Joy To The World

As I think back to last Christmas I remember that on that day a year ago we were still in the hospital with Stella and we were learning that we had to stay in the hospital for fear of an illness. This Christmas we gave thanks that we could spend it in the comfort of our own home like we had planned to do last year.

I can't wait until you're older and you come running into our bedroom at 5am and start asking us to go open gifts and check on the cookies we left for Santa.

This year you were still the first one to wake up but that was just because you love to be up bright and early in the morning.

My guess is also that you will be a little disappointed when your a teenager and you go to look in your stocking and find spoons and socks. You can count on me making sure that you get some every year.

Something else you can count on is that some of your presents will be wrapped in newspaper every year. Yeah, I know. It sounds nuts. But its something we have done in my family for a very long time. Why you ask. Cause we were low on funds one year and that's what we had. The next year came and we just did it again. Every year after my mom use to say I want y'all to wrap your presents in newspaper and make it a part of your family traditions so you can remember that times will be ruff but you will always be OK. I think it was her way of reminding us to stay humble and cognisant of how fortunate we were. Some Christmas growing up were full of gifts and others were a little more scarce. Being young I'm sure my attitude was different, but now I look back on those days and am grateful for all the blessing we did get.

Sorry Mom, I gotta log this story for Stella cause I think its important. You see, gifts were important for my mom and she loved giving them. There was this one year however when we were in high school . It was around June and people would come over and walk into the living room and said. "Hey, your Christmas tree is still up." We would make jokes about loving the holiday or being to lazy to put the tree back up the next year but the truth was that my mom refused to take down the tree until she could buy us some presents. The tree eventually did come down once she bought us some presents. This year more than ever I understand the pressures of being a parent. So many expectations and ideals of what to be and do. This year has given me a great appreciation for the work my parents did to provide me the wonderful life that I am given. Thanks mom and dad.

Stella this year was blessed with many gifts from many people and she loved every one of them. Christmas I am sure will evolve into many things for her as she grows up and experiences it at different stages in her life. One thing is for sure, we will always work hard to make sure she knows its about family and love celebrating the birth of Christ. After all, he was the greatest gift ever given the world.