A Very Merry Christmas!

Day before yesterday was one of my best birthday's ever, and toady, has turned into one of my best Christmases ever! It is indeed a very Merry Christmas! I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing my husband again and hanging out with him. I got a BUNCH of fantastic gifts (even though I really only asked for 2 things: Vera Wang perfume and a Christmas tree at my grandma's house). There isn't an official Christmas Dinner in our house today, but that's alright, I ate plenty at grandma's house and there are so many sweets, cookies & desserts in our kitchen right now (thanks to both of our Grandma's!) that it's probably better that we just eat light stuff and snack. For brunch today, I had organic seed crackers, freshly sliced apples and onions and brie cheese! Oh it was so good! My MIL got me Godiva Dark Chocolates and oh yes, I've already opened the box! They're so sinfully delicious! Colin and I made a run to Albertson's (that place is so damn expensive!) and just browsed, it was one of the only places open today which, I believe, is how it should be. I also sang a few Christmas songs this morning, I just love Christmas music, I listen to it (not all the time) all year long and today, of course, because it is Christmas, it just seemed fitting to sing a few Christmas songs myself. I sang "Let It Snow," "Santa Clause is Coming to Town," "Away in a Manger," and of course, my all-time favorite "O Holy Night." That song just does something to me, it's literally divine. Every single time I hear it, or sing it, it just instantly connects me to God. That song exemplifies Christmas to me and it's just so stunningly beautiful. I feel so peaceful and so in tune with the spirit of Christmas when I sing that song--it's always a spiritual experience for me. Actually, that song is probably in my Top Ten of all time, Christmas or not. Away in a Manger is great too, especially The Judds' version--it's awesome! Mom and I listened to Reba McEntire and Dean Martin's Christmas CD's on the way home last night, it was so much fun. This has always been my very favorite time of year, and these past few days have reminded me exactly why. It's such a loving, joyful, festive, peaceful time of year--or at least it can be. It took a lot to overlook mom and grandma, and let stuff go with others, but if/when you do that, or rather, you make the concious choice to just BE in the moment and truly, thoroughly ENJOY it, the holidays are pretty grand! It's a time of love and miracles and the birth of Christ! It's truly magnificent! Back to driving home with mom, I actually enjoyed it. We stopped and had lunch in Beatty and saw a 10ft by 10ft (literally) teeny tiny "grocery" store in Mina, Nevada--a town of about 110 people. We got to see some beautiful snow and talk and yes, I napped a little too. (Not a lot though, I wanted to be present for the car ride itself) At first, I didn't want to leave the quiet, peaceful, relaxation of Grandma's house, so mom and I went down the highway a bit, turned around and went back. We stayed for about an hour or so more than we'd planned, but I just didn't want to leave. You know, life is short and you never know how much time you have with those you love and I just wanted a little more time with my grandparents. Being up there in the quiet, with no sirens, chores, time schedule or things like that, it was so incredibly relaxing, it really recharged my batteries. I love my life in Vegas, I really do, and I love my husband, Colin, too; but sometimes, it's so nice to get away from it all and just BE. Not have to run around and DO, but BE. When I'm at grandma's I can just BE, and I love that! Besides, it's always been my belief that when you get a special feeling to do something (or not do something) you should follow it. For some reason unbeknownced to mom and me, we just weren't supposed to be on the road that early in the morning yesterday. I'm glad we went back. I ended up kicking grandpa's butt in solitaire, that was fun too! I'd already beat Grandma twice! I rock! I told them I'd been practicing and I proved it! Right on! Anyway, everyone is saying that 26 is a great age, I'm not sure why, but I hope they're right! 24 and 25 were definitely interesting, the highlight being of course, my wedding to Colin and our honeymoon! But I made so many damn changes in the last two years, I really hope I can just relax a little more this coming year, really take things one day at a time (that was my biggest lessons @ 25) and I don't want to be bored by any means, but maybe, just get settled a bit. It seems like all I did last year (and the year before, really) was make one change after another after another, and now, I'd like to reap the benefits of all those life changes that I made, kick back (in some areas, not all, I don't want to be lazy or irresponsible or inactive), and definitely cry less and laugh a lot more! Seriously though, my Uncle, my grandma, my dad, my MIL, friends on FB (if they're older than 30) all said 26 was great for them, I never knew that, but like I said, I hope they're right. Colin said he doesn't want to go back to work tomorrow, I can understand that, but you know, we are so infinitely blessed to have jobs, I listened to him, empathized with him and then told him "you know, I understand that, but real life comes back. We need to work and it's good for us. Vacations are wonderful, a really great necessity even, but we're lucky to have jobs and we need to remember that." I think it helped, I hope it did. I just feel so grateful