Twas the Day before the Night before Christmas

I woke up this morning in what I would call my seasonal funk. The skies were grey, the news was grey, memories of my parents who passed, grey, my husbands deployment, grey. I cried myself to sleep last night. I was grey. As a parent of a special needs child sometimes even when things aren't personal,they are personal because it hits so close to home and my heart breaks for them. Just grey. Seriously, Christmas can be a tough time of year especially when your are surrounded by the Hallmark Channel and LMN. I cried at Bambi and the Lion King so, go figure, I cry at many many many holiday films! So I sat back and thought, Andy always tells me when I am not feeling well (or Grey), get out and walk and drink a lot of water. This comes from his wrestling days but it does work! He went to West Point and wrestled for them and before each match he would walk and drink a lot of water and so I did.

Carter and I walked and walked. I went for a last minute grocery store stop for my Christmas dinner and I went to Starbucks. Gotta love a Starbucks. No, I did not buy the $400 gift card but what to my wonder eyes did appear but a GIANT Snowman cookie that was shedding no tears. So I bought it, ok two of them. At 390 calories a piece, that is my Christmas Day meal and although not "heart healthy", oh so good for the heart.

After Starbucks, we continued to walk. I found myself saying Merry Christmas to what is probably a 90% Jewish Orthodox community and was greeted by so many smiles and returns. After all, who does not love a good Hannukah bush;)

As Carter and I strolled back to the house with the cookies, my ice coffee and groceries in tow...its started to snow. Our first in DC for the season and I smiled and Carter laughed. What Christmas lights that were lit you could see in the daylight and I felt like I was in a greeting card.

My phone started to ring and I looked down and it was Skype. It was Andy. 1000 miles away, literally and he was walking with us.

So on the day before the night before Christmas, the grey turned to light and Santa does exist. As Andy said to me, we have us, we have our furry family, we have our little man and we have 55 plus more years together.

I am so blessed