Our Pennsylvania Christmas

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone! What a stressful yet wonderful time it ended up being for us. Lots to be thankful for...

On Christmas Eve morning, like 3am, my son reached out to us that he needed help and that he wanted to go to rehab. By 6am we were at BWI airport in Baltimore and by 7am he was on his way to Florida escorted by Savanna to a very good rehab and transformation center. What a trooper and real invested sister Savanna has been. She flew there and back within hours to make sure he made it safely to where a person from the rehab met up with them in the airport. We were so thankful and by 5pm we were all in church singing and praising God! As much as we thought and prayed about things in the weeks leading up to all of this, we couldn't have planned it better if we had tried, God had his own plan and it was perfect!

I love using these cute selfies.

Christmas Eve after church we went to Jessica's and Brian's house to do secret Santa and order our traditional Chinese dinner that we always have. Everyone was exhausted so we headed home early and got things ready for the next day. 

Santa Came!!!

We had brunch and presents at 9:30 Christmas morning. We usually do egg casserole, french toast bake, fruit, pumpkin roll and bread but this year we changed it up. We had egg casserole, cranberry bread, and a big thing of pastries bought at Panera bread. It was delicious and everyone enjoyed everything while opening gifts.

Our first year doing matching PJ's

When our kids were young we decided that we would open our gifts one at a time so we could enjoy watching each other open theirs and know their reaction and what one another got. It has worked out great, but now with the family growing it takes hours to do so it wasn't until early afternoon that we were done opening our gifts. Jaxson was at such a great age and was so excited for everything.

Jessica and Brian

Another new Soccer Jersey!

Jaxson love Thomas and trains!

Pop Pop explaining to Jaxson what he got

After all the gifts were opened we all got ready for the day and reunited again at 5 for dinner and appetizers. My sister in law and her mom from Minnesota came for dinner. We had quite a feast and had even more to be thankful for. As the day came to a close I reflected on how much things have changed over the years. My parents were always the ones hosting the holidays and now its us. It seems so long ago but at the same time like just yesterday that our kids ran around my parents house squealing at the gifts they had received, now its our kids having families of their own. My son, was always the one that forever was smiling and laughing and the most thankful of the bunch. Who would have known that years later he would not be spending Christmas with us....Life has a way of making you appreciate everything and everyone because you just don't know what is around the corner.

Its those special memories I have of what seemed like those perfect days that make me the mom, wife and person that I am. I have turned into my mom and us my parents providing special memories for my kids and their kids. I realize we can only do so much to provide and protect our children and the rest is up to them and to God. 

I would love to hear how your Christmas went!!!