This is the picture that our angel friends used to auction Dad at Mr. BHS. This is how they raised $1000.00. Thank you forever!
Dad IS Superman!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
