It's Christmas Eve 2014...

I'm finishing last year's Christmas posts today. And I STILL don't feel bad about it. I have no idea if I'll wait til next December to post this year's Christmas celebration. I feel it will remain up in the air for some time.

I began this Merry Christmas Eve with the root canal of which I spoke last week. It was a doozy. They sent me home with pain meds and a phone number just in case. I'm concerned. I hope to stay unheavily medicated so as to enjoy the holiday. But again, it's up in the air. I spent yesterday wrapping gifts ALL DAY. Or some amount. The wrapping was due to a highly successful shopping trip to Dallas. In the three days spent shopping, we covered the four corners of the city spending at least 30 hours driving to and from, buying things necessary to buy. All wallets are currently on life support.

The day after Christmas John and Owen will be heading north to Pennsylvania for a visit with John's family as well as a Pittsburgh Steelers game on Sunday night. I have no hope the two males will Instagram or document in any way the trip and its proceedings. I've asked and demanded for that to happen, but my hope is lost before I had any. And to think about it, I'm not sure either knows how to photostream. A tutorial is needed asap. 

Last Christmas found us gathered in a cherry red room, in a familiar home, as we enjoyed the opening of gifts together. This Christmas will look different from any other we've had to date. Not that it's bad, just different. And as the years press on, it will take some getting used to, but new traditions can be fun, even if it takes some effort at first. But for now, lets look back to last year one more time and be thankful for all we've had in the past, what we have now, and what we will continue to have in the years ahead.

Never forget how precious our family relationships are. I don't take it for granted, because even with the tragedy we've had, we've truly been blessed beyond measure.

Very little commentary needed.

Just lovely memories.    

Is Austin Turner really number 1?

This was Owen's inaugural buying of a gift on his own. His first up? Maggie.

He knocked it out of the park.

After the ripping.

William had a great Christmas. 

Those are some big boots to fill. 

Iphone in the air. OMG.

I'm so grateful that in spite of all I'm not, God loves me anyway. I'm so glad He sees me through His eyes and not mine. SO happy about that. Because some days I'm a struggle. And I know that. But so does He. He knows me. He has been so faithful to me. My healed heart is because of Him. I know it. I will never forget the night Frank and Nina died, lying in my bed, so broken hearted I couldn't speak. I desperately reached to heaven, only capable of one word whispered to God. He heard me in that quiet pain filled moment. Long after that night, He told me it was the most powerful prayer I'd ever prayed. That's one of my secrets God and I've had. One of my secrets I'll tell on this Christmas Eve. I don't know why I'm telling tonight. But He knew.  

What was my prayer? JESUS. My MOST powerful prayer. The name of Jesus. No matter how people are celebrating tonight and tomorrow, it's because December 25th is Jesus' observed birthday. I'm grateful to God for his sacrifice. Jesus gave up Heaven for us. 

I'm also very grateful to God for my family. We're a unique group of people who love to laugh and have fun. We've trusted God with our hearts so He could get us back to laughing and having fun. He was faithful and He gave us back our joy. And we have had so much fun and laughed so much. Thank you Lord for choosing to make all of us one big loud, fun, fun loving, laughing, wonderful family.  

I'm privileged to do life with you people.

God bless us everyone.  

My new camera began its life on Christmas morning 2013

Well people, nothing says the holidays like root canals. At least for me anyway. Last month I detailed the saga of the two root canals I had, and after returning to the dentist this morning because of new pain.....yes thanks I'll have another. So it will be a jaunty bookend for the holiday season having my first two just before Thanksgiving and this one on Christmas Eve. Bright and early at 7:45. That's A.M. Believe me I checked. Because when the receptionist asked me if 7:45 was good for me and I replied with, "A.M?" She had to be thinking, "No hon, he would like to have you come in at 7:45 Christmas Eve night and get your dental work done." She didn't say that with her words, but she had to be thinking it. Because I was. So, deck the halls and get the drills out, cause Mrs. Claus needs another tooth fixed. Oy vey. 

