Merry Christmas

All the stockings are hung, the presents are wrapped, the cookies are baked, the ham is ready for Christmas dinner and the spiked Egg Nogg is drank. There is a lot of work that goes into creating the special memories of a holiday, but in the end its all worth it to see the smiles upon the face of family and friends and two spoiled cats!

Since I did all the pre-holiday details I'm making Gareth cook the Christmas dinner. We'll be having Ham, Beef Barbeque, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Rice, Irish Soda Bread, and Corn Bread Stuffing. For desert we'll have Pumpkin Pie, Jello, and whatever desert some of our friends will bring.

Some of you may not know this, but I was sick for most of the year. I apparently picked up a viral infection in Haiti and spent many nights burning with fever and sweating and getting treatments to clear my lungs. I am much better now, although very susceptible to colds and the cold Irish winds are something I try to avoid these days. There were times when I wasn't sure I would even see the end of the year. So more than any gift I will receive this year, I am most thankful for the friendships I have with those I love and hold dear to my heart.

Gareth, we pledged for better or worse, but I don't think either of us was ready for the worse so soon after taking our vows. I'm not the best person in the world to be around when I get sick, but you were always there for me whether it was sitting in ice baths with me when I was being a puss or lying next to me in bed as I fell asleep so I would know you would be there for me when I woke. Even now as I write this and I look back over my shoulder at you sleeping on the couch in your boxers and white t-shirt, unshaven for three days, bare feet propped up on the table and cookie crumbs on your chest after eating half a dozen cookies I can't help but think, well I'm actually thinking what a mess you are! LOL But you're my mess and I love you more than any words can ever express.

We always sleep under the tree on Christmas Eve, so its time for me to say Merry Christmas to all my friends online. I'll be thinking of you throughout the day and hoping this Christmas is full of many wonderful memories of your own. The cats are already snuggled on the mattress awaiting us, so its time for me to wake Gareth and settle down for our long winters nap.