Merry Christmas 2017

This morning, a "memory" photo popped up on my facebook feed of the nativity picture Brian took 7 years ago when Katie was a baby and all of the kids were little. Time has flown by and now two of those little children are taller than me and Sophie got her learner's permit a few days ago.

Brian's job with GOAL Foundation ended the day after Thanksgiving. At first I felt really positive and optimistic about this propelling us into something better. But, now it's Christmas and getting laid off at the holidays is the worst. Maybe this will propel us into something better. In the meantime the bills are relentlessly stubborn in their consistency. I keep trailing off into depression despite my effort not to go down that rabbit hole.

I don't want to blog about that. I want to blog about Christmas and generosity that has been shown to us. Someone anonymously brought a thick envelope of cash to our doorstep and it has saved us. When I opened it I cried non-stop for 30-minutes. My heart was so overwhelmed that someone would do that for us. I said many thanks to God and when I remember that night, it lifts me during this--one of the darkest times of my life.

Since I love to buy Christmas presents for my kids early, I already had their gifts purchased before we knew about the lay-off. We ended up only returning the flat screen tv that was meant as a gift to the whole family. The kids were pretty spoiled with gifts.

Sophie got a zebra print chair in the shape of a high heel that is adorable and a new trendy polaroid camera. It makes me laugh that we are back to polaroids after how far digital technology has come. Hipsters. She did not get the crazy huge teddy bear from Costco that costs $189. For a stuffed animal! Sorry sweetie.

Ian has gotten really into mountain biking on the trails by our house and has had to ride a bike that is more than 20-years-old and doesn't have a shock. Brian found a sweet deal on a beautiful blue mountain bike for him. It was a fun surprise! He also got a case for the electric bass guitar we bought him for his birthday. I love to hear this kid play his instruments. He bought composition software with his own money a few days ago and has been creating amazing tracks ever since. I am grateful for the joy his musical talents bring into my life.

Isaac also received a fun surprise--his own iPod. He was so excited when he opened it. He couldn't believe his eyes! Brian also bought him a miter saw because he loves being a construction worker. I put Ian's old roller blades under the tree since Isaac recently grew out of his. These kids love to get around on wheels.

A few months ago, I was walking through Costco and I made an impulse purchase of a Frozen castle dollhouse. The floor model was so fantastic it hypnotized me. It is ridiculous, standing over 5-feet tall and nearly as wide, so pretty with fancy details and wooden furniture for royalty including a throne, a grand piano and a chandelier that lights up. It is over the top and I don't know where we will put it. But, I was overtaken by a feeling that my baby is growing up and I won't get to buy things like this anymore and it jumped into my cart and came home with me. I promised to return it if Brian told me to. But, since we didn't have any other idea of what to get for Katie that could compare with the wonderful surprises we already had for everyone else we kept it and Brian spent hours assembling it. The nice part is that the castle and the furniture are big enough for her stuffed animals which she plays with every day.

My parents got the kids Lagoon passes again and a nice new rolling carry-on piece of luggage for me.

Before we knew the lay-off was happening, we purchased a one-night stay at a yurt in Goblin Valley and a one-night stay at a new Grey Wolf Lodge in Colorado--it has an indoor waterpark. The trip is happening in February. I'm happy we will get to do this and hope our financial situation has stabilized by then. We coordinated with Brian's sister's family who lives in Colorado. We will stay one night in Goblin Valley, one night with the cousins, and then both of our families will stay a night at the lodge and enjoy the water park together.

Brian is trying to run 50-marathons before his 50th birthday (he has a little less than 3 years to finish). This Saturday he will run his 37th. He noticed there is a marathon in Pueblo the weekend we will be in Colorado so my parents and I surprised him by buying an entry to the race. That will put him at 38.

We have had a lovely Christmas season. The Sunday before Christmas, our choir gave a wonderful performance. That evening, we had Brian's extended family over for a party and the went to the tabernacle to participate in a sing-in of all the beautiful songs of the season with Ian and Katie's piano teacher Lowell playing the organ.

Christmas morning, we had a one-hour program that included musical numbers, congregational hymns and Ian gave a delightful piano performance of Silent Night at the end.

We saw the lights at Christmas Village one night. My mom had all the grand kids over to watch a Muppet Christmas Carol and eat Mickey Mouse pancakes. We ate ham and watched movies at my parents' house Christmas afternoon. We got more than 12-inches of snow.

I have enjoyed seeing Ian perform with his Jazz Band this holiday season and Sophie did an amazing job in her role as one of the Hogwarts students in A Fairly Potter Christmas Carol at the Ziegfeld community theater.

I am hoping to take the kids ice skating at Station Park sometime this week. I was suppose to have bladder repair surgery. It was scheduled before we knew our insurance was ending. Then, I was happy that I could get the surgery done before my insurance ended. Then, at the last minute, I got scared to have surgery right before my insurance ended (what if there were complications?). Plus, extra hospital bills are harder to swallow when you are unemployed. The surgery will wait. After I got over the disappointment, it was a relief. Yay! No surgery to recover from this week. I guess there is always a silver lining.