Christmas 2016

I know I'm pretty late with my Christmas blog post, but here it is… finally! My sister Sharon and her family came up from Mississippi for the holidays. I think we've spent almost every Christmas with Sharon's for the past 18 or so years. It's nice to have so many happy Christmas memories with them!

I don't have as many pictures from Christmas day as I would like (or as many shots of people opening/posing with their gifts), but things were a little crazy that day, and a lot was going on since we had church in the morning since Christmas was on Sunday. Sharon's kids got up and got ready for church, and came downstairs and opened their stockings about 7:15. My mom and I were busy getting ready for church, so we missed this part of Christmas morning.

I got each of Sharon's kids a few little things to put in their stockings. The two pictures below are of my four-year-old niece, Emily, and they are probably my favorite pictures that were taken on Christmas. I found these little, collapsible brushes at the dollar store, so I got one for Sharon's three youngest girls. I almost didn't buy one for Emily, but I'm so glad I did! After seeing hers, she threw her arms up in the air and said that it was what she always wanted. How precious is that?! That was one dollar well spent!

This is Matt with one of his favorite Christmas presents: a bundle of neon green parachute rope. He was using it to make booby-traps all over the house during the 10 days Sharon's family was here! The other picture is of Matt holding up the calendar I got him. (I bought calendars for everybody, since the dollar store had a fairly large selection of 2017 calendars.) I also found a pack of cards at Target with different facts about insects that I thought he might like. That's pictured below, as well.

Rachel was the next to open her stocking, and then Sarah:

Kate went next, followed by Elizabeth. I can't believe how mature these girls are looking!

After stockings and a breakfast of sweet rolls (orange rolls and caramel pecan), we went to church. We only had one hour of church, so it was a shorter day than usual. Our family friend, Paul, came with us, and then he stayed with us through the afternoon as we opened our presents. Chandra, Joe and Christian came over to open presents with us, as well, after they got out of church.

I'm not crazy about the way I look in these pictures, but I'm including them anyway, just to document this sweet exchange between Emi and me. She is such a cutie, and she makes me laugh. I love her so much!

Mom and me, followed by pictures of Emi and Rach:

Elizabeth is not a little girl anymore, and neither is Kate! They are both so sweet and fun to be around. Here they are on the way out the door to church:

And here's Chandra's family when they arrived to our house after they got out of church. I love Christian's festive, little outfit, not to mention that adorable look on his face in the side-by-side pictures below. Talk about heart-melting!

We finally started opening our presents a little after 12:30 PM. The kids were getting impatient as we waited for everyone to arrive. I can't say that I blamed them!

Here's Rachel opening a little sewing box from Grammy. I love the first picture with Matt looking over her shoulder as she opened her gift:

Above: Rachel got a sweet rag doll, and Sarah got the Razor scooter she wanted.

Matthew also got a Razor scooter. My mom gave him a cape with an "M" on the back of it (I wish I had gotten a picture of him modeling his cape, but I didn't), and I gave him a soccer ball. A few days after Christmas he was running around the backyard playing soccer while wearing his cape. So cute! 😏 

Emi really wanted a lawnmower, so my mom got her one. She was delighted!

Christian hasn't quite gotten the hang of opening gifts, so Chandra helped him figure it out.

These girls got more books. They sure do love to read!

Chandra and our mom both got Bissell steam mops (unbeknownst to each other). Several of us girls went in together to get the mops for Chan and our mom. It was kind of funny to see them both open them, and realize that they had each gotten one. Chandra was really hoping to get one, because she's been wanting one ever since she used our sister Annette's steam mop back in October. As you can see from the pictures, Chan was thrilled!

The girls always make such thoughtful and creative gifts for us. Their creativity is truly amazing! I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of myself opening any of my Christmas gifts, but here's Chandra with Elizabeth and Sarah when they gave her the presents they made for her.

Above are pictures of Sharon and Elizabeth wearing their new blanket scarves. Elizabeth used her own money to buy her own scarf right before Christmas. These particular scarves come with fuchsia gloves, and Elizabeth decided to wrap up the gloves that came with her scarf for her mom for Christmas (since Sharon had teased that she thought they would go great with her dark blue pea coat). Well, Sharon got a blanket scarf from Spencer for Christmas, so she gave the fuchsia gloves that came with her scarf to Elizabeth. Both of them are happy campers, and they look so stylish in their [almost] twin scarves! 😉

Another Christmas has come and gone. We sure had fun during our 10-day Christmas vacation together. I must admit that I'm now feeling the post-Christmas blues, since I miss everyone. That always happens to me after my sisters have come to visit with their families. I look forward to their visits so much, so then after all the fun is over, I feel a letdown. Fortunately, it doesn't last too long before I get used to my normal, quiet routine again.

Here are a few other highlights our visit:

• Watching Hallmark Christmas movies together most evenings.
• Having a delicious nacho bar for our New Year's Eve dinner.
• Going to the temple with my mom, Sharon, and Spencer.
• Playing Qwirkle (I've heard of this game before, but I'd never played it, so I asked Sharon to bring hers. It was really fun!)
• Sharon asked me to make a special slideshow (one of my hobbies) for a special recognition night at church for Elizabeth, who recently received her Young Womanhood recognition award. Sharon and I spent a fair amount of time putting the finishing touches on it.

