What a great Christmas we had this year! It was a bit hectic going into it. I broke a tooth pretty seriously about a week before, and it ended up costing us an unexpected $550 (fortunately, the new dentist let me pay half now and half later). Although many would have seen this as a negative, we got Tim's mileage bonus, which I didn't expect, just about a day before it happened. To me, the blessing was in receiving the bonus before we needed it so the dentist costs didn't have to come from our regular paycheck.
Anyway, by Friday afternoon, I had a temporary crown on the tooth to get me through the holidays, and we were able to bring Tim home for the next 5 days.
We picked him up and immediately got to work doing the "errand" things we do before he has to go back out on the road. We exchange his library books, stock up on food and supplies for the next 3 weeks in his truck, get his laundry washed, etc. Saturday was an amazing day. I stayed home that day while Tim volunteered, insisted really, to go out with each of the kids to actively participate in buying all of us gifts. We all realize that everything we bought already came from his hard work, self-sacrificing, and dedication - yet he didn't just want to have me do all the shopping and put his name on the tags. He went out on the last Saturday before Christmas, fighting the crowds, hitting the department stores, putting a lot of thought into what would be good gifts that would reflect his relationship with each of the kids, and me. He also wanted to be responsible for shopping for his parents, something in previous years he gladly turned over to me. He's such a wonderful person these days!
We began the Christmas holiday on as we call it, "Christmas Adam", December 23rd. We went to church, then we basically spent it relaxing together. Monday was Christmas Eve, and Tim took Jordan out on a Daddy/Daughter date, while I finished up the baking. That night, we went to Christmas Eve service together as a family. This was a wonderful gift to me, having Adam there. At almost 19, he usually has to work, or attends a different church, or sometimes he sleeps in while we're at church since he works 3rd shift. This year, the 5 of us attended together. The service started out with the band playing a song by Trans Siberian Orchestra, then singing carols. The message was great, about how we don't have to "clean ourselves up first" to come to Jesus. He came while we were still sinners, and for no reason other than love, He came to take our place as a perfect sacrifice for our sins so we could be free and have eternal life with Him. Afterwards, it was great to see Adam interacting with people he hadn't seen in about 3 years or more. He was talkative, out-going, friendly, positive, respectful, and even hugged a few old friends. Such a change from even just a year ago when he was angry, depressed, and felt bad about himself and his future because he was out of work. When we were done visiting with friends there, we came home for a quiet evening together. Tim & I watched Sherlock on Netflix on our bed with Jordan. We've only seen a few episodes, but it's well-written, and we like a mystery where we can't guess the ending.
Christmas morning was great. I'm a detailed planner, with a touch of OCD, so I had no real stress happening before we got started. I knew what to do, what to let go of, and what schedule to keep to have all the food ready on time. Adam had to be in bed around 1 o'clock so he could go in by 10 that night, so we had just 3 hours from the time Nana & Papa arrived, to do gifts, visit together, and enjoy a meal. The gifts were fun this year. No one spent an exorbitant amount of money (on purpose) but we all put a lot of thought into why we would get each gift for those we bought. Jordan got lots of stuff, but most of it was for her Wilton Cake Decorating classes. She completed Course 1 and will be taking Course 2 in January. She also began learning to sew (clothes, mostly) with a friend of mine, and we found a great deal on a Singer sewing machine for her. She wanted one, but after the dentist bills, she never expected to get it until maybe her birthday this summer. She was so thrilled. She can't wait to start making her own clothes. She thinks she may want to be a fashion designer someday, so learning what makes a good garment could be really important, not to mention how much she'll save making her own clothes in the meantime. Logan is almost 17 now and wanting to shed his little kid image once and for all. He asked for what he and I called "Old Man gifts". He got a Zippo lighter, 2 machetes, a pocket watch he's thrilled with, and his brother gifted him with one of his guitars. Adam is the hardest to shop for. He has expensive taste and he knows it, so he tells everyone they don't have to get him anything - which leaves us without too many ideas. We got him things important to him. He's a big Dr. Who fan, so we got him a Dr. Who mug and some tea. He got a gift card to go to the movies with a friend or a date, with enough left over for popcorn and drinks. He also got a gift card for a clothing store since we know he's moving away from teenage styles and band shirts to a more mature wardrobe, one piece at a time. In addition to those, he does plan on having his own place someday, so we got him a set of glasses and some flatware. For his birthday, maybe we'll find the square dishes he wants.
Tim was easy to buy for this year. He needed jeans, some work supplies at Harbor Freight Tools, only needed one last movie to complete his XMen DVD collection, and we replaced a knife he lost on the road. Jordan was smart and got him a hair clipper set. He cuts his own to save money but his was broken and the guides falling off could cause serious "haircut malfunctions" like unwanted shaved stripes, or having to clip it all almost bald to cover up where a guide slipped and went too short. Everything was practical and well-received.
My gifts are simple, but I never expect much. For almost 20 years, Tim would either not buy me anything claiming he had no time, or didn't know what I wanted, so he'd buy me nothing. If he did, he'd get me a cheap version of what I asked for, and it would usually break quickly. Christmas isn't about the gifts, and I really do get more out of watching others open things they need than putting the camera down to open something myself. The last few years, Tim's gotten better though. He's gotten me planner pages for the new year, practical things I needed for the kitchen, and last year, I had earned money for a laptop but had to use it to help with bills so he somehow managed to find me this one in time for Christmas last year. It's been wonderful, especially since our home computer had died in November. We were reduced to using the library ones to do what we needed to do, and that's not very safe and secure at all. This year, he went in with Adam to get me a gift I never expected him to buy! I had recently become a Mystery Shopper and often the job requires photos, either of the building's cleanliness, or the presentation of the food, or even of an apartment complex I'm evaluating. My camera is so used that it's being held closed with tape, it's big and bulky, it's a huge paperweight in my purse, and it's not very discreet at all on a shop. Tim and Adam knew there was a new camera that just came out, a Nikon Coolpix S01. I've had my eye on it for about a month or so, planning to earn the money around Feb/Mar from my Mystery Shops to get it. It's only about 2" x 3" x .7" deep. It takes 10 megapixel photos and it only weighs about 3.4 ounces! Perfect for discreet mystery shops. The two went in together and got it for me! I loved the prayer shawl Tim's mom had crocheted for me, the canned goodies her and Tim's father brought us, the much-needed new bakeware set from Logan, the beautiful "Mother" plate from Jordan, along with a personal picture she hand-drew for me, and the gift cards my sisters sent - I appreciate all that, but this will help me be able to accept better jobs with more confidence. That helps our family earn more, save more, buy a house instead of having to rent, getting a car before our van breaks or dies. It will help me earn more money not for the sake of stuff, but to keep us out of debt, and to be able to provide for our family.
After all the gifts were opened, we ate our family dinner: Rosemary roasted lamb, a peppercorn crusted pork tenderloin roast, gravy, potatoes with Rosemary, garlic and olive oil, peas, corn, garlic cheddar scones, green bean casserole, and too many desserts to mention. Then we wound down watching the newest Batman movie while Adam went to bed to rest before work. We had a great, relaxing, fun visit with my in-laws and with each other. I've had many reasons to have bad, even lonely Christmases in the past, but this year was one of the best. I'm so thankful and grateful for all we've been given and I don't take any of it for granted - especially my family.
Merry Christmas to you, and Happy 2013!
