Merry CHRISTmas to all!

Merry CHRISTmas everyone. OK everybody up! Rise and shine! Good Morning ♪♫•*¨ To You ¸•♫¸.•.¸ ¸♥¸*♫*•.¸¸♥Good Morning ♪♫•*¨ To You ¸•♫¸.•.¸¸♥¸*♫*•.¸¸♥ The day has arrived.
Our family experienced a Christmas Miracle last night. As we were just starting our family tradition of getting together on Christmas eve, there was a loud knock on the door. 20151224_164202Certain it was our neighbors coming to wish us a Merry Christmas, I approached the door with a smile and swung it open to welcome them in. I suddenly couldn’t breathe. Tyler, our grandson was standing right in front of me and for a moment I was unable to move – but then I just hugged him. I had just a few hours before texted him and said I was all set to Skype when the whole family was together. He said, “I’ll let you know.” I didn’t suspect for a moment that when he said, “I’ll let you know” our Marine was going to let me know in person. I don’t know if you can imagine how it feels to experience shock, surprise, and joy all in the same moment, but it’s exhilarating and comforting all at once.
Our Christmas Miracle brought our whole family together in our home on Christmas Eve. Five grandchildren and their four parents laughing, singing, telling tales on each other and sharing love that is only possible within families. Papa (grandpa) decided not to read the Christmas Story this year. He told it instead – then he said this year we’re going to sing Christmas carols before presents. Maybe just a few groans, but everyone lent their voices so we could get on with opening gifts.
No matter what the age, this is a special day. Whether because of memories in the past or making memories today, it’s a day of connections. An estimated 100.5 million Americans are expected to drive or fly more than 50 miles from home for the holidays. I didn’t make that up. I got it off the Internet so it has to be true. Right? Well – OK – not always true when it comes from the Internet, the newspaper or community know-it-all. But give or take a few million, there is a good chance we will all connect with someone, somewhere, sometime today. Our family Christmas is always on Christmas Eve. We get the primetime before the tsunami of activity hits and exhaustion creeps in.
We are going to visit family and friends in the upper peninsula tomorrow so I should start to dismantle the décor that’s been up since before Thanksgiving and put it away for 11 months. I think this year though I’m going to leave the bright colors, gold trim, and wooden pieces right where they are until I’ve absorbed the blessing and joy of this day. I’m not that fond of taking it down to hide away till next year, so I’m going to put a few things away and leave the memories for awhile. Eventually it will all go back in the boxes to be tucked away under the stairs, waiting for Christmas to roll around again next year. I love this season and it’s over too soon. Now you know why I didn’t mind so much that our tree stayed up all year – sans the lights.
To all who read this today: Thank you for being my friend either in person or via social media, and staying connected through the year. Be safe, be joyful, be blessed with God’s best – Merry CHRISTmas.
Join the Peanuts Gang – Christmastime Is Here

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