Merry Christmas!

I say that today, because yesterday we were sick, so today is more like Christmas to us.  We went to Les Miserables, but before the previews even started, I started having stomach cramps; however, we got movie passes to come again.  And the flu wasn't that bad.  Mostly some cramps and nausea, and sleepy.  Oh, how sleepy I was!  I slept almost all day yesterday, including the part where Mark got a tummy ache too.

We had a wonderful evening the night before, but we were concerned about Anya in W VA, who went to the E.R. with abdominal pain.  She's on antibiotics now, and they think it was a U.T.I.  Her white cell count was high, but hopefully she will be better soon.
Megan had been all prepared for Christmas, but was up all night anyway.  Lucky she was prepared, at least!

Phillip and Justin and Ben and Linda and us and Melinda and Danny and lots of grand kids were at Mel and Danny's house.  Linda brought 7-layer dip, one of my favorite foods!  We also had meatballs and chips and cream puffs, tuna sandwiches, and peppermint bark (from Phillip's Christmas party with Andrew and Nathan, no less - they made it themselves!), and chocolate chip cookies and chocolate milk.  Yay for cream puffs~ Tristan got excited and got sick, and then ate a bunch of cr. puffs, lol.  He gets sick so easily, as in, sensitive stomach.  He'd eaten 5 cookies and a bunch of peppermint bark beforehand; that'll do it for Tristan for sure, lol.

The kids acted out the nativity (pics later) and we sang some Christmas carols and read the Christmas story from Luke.  Then we gave each other presents, and Mark and I got an Electrolux vacuum and bags (and a broom and mop from Linda and Ben) from the whole family!  I was so excited!  Yay!  That was SUCH a surprise!  We haven't had a vacuum in years!
Also, Justin gave us a beautiful Amaryllis plant in a glass display base, like a lantern globe.  I'm excited to see the bloom, which is already starting to grow!
Ben gave me some old Happy Hollisters books and an old, old copy of Rilla of Ingleside, one of the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.  I love these old books - they are like old friends, and reminders of gentle folks and old-fashioned ways.  And they represent ideals that our family still cherishes.
Ben also got Linda a digital camera (her first), and she was enjoying the picture-taking and the endless shots of the kids and all.  I was so happy to see her enjoyment.
Phillip gave us movie passes - yay!  Now we can see Lincoln!
Megan and Brooks got us a subscription to Taste of Home, a delightful magazine by the people who do Reminisce,  and she sent me a scarf from her New York City trip!
Justin got Melinda and Danny a big pot, to replace their old one that is packed up in our stuff (sorry!) and a new camera, to replace their old, broken one.  Now we can see lots more pictures of them!
I got Mark a DVD, and we both chose to see Les Mis and The Hobbit for our Christmas (we can see Lincoln too now, thanks to Phillip).  Mark gave me some money I can put towards a 2011 blog book, too! 
We gave people some stuff  I'll tell about later, after others get their boxes (nothing great big, but heartfelt, for sure!)   I will say that we got Phillip a Salvador Dali-type melting clock.  I thought he'd think it was cool.  I think he did.  He said he needed a clock, lol.  Good luck reading that one, Phillip!

We still have a few things to mail and drop off to people.  We've been watching some movies on Netflix.  Now Mark is working on his S.S. lesson, and I need to try and do some work too.
And, oh!  I got a stocking from Santa with Lindor truffles :), and Chico-Stix :D, and Pop Rox : ), and Giant Smartees : ), and little, fizzy soda cans : D.  So I'm all set!

I know I'm forgetting things.  I'll add them in as I remember them.
We hope you had a lovely Christmas.  I really feel good about our family phone, letter, and in-person gatherings this year.   I think the whole country was just grateful to be with whatever family and friends they have.  And lots of prayers are going out to our soldiers and the Newtown community.

We are so grateful that we know Heavenly Father is over all, and the He loves each one of His children.  He sent His perfect son to this world, to save us and make it possible for us to repent and live with each other and Him forever.
Won't that be so wonderful?

We love you!  Thank you for your comments!
xoxoxo