Christmas has always been a magical time of year for me... I just love the music, and the glittery decorations, and the pretty lights that color the cold winter sky.I love the look of houses buried in fresh sparkling snow, and their fireplace smoke clouding the sky. I love finding the perfect gift for the ones I love, doing a little charity work, and spending as much time as possible with family. And I definitely LOVE the cooking, food, and candy!!!This year was a hard year for us during the Christmas season. We didn't have any money to buy gifts for others or each other, and I almost had to miss Christmas Eve with the Garcias, and Christmas Day with the Georges because of my job... but more than anything the hardest part of this holiday season, at least for me, was not having children. Celebrating the birth of a baby has never been such a hard pill for me to swallow... but this year, for whatever reason, it REALLY was. As more and more of my friends and family enjoy their little ones around me I get more and more depressed that I cannot experience that joy too. Everyone says maybe one day and to not lose hope.... but that is easier said than done.
We somehow managed to help my family donate to a young child from the Angel Tree, and also had them help us send some things to Ben's nieces and nephews in Mexico. It felt good being able to give something to those in need, especially when it was extra hard for us to come up with the money to do it, because it really meant more to us that way. We had a nice feast at the Garcia house on Christmas Eve, and enjoyed a house full of noise and chaos since it was one of the few times almost all the siblings were under one roof together.We went to the George house for Christmas morning and found a few gifts each to open there. We truly felt blessed for both families and their gifts to us.The best present and event that took place this Christmas though was the call from our missionary! Jeff got to call and talk to us for 40 minutes on Christmas morning, and it was so nice to get to hear his voice again after 2 long months without him. We talked about recent events in our lives, and exciting experiences and adventures he had endured... and the time flew by SO quickly. I can't wait to talk to him again in a few months!
All in all, as I am slowing taking down the decorations and putting them back in their boxes and reflecting upon the holiday season, I would have to say it was both one of the best and one of the worst I have had to date. It definitely makes me look forward to a new year and what the future holds... and makes me hope for the better.
