Merry Christmas

 This Christmas was different than past Christmas'.  It was the first Christmas without dad and although we hadn't spent a Christmas day with dad in several years, we remembered Christmas as a child and dad always made them special.  He was missed but I was filled with joy to know he was in heaven.  This Christmas was also spent post stroke with mom.  To say Kim and I were over-joyed to spend another Christmas with our mother would be an under statement especially considering that in July we thought she could possibly die or be in a vegetative state.  Praise God neither of those things came true.  Mom is doing better than ever and even drove to my house for Christmas!  Another change for me this year is not having the Ausili's here.  I was blessed to still have a house full of people on Christmas but their absence this year was felt.
The picture above is of the boys helping each other put together Nick's xmas present from Jay.  It was a small miracle, hence why I had to capture the moment.

                                                              Mom and her grands!

 I got mom socks with my face and Kim's face on them.  I know every time she wears them they will make her laugh.

 My sweet (and only) niece, Lauren.  I got her bunny jammies and she loved them.

 Lauren entertained us with her flute on Christmas eve.  She is quite good.

 The boys on Christmas morning.  I got them socks with their faces and their dogs on them.  They said the socks were funny but a bit creepy.

 The weather on Christmas day this year was beautiful.  It was mid-40's and sunny.  Nick and his neighbor friend were able to shoot hoops on Christmas morning without coats!

 Christmas day wouldn't be Christmas day without Sieb's prime rib and twice baked potatoes.  Sieb works so hard in the kitchen and always does a fabulous job.

 My gift for my sister.  I saw this t-shirt and knew I had to get it for her.

 As I looked at my entire family gathered around my table on Christmas I said it was one of the reasons we got the table, so that family and friends would be able to congregate around it and good food and laughs would be shared.  Mission accomplished!

What a year this has been.  Last year at this time I had no idea the monumental challenges that lay over the horizon.  I have made it to the other side first and foremost because of Jesus.  I think of this year as me being a-float in an ocean and the only thing that kept me from drowning is the life vest that Jesus provided me with.  My husband has been the rock he's always been and I'm thankful that this of all years our rock remained steady, as I've always known it to be.  My Aunt Karen has been a source of great comfort to me.  My mom has been an inspiration to me.  My sister has demonstrated to me how much stronger we are together.  My girlfriends kept me laughing and I was so blessed to be able to see and visit Jenny several times this year.  As I approach 2019 I am hopeful that my mom will continue to make gains in her recovery, that my sister will settle back into teaching in the fall, and that my children will grow stronger in their faith.  The unknown isn't so scary anymore because I've been on that tight-rope and I've made it across it.

Friends Reunited

 Jenny and Faith came home for a visit last Saturday (and left this morning, bo hoo).  Sarah and I were so excited, we were giddy, like school age children!  We made signs and greeted them at the airport.  Sarah and I whisked Jenny off for a "all about Jen" day to celebrate her upcoming birthday.  We took her shopping for her gift, we went for pedi's and ended the night at her favorite restaurant.

 On Monday night Mary joined us for dinner.  Sadly Shannon was on a trip and couldn't join us.  She was missed.  The four of us laughed over dinner.  It was just like old times.

 On Wednesday night everyone came out to celebrate Sieb and Jenny's 46th birthday.  I loved having the girls back at the house.  This was however the day when everything got "real" for Jay and his poor decision(s) he had made so there was a bit of stress in the house and Jay was not himself, but having a house full of people was certainly a nice and welcome distraction.

 Happy 46th Birthday Genny and Sieb!  I ordered Sieb cake pops and they did not disappoint.

                                                                        My loves!

 Finally on Friday night, Jenny's last night in IL, she came out to my house for our final cocktail hour of her trip.  Mom, Kim and Katie joined us and we had such a nice evening.

Although this week was stressful, it was such a blessing to have my dear friend home.  Last night Jenny parked herself in front of the fire (she loves fires in our fireplace) and I said to her if only I could have her at my fireplace every weekend, like she use to be, but for now I have the memory of her smiling in her AL sweatshirt with her drink in hand, laughing, knowing she felt right at home.  Seeing her leave last night was easier since Sieb, me and the boys are flying to see them in a week!

Grace

As if I expected anything less of 2018, it has come to an end with a bang and not the good kind of bang.  This week we had a situation with Jay, you know the child who ran me ragged when he was small but hasn't given me an ounce of trouble since middle school, yeah that child.  I won't go into detail on my blog but I will say this, the trouble could have been quite serious but because of the grace that was shown to Jay and his buddies they will get through this without a permanent stain on their record.  Instead they have had to communicate with countless people, apologize, and start community service which will spill well into 2019.  They are a good group of boys, but they are teenage boys who are just plain stupid.  I spent a lot of time in prayer this week, praying that the boys would be granted grace and that each of them would grow in their own faith from this.  Last night I reminded Jay of the grace he was given and that one day it is my hope that he can pay it forward and give grace to someone else who so desperately needs it.  I truly love these teachable lessons where kids learn about character, honesty, respect, and grace.  The lessons that hurt but don't leave a long lasting wound.  It has been a stressful week.  I've spent a week with my stomach in knots, a feeling and emotion I'm all too familiar with from this year, but it's still a week where when it's all said and done I realize once again just how weak I am without Jesus.

The I.E.P

We had Nick's I.E.P. today and it was so positive!!!  So positive that I was blown away by how good it was.  It wasn't that I thought it would be negative, but Nick has been struggling in math this year, big time!  And when he struggles, he freaks!  I joke (but not really) that he can't handle stress.  He comes home, freaks out, spends hours working with Mike and within 24-48 hours the dust has settled and all is good.  In the past math hasn't been Nick's weakest link, but this year it's been really hard and he stresses any time he thinks he might be ineligible for sports (which has yet to happen).  Sports is the be all and end all for Nick right now and I give him a lot of credit but his playing time is minimal at best.  December is brutal for basketball.  Between the two boys on average during December we have five games per week.  Last night we did not have a basketball game for Jay or Nick.  I commented to Nick how nice it was to not have a game and Nick's response to me was, "I wish we had games every night because with games I might get an opportunity to play."  I had to pick my mouth up from the floor.  My boy is driven!  His teachers commented on his organization (shocker, I know, considering he can't pick up his towels after showering), his kindness towards others, his politeness and his ability to advocate for himself and work hard!  One of his teachers said he does not fit the mold for most I.E.P. students and everyone agreed they saw Nick phasing out of an I.E.P. by high school, that a 504 plan would be more appropriate for him.  School has been a journey for Mike, me and our boys.  I can't believe Jay will graduate next year and Nick will enter high school on a 504 plan.  It's bittersweet!  I am incredibly thankful.