The Eve

It doesn't really feel like Christmas Eve, but so it is already!

I had a few things to do today, but it ended up being slightly unproductive. The post office was open, but the banks were closed.  I needed water and ice cream at the store, and it was quite an adventure getting in and out.  :)  A last package we wanted didn't come in today, but it wasn't a big thing.  We did deliver one present to Kaylee's friend, and I picked up a gift card holder for something, and then it was time to be home and chilling.

Mom & Ernie made it in first, around 4:30, and then the Cherry family arrived 30-40 minutes after that.  We had a delicious dinner next door of homemade broccoli and cheese soup, salad with "the fixings", and the green jello dish that is always a favorite around here.  Then we do what you do on a holiday, we sat around in groups and chatted and caught up and enjoyed the company.  The girls all made "Ugly Sweater Christmas Cookies", which turned out not very ugly at all and I kind of hate to eat them!  There is one on the deck waiting for Santa, who fortunately did get stocking stuffers for the youngest in the bunch, but not for all 13 people, because Santa isn't really magic, he can be lame when it comes to gifts, especially timely ones, let alone finding gifts PLUS stocking stuffers for 13 people.  Fortunately nobody else cares about getting stocking stuffers.  That I know of, anyway.  :)

Later in the evening we watched a marathon of an Alaska TV show, while the cousins went up front to watch a movie and half the folks hit the hay early to try to catch up on some sleep.

There are a lot of great things that money can buy.  There's a joke online that says "Money can't buy happiness.  But it can by flying lessons, which is the same thing."  In my case it would be "100LL", not flying lessons, but close enough.  ;)   But...money can't buy trust, or love, or real companionship, or family, or peace. We're not in a fancy home, not driving an expensive vehicle, not wearing top dollar clothing or providing top of the line gifts.  There is nothing wrong with any of those things either, of course, but not having them doesn't equate to unhappiness.  There are 13 people in our two homes who all love and enjoy each other's company.  There are four girls, cousins, sitting in a circle on a futon pulled into a bed playing a game, laughing and talking, and while only three of them are biological sisters, you wouldn't know it.   Four loving marriages, five happy, intelligent, polite, strong, sweet "kids", good home made food, everybody's health is doing well, and listening to them laughing up there, I definitely feel blessed.  May you be as well.  :)