Where DiD it GO?

Christmas has come (sound of a Texas tornado) and gone (deafening silence).

I love the Christmas season, for so many reasons. Aside from celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, it also feels like people open their hearts for more joy. We "make time" for those that we care about.

This year, for us, was the absolute height of happiness, and the reality of break your heart sadness.

I'll start with sad, so we can end with joy.

My MIL Jane spent 7 weeks in the hospital fighting cancer, a raging staph infection, and pneumonia. She is not through fighting altogether, but she did come home a few days after Christmas for hospice care. I have often described her as the quiet matriarch of our family, she is so much more.



All of our family spent alot of time at the hospital, but were determined to continue to share joy with others we loved.

So what else did the month of December bring to our household:

A progressive dinner party, including a marshmallow gun war with my staff



An awesome evening with Elfis and the Sleigh Riders



A luncheon for John's staff, they are simply amazing ladies, I love them so



A christmas card photo that made us love sweet Gracie even more (if that is possible)



A gingerbread house party, I had more fun than the kids










A quiet evening at home with one of my best friends



A Christmas Eve gathering with my family, ultimately we were "iced" in







A Christmas Day dinner with John's family, Rich & Lori are the ultimate hosts, it was wonderful




A Christmas evening with our kids







A Christmas "Santa" morning with our kids, I hope they never outgrow it!










The dreaded Christmas "undecorating" begins today (deep sigh).

It was our LCBM...(last Christmas before Mackenzie)...next year we will be grandparents. Actually, I am going to change this title to LCBG (last Christmas before grandchildren). John and I are so looking forward to this new experience. We are prayerfully hoping God blesses our children with their own precious angels. It would be so wonderful to have several little Spies & Spurlins rocking around the Christmas tree!

I hope to post before New Years, I hope to spend some quiet time reflecting on this year and what it has meant. Just in case...know that when you visit me here, it fills my heart with joy. Blogging has introduced me to so many new friends, and strengthened other relationships. I always look forward to your comments, to know that you were here. I encourage you to always leave a comment to the blogs you visit, to us it's like finding the golden Easter egg!

Thank you for being my friend, my loved one...Happy New Years! I can't wait to see what 2010 brings to our blessed family.

So for this one it truly was



A Merry Christmas to All....AND to all a Good Night