Thankful Thursday

So today, on Christmas Eve 2009 it isn't very difficult to find something to be Thankful for!  At the current moment I am sitting at my parents computer while the rest of the family is sleeping in one corner of the house or another and in just a few hours the house will be hustling and bustling with movement of my two precious children and all these people that love them so....and you know what?  My children love them all right back!  For the first time in my 7 years of marriage and my brother and is wonderful wife of 2 years, we are all sleeping under the same roof and are looking at being snowed in by what some are calling the 'Bah Humbug' blizzard.  I feel very different about it!  While it may keep us from some of the traditions of a normal Christmas Eve, what better could you find than being snowed in with a family that has so much love for each other?

My sister-in-law came out this afternoon and us girls played games while the kids napped, her mom stopped by and joined us for a brief time and oh what fun that was!  Soon all the guys were in and both my brother and my husband joined in the fun and we had some good laughter going while two little munchkins were lap hopping mooching familiar Christmas treats from who they could! 

Please do not get me wrong, the most important part of Christmas is celebrating the birth of our Savior who came to this earth to die for our sins.  I am so grateful for God sending His Son on that very first Christmas and it would be a shame if ever a Christmas went by without reflecting on what the true meaning of Christmas is all about...

But at the same time with all of our business of daily happenings how often do we have the chance to be snowed in as a big happy family with nothing but time to invest in each other?  I for one am looking forward to what the next few days bring...I am sure there will be lots of eating, many tears (brought on my my brother's odd sense of humor), games played, movies watched, but most of all love shared! 

Tonight we will be in church for the traditional Christmas Eve service (weather permitting) and then we will share a family meal together.  After all the dishes are done we will gather around the Christmas Tree and open gifts...anyone that says they do not get excited for this part HAS to be lying!  Who doesn't like opening gifts?  But is it really about the gifts?  I know what is under the tree for me, but it is still going to be so much fun to see family being just that...FAMILY! 

So Mom, Dad, Farmer & Wife, Handsome, Princess, & my BooBear....thank you!  Thank you for being my family!  Thank you for the memories you have already created for myself and my children this Christmas, thank you for the time we will share over the next few days!  Thank you for the love that will be displayed, yes Farmer, I really do know you love me!  I look forward to the rest of our time together this wonderful Christmas break and to the many MANY years we get to push repeat and make memories over and over again!  This is what I look forward to at Christmas time, this is what I am THANKFUL for!  FAMILY!

The only thing could make it more special is if we had one more person and anyone special to them here with us...while you may never be with us for Christmas because you have your family to be with, please know you are welcome to come along side us any time you feel would be the right time.  We are here with open arms and looking forward to one day...one day when our seperate lives can collide, even if just for a short time!  We love you...because that is what family does! 

Merry Christmas!