Wrapped pictures, a few decorations...I'm ready!!

What does it take to be happy? Gratitude for what I have seems to work the best. Being with people I love is the most important part of the Christmas holidays for me.

Colt and I had this puzzle together in record time!!

A girlfriend of mine who doesn’t celebrate Christmas was telling me how the whole Santa Claus, presents and celebrating Jesus’ birth at the wrong time of the year just doesn’t work for her. I get it, really I do. The media and “Buy, buy, buy more” mentality is way overdone.

But I loved the Lego set the boys bought me!!

I think that the Christmas holiday, for me, is just a cool way to make winter more bearable and to remember how lucky I am. I don’t need the presents, and I already believe deeply in God, but I love the songs and the lights and the decorations and the season of giving. It makes me happy!

My perfect tree....

This was such a laid back Christmas. I didn’t get everything out…just enough to be festive. The guys used the bucket truck to decorate outside, and picked up a beautiful tree I bought at the Christmas bazaar. I wrapped all my canvases, and put out my favorite decorations.

I was fast enough to get a candid picture of Kevin on Christmas morn...

But not Colt!!

My friends all baked goodies for Colt because they know I’m trying not to eat sugar. (I can’t bake without tasting…sad but true.)

We had Kevin’s parents over for Christmas day, and Kevin’s turkey and stuffing, rolls and mashed potatoes were awesome!! (Pecans, sausage, celery, onions, sage…etc.) I made a spinach salad and fruit salad and deviled some eggs. We just took life easy, talking and eating and enjoying everything life has given us…like the roof over our heads and food on our table.

Then we drove them back to their house and went to see the new Mission Impossible movie as long as we were in the big city of The Dalles! Colt went to a bonfire with friends. Life is good, and I am just happy to see another birthday and Christmas. Now that I’ve had a life-changing illness (yes, the big C) every birthday and holiday is even more special.

Only 1068 pieces!!

Colt found the pieces for me...a true role reversal!!

Memories of Christmas’ past…shades of It’s a Wonderful Life or Scrooge’s The ghosts of Christmas past!!

For my Barbie!!