today. I mean, am generally a grateful person, but today, as I was singing, I just started tearing up because I thought about the Birth of Jesus Christ and how He came to show us all the way. I was thinking about how God's love and grace and forgiveness, and everything else in my life, it's just so.....here I go again....I know I say it all the time, but I really am immensely blessed. Sure, I have my problems, my down days, my troubles--who doesn't? No one's life is perfect, and if it seems perfect, trust me, either they're lying to you or they're lying to themselves. But, really, in the grand scheme of things, I am so beyond blessed. I have a beautiful home that's warm and cozy and the best family ever (all be in a bit crazy, but never boring and endlessly interesting), a great husband (like I found someone who wants me for the rest of his life and even on our worst days, that's still pretty darn cool!), amazing parents (in-laws, too!), the best grandparents, awesome friends, full control over my body (most days) and its faculties. I can pee and poop and wiggle my fingers and toes. I can reach up (sort of, sometimes with the help of a stool) into the cupboards and grab a coffee cup, I can hold a cup/glass in my hand. I can chop an onion and stir up cookie batter! I have sign my own name and type really good and super fast! (Everyone says so!). I have hair on my head (that is looking quite fabulous I must say, thanks to Grandma E. and my birthday hair cut, I feel like a new woman!), I have those ten fingers and ten toes. I have a gorgeous wedding band! I have a living room FULL of Christmas presents even though I honestly asked for nothing. I got some really cool gifts too--mainly kitchen stuff (my favorite) and stuff to pamper myself with! (Lotion, shower gel, 600 TC Sheets!). Amazing gifts! Colin's brother got us the COOLEST gift of all; it's a deck of cards with one of our wedding photos and wedding date on it--it is so awesome! I got a Minnie Thermal Coffee Mug, a down throw, a beautiful set of pasta bowls, some more lotion and shower gel (Hello, Bubble Baths), wonderfully scented pretty candles, a pizza cutter, kitchen towels, a blender/food processor in one (score!), a handmade box from Grandma Bobbi with ancient rocks in it, an array (more like a collection) of cookbooks from my Grandma E., a gift card to Target (my favorite store!) and a few other things. I really, truly hauled in and felt very loved and lucky and blessed. Most of all though, I feel humbled. Oh, Colin's cousins also got me a beautiful jewelry set (necklace and earrings) and so did my good friend, SL (not me). A gorgeous white gold necklace and bracelet that actually fits me! Colin got me the most beautiful card, it made me cry--I put it by my bed, that's how much I loved it! He also got me a hand crafted, hand painted Minnie Western Cowgirl Figurine from Disneyland! So wonderful! Yeah, on top of all that, my grandma also got me a mini-purse (perfect for me and my bare necessities), and of course, I got that delicious homemade birthday cake and steak and lobster for dinner on my birthday the other night! Which by the way, made me SO sick, yeah I won't be eating meat of ANY kind for a LONG time. I just feel better (a lot better) when I don't eat it. And although THAT meal was worth feeling like crap for, most of the time, it's just not worth it. Like I said last month, I'm a (renewed) vegetarian because I, or rather, my body, has chosen me to be. And I'm fine with that; I feel better, look better and smell better too! (Sorry, if I was TMI, but I'm serious, look it up!) I'm writing this entry on my back porch and although it is cool and crisp with a definite nip in the air, it is so lovely and beautiful outside right now! I can smell the various Christmas Dinners everyone is cooking around the complex, the chimneys that are going, I can see the beautiful pine trees to my oh, 2 o'clock position, and the sun is setting. It is just a lovely, gorgeous Christmas night! Again, I am so blessed. This 26th Birthday/Christmas really has been my best since my 22nd, and that was my best since my 16th. My 26th will go down as one of my best EVER! So many people called, and wished me a Happy Birthday and a Merry Christmas, and gave me such lovely, perfect gifts for me. I just feel very loved and very blessed. I know, I keep saying that, but it's so true. Thank you, everyone, for making this Christmas extra special, this Christmas really was a very special Christmas for me! And thank You, Lord, for sending Your son, for Your grace, Your love and Your literally endless blessings! Especially today, but each and every day, Lord, it is all because of You! Thank you from the very bottom of my heart! Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone! And a happy, healthy new year too! Here's to any more!

In Light N' Much Christmas Love,
-Sarah Liz :)

P.S. On my very first Christmas, 26 years ago today, I had my very first surgery. And I must say, this last week is a perfect example of why sure, I could have missed the pain, the surgeries, the struggles (then and now), but then, I'd have also had to miss THIS....the Dance. And this feels incredibly good! I feel like more of a woman, smarter, wiser, even more beautiful! I know that I am loved and that most of all, I have God's love! So, yes, pretty much any Christmas that I'm not in a hospital is a great one, but today, has been an especially terrific one! Thanks for the ability to recognize the many miracles you've given me, Lord! Happy Birthday, Jesus! I'll enjoy this all for You!