.Oh What A Night.

Let me rephrase--"Oh What A WEEK!"


I am about 99% positive everyone can relate with the statement above, well, the exclamation above. Holidays are wonderful yet they always leave me feeling one way--TIRED! It is a "good tired" though--the feeling when you lift your feet off of the ground for the first time in hours, the slight burning sensation when you shut your eyelids, the "I do not have to do anything right now, just sleep" feeling, the feeling of knowing you can sleep in, yes I said it, SLEEP IN. Adam and I are close (very very close) to reaching our "good tired." Just a few more days of fun with the family playing games and eating..and eating..and eating ;) Have you reached your "good tired" yet?


Adam and I spent a beautiful Christmas up in snowy NJ with the Morrow family. The greatest gift given was simply being together. My entire family (it's rather small BUT we all live hours and hours apart) were together and my parents could not be any happier..they had their kids, their "new" kids (Adam and Kim), and their one and only grandbaby home. Emma is the first grandbaby and my first niece on the Morrow side of the family. It was so special having her there and soaking in every moment we had with her--she is changing so fast! I held her as much as I could but it was a challenge fighting off the new grandparents. Emma stole the hearts of everyone who saw a smile come across her perfect, precious little face. Christmas was special this year. It had it's major "hiccups" (sickness, migraines, snowstorms, stalled vehicles, etc.) but none compared to simply relaxing and living life with family. One of the best things the Morrow family can do is relax--we love to sit and talk while drinking Dad's awesome coffee (please say those words aloud in your very best NJ accent) and eating Mom's delicious goodies. We enjoy telling stories and laughing at the same old jokes. We love to sit in front of the fire watching all of the new movies we got for Christmas. Christmas was special this year.


My family spent Christmas Eve at my Aunt Linda's house. This was the most relaxing and fun year. Everyone was there--all the important people ;)--and it was simply perfect! The food was delicious, the house was decorated beautifully, and our loved ones were all accounted for! This was the first Christmas in 6 years my grandparents from SC joined us. I remember feeling thankful and so blessed for my family this night. My grandparents became great grandparents and lovingly held Emma in their arms just smiling and in awe of the little bundle. My cousin Taylor and I had the same idea for gifts--framed pictures! I framed a recent picture of us and he framed a picture from 20 years ago which brought me to tears..which brought him to tears..which brought Aunt Linda to tears..which brought my mom to tears..yes, Christmas was special this year.


Christmas night was celebrated with more Morrows at my Aunt Anne's house. We had a great dinner (thanks to my amazing mother) and enjoyed being together. While the men smoked cigars on the porch, the women were inside ooing and awing over the babies present. It still amazes me how much joy can come from receiving a smile from a baby, it melts my heart. All through the night, I could not help but think of my Aunt Anne and wondered if this was our last Christmas with her. She has been very ill and her body has been slowly shutting down on her. I was able to hold a conversation with her when we first arrived and had her answering questions and talking about her day but by the end of the night she was gone, just a body sat in the room with a smile and wandering eyes. My heart was crying out to the Lord to give her comfort and to give my Uncle Will strength for each new sunrise they share together. Everyone smiled and everyone poured their love on Aunt Anne, she felt it..her soul and spirit felt it. Christmas was special this year.


Our journey home was delayed by a snowstorm. We will not lie, Adam and I were both extremely happy. We wanted more time with my family..with baby Emma. The snow continued to fall leaving the Morrow house looking beautiful and the fire inside feeling better than ever. Everyone slept in, stayed in pajamas all day, ate (and ate and ate), and spent time together.. Christmas was special this year.


This amazing week is still not over, Adam and I are going strong and looking forward to reaching our "good tired" very soon. More posts to come on the end of this week and the new year with the Holm family :)


One last thing..did I forget to mention Christmas was special this year?