In the last month Owen's been out and about into the night, hanging out with friends returning from college for the holidays. Well last night he got home about 11:30 and he came in, chatted, went to his room, changed clothes, came back in the den. Olivia and I were watching a movie. About 1:00...yes that's A.M. He went to bed. Normal stuff. Olivia and I went to bed some time later. This morning John informed me that we slept ALL night with the door unlocked. No dead bolt. No door knob. That's no locking people. We were in danger all night long and had no idea. When I said to Owen, "You didn't lock the door and we were in danger all night!" His reply, "We live in a good neighborhood." He thinks. The fright of it all. Not really but I was going for the dramatic. 

It's almost 2:00 in the afternoon and I've got to put the finishing touches on the last minute details for our trip later today. I'll have one more Christmas post to make when I get home. These begin the pictures of my new camera. I guess I didn't state that clearly in my previous post. All those communion night pictures were from my old camera, these are new. Old or new! Old or new! Friends aficionados will get that reference. 

Lets see how my new camera did on Christmas morn just one short year ago.   

The inaugural photo from my fifth camera of my life. I think. 

I started off a little unsure of the settings and stuff.

Moved on to Grandma's house and took some blurry ones there. 

Not sure why or for what reason I took this, but it's the beginning of broccoli casserole. 

Haven't we already seen these two?

Good one.

Blurry one.

Our first Christmas with Lauren. 

Seen these two before as well.

Grandma seems unsure. 

This orange looking room is taking on a life of its own in these pictures. 

First Christmas with a blurry Colby as well. 

Carlie never disappoints giving face. 

Somebody's hair swooped in to make this blurry. 

I love this picture. 

Look, at little bitty William. I mean, he's still little now, he's just littler then. This was before the ripping. 

Thinking about ripping.

People still taking their places. 

The game is called tick tock.

So cute!

He's getting the lay of the land...these brightly colored boxes must be ripped open now!

Lydia gave him this super cute cowboy hat that he loved.

Adorbs.

Then it was time for Austin to open his gift from Emma.

He looks pumped about it. 

What is it?

A Manchester United soccer outfit for the wee babe to be born in the spring.

It was a hit....or a goal.

Ok people, I'm out til next week. Feel free to reread old stuff cause in case you didn't know, I've now posted 1,352 posts since the inception of this blog. That's a lot. 

It's my last day of school before vacation. 

I hope I make it.

Another Christmas Eve at Mom's house

Each Christmas Eve after communion at church, we all return to Mom's house and I start cooking breakfast. It's then that I turn my camera over to someone else to take photos, and I never know what to expect on my camera by the end of the night. It's usually quite telling of the goofy people with whom I'm related. Lets see who did what and if it was interesting in any way. 

Panoramic view of some of the participants. 

The other side of the room.

Not sure why a profile of Mollie was needed. 

Mouth full of candy I suspect. 

Carlie!

Keeping the streak alive.

Whoever took the profile of Mollie was thinking we needed one of Billie as well.

And a weird one of Mollie and Melanie. I'm starting to think Olivia had the camera. AND. Mollie looks like she's playing an old timey Game Boy from back in the day.

Weird angles and shots. Definitely Olivia. Those Uggs look blue.

Not sure what's happening here.

Hmm no one is ever warned about the snapping of the photo. 

And again.

William's found the presents.

Little snarl here.

Looking for something good.

It's time to go home and get ready for Santa to come to town. 

Notice...

Olivia/Beba is no where to be seen in the pictures. 

A cute grouping found amongst the weird pics. 

These people are on this side of the room.

And these people are on the other side. But an Olivia was never seen. 

I only have one more day and 15 hours before I leave town and I have two more Christmas posts to finish by next Wednesday and I'll be caught up for the year! And I made it under the wire of 2014 to post Christmas 2013 before 2015 begins. Did ya get all that? 

It's 1:44 and I have to be at the dentist at 8:30. Why do people want to open before 10:00? It makes no sense at all. 

If only I ruled the world...I would start off by naming it Lisaville.

And life would be grand.