Lucky 13

November 17 probably just seems like an ordinary day to most people, but for me, this date holds an extreme amount of significance, since that was the day when my life changed in a monumental way. The day I was transformed, physically, and reborn, spiritually. My life was changed in a split second, and has turned out very differently than I ever would have expected. My new life hasn't been a cakewalk, but it's been much better than you might think.

The two feelings/emotions that I've felt most deeply over the past 13 years are quite different from each other: disappointment and joy.

The Disappointment:
What happened to me at the young age of 19 was really so sad. Just as I was emerging into the adult world, I was struck down and thrust into a life of extreme disability. [I wonder if anyone ever thinks about what that would've been like, or would be like. If you've never given it any thought, think about it for a minute, just to give yourself an idea of how difficult it would be.] If being disabled was all you had ever known, it would be much easier, in my opinion, than to have known what it was like to be "normal," only to suddenly find yourself being anything but normal, physically, while at the same time still being the same person you always were, mentally and emotionally. It's an extremely difficult transition.

After my accident, my biggest hopes and dreams for the future were no longer attainable. My dreams were snuffed out, just like that. Finishing nursing school/working as a nurse? That was over just as it was beginning. Marriage? Still possible, but not likely. Children? Nope. There were so many things I wanted to do and experience in life that I would now never be able to do. Even small, insignificant things like doing my own hair and makeup, or dressing in the kinds of clothes I liked were no longer possible. There has been so much to be disappointed about, and I know the disappointment could overwhelm and consume me, if I let it (which I won't).

The Joy:
Despite the tragedy of the situation, I've been able to make some refreshing lemonade out of the lemons life has thrown my way. I give all the credit to God, though, since He has given me the gift of joy that has allowed me to press forward with positivity.

Psalm 30:5 says, "... weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." I know that my physical situation is only temporary. I'm sure my paralysis will last the rest of my life, but in the grand scheme of things, mortality is actually very brief. I just need to put "mind over matter" and keep pressing forward. After all, as Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." If I live a good life, I know God will reward me and compensate me for everything I've had to give up or go without. Anything is bearable for a little while, especially if you know there are good things in store.

I feel very lucky to be alive, happy and doing as well as I am. 🌷

"Ugly"

I finished reading the book "Ugly" a couple weeks ago. This is a true story, written by Robert Hoge. My mom heard about this book a few months ago and was interested in reading it, so I bought it for her for her birthday, and we read it together. Here is a short synopsis of the book:

When Robert Hoge was born, he had a tumor the size of a tennis ball in the middle of his face and short, twisted legs. Surgeons removed the tumor and made him a new nose from one of his toes.  Amazingly, he survived—with a face that would never be the same.  

Strangers stared at him. Kids called him names, and adults could be cruel, too. Everybody seemed to agree that he was “ugly.” But Robert refused to let his face define him. He played pranks, got into trouble, had adventures with his big family, and finally found a sport that was perfect for him to play. And Robert came face to face with the biggest decision of his life, he followed his heart.

This poignant memoir about overcoming bullying and thriving with disabilities shows that what makes us “ugly” also makes us who we are. 

The book was really good! It was written for adults, but is simple enough for adolescents to understand. I think it would be a great book for middle schoolers to read, just to give them some perspective on what it's like to be different, and how much unkind words and bullying can hurt.

Below is a picture of Robert as an infant, and below that is a picture of Robert and his parents after one of his surgeries:

And this is Robert today. When the doctors wanted to give Robert another surgery to make his face look even more "normal," he said, "Thanks, but no thanks," and opted to not have the surgery. He basically said that if people can't accept him with the way he looks, then that is their problem. I have to give him respect; I'm pretty sure I'd get the surgery! I guess I'm just more vain, and would want to look as normal as I could.

My one disappointment with the book is that it didn't include how Robert met his wife (their little family is pictured above). I'm so glad that Robert could find someone that was able to accept him the way he is—not everyone would—so his wife sounds like a great woman.

This book definitely helps you realize that it's important to be kind to everyone, especially those who are different. They are still people and deserve respect, even if their exterior isn't quite normal.

Chan Ties the Knot

Chandra and Joe got married in New York on October 8, when Chan went to go help Annette when she had her baby. Chandra wanted to get married some place that was really pretty, and Syracuse has an abundance of beautiful places, like Onondaga Park. It rained all morning, but fortunately it stopped a little while before the ceremony was supposed to begin.

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking:

I like the two pictures of Christian below. His tired, little face says, "Are we done yet?!" :)

Our sister, Annette, who was just days away from having her baby, went to the ceremony to be a witness and to help take care of Christian while Chandra and Joe were posing for the photographer.

I'm glad Chandra and Joe finally tied the knot. I'm now the "old maid" of my family, since all of my other sisters are all married. If there has to be a single sister in the bunch, then I'm glad it's me, and not one of the other ones.

Here's to wishing Chandra and Joe many, many years of happiness.

xoxo