Christmas Highlights

We had a terrific Christmas, which is no surprise because I can't ever remember having a not terrific one. Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of year for me. It's a holiday I treasure and love and I try my best to savor every single second.

This Christmas I was especially thankful for my mom's health. Only days before Christmas she had to be hospitalized for severe chest pains and extremely high blood pressure. After a night in the hospital and different medications she is now at home and doing better. It was a scary time for all of us and I'm just so, so thankful she is okay. She is my world and I need for her to be OKAY. 

I was also super thankful that my dad was off for the holidays. He works a crazy shift and a crazy amount of hours. He was scheduled to work the holidays, but found out just a few days before Christmas that he was off. Awesome!

I was also thankful to spend some time with this cute little fellow. He is an absolute doll.

I'll be honest, I wasn't excited AT. ALL. that for the first time in my entire life, Owens wasn't going to be spending Christmas Eve with me at my parent's house. Talk about a heartbreaker. Don't get me wrong - I'm over the moon excited about him being a newlywed and I absolutely adore Trenholm, but I'm not good with change, especially change that involves him. And my little mind and heart just couldn't process Christmas Eve or Christmas morning without him. 

We didn't have the stomach bug this year - thank goodness! Therefore, we were able to enjoy all of the festivities. Christmas Eve dinner at Mammie's was absolutely perfect and for the first time in a long time, everyone was there. 

Travis and I have both been off for the holidays and it has been SO NICE. I love being at home with my little family of three. I love lazy mornings and late nights. I love lounging in our PJs and taking rides around town just to ride. I am not ready for the reality that is next week.

Watching my baby girl this Christmas was priceless. She gets it this year. She gets Jesus' birthday and Santa and lights and decorations. And she gets family and time together. I love it.

I love seeing and being with family. It just makes me feel whole and complete. 

I also adore that even in her eighties, Mammie, still hosts and cooks Christmas Eve dinner for over 25 of us. I hope that I am like that one day. Being in her house on Christmas Eve with all of my family in one place is just indescribable. 

Seeing the expression and contentment and happiness on her face just melts my heart.

Typically this little nook, minus the princess table and chairs, is where Leigh Anne and I have eaten Christmas Eve dinner for practically our entire lives. I know I said I don't like change, and I don't, but this was one change I didn't mind at all. We gave up our nook, for the new generation to have their little nook.

I also enjoyed starting our own new traditions, like our elf, Socks. 

Santa was super nice and let Socks stay an extra day to watch Morgan Kate open all of her gifts. Santa even gave Socks enough magic so that MK could hold him and touch him and play with him on Christmas Day. She was in heaven!

Morgan Kate got a special gift from her daddy. A pink ballerina necklace. It is so dainty and beautiful and so special. 

We all had a BIG Christmas and I am already counting down the days until next year!