Such a tender week...

It's Christmas week.

It's been a bit cold. We have snow, though not as much as others. Kerry has had to bundle up every single day.

But, there's warmth in our hearts because of this glorious time of year.

I love Christmas. I loved it when I was a child. Though it was usually just mom and dad and me (sisters were older and already gone), I loved the holiday then as much as I do now. I can still remember the magical feeling of the tree all decorated and colorful, the fireplace snapping and popping, my dad putting on the Tabernacle Choir record that had "Silent Night" on it, and my mom turning out every light and only burning kerosene lamps and candles. It was a magical feeling that I can still remember to this day.

Christmas with my own little family was also magical. Nothing brings that feeling around a home more than children. One stands out in particular - when we only had Peter and Harmony. Baby Harmony was barely a month old. One night before Christmas, Peter had fallen asleep under the Christmas tree right beside baby Harmony on her blanket. We didn't have much money that year, but we had two of the greatest gifts we could have ever received - a family. As more and more children joined us, we felt the same way each year. We still feel that way about those precious gifts that were given to us to raise.

Now this year will be a bit different. It's just Kerry and me this year - Kerry and me and the hospital.

This past week, we enjoyed a wonderful evening at the home of Lee and Darlene Tobler - the former temple president and his wife. They are such good people. A few of us gathered there for an evening of desserts. Their home was filled with nativities - and I could have just spent the evening walking around looking at them. But, it's also important to be a bit friendly and sociable, so I was.

The next day I was fitted for the brace I will be wearing for the next three months after surgery. Oh, my! It looks like a saddle. I stopped by to tell Kerry something while he was delivering mail. He glanced into the back seat and asked what in the world that thing was. I told him it was my brace. It's hard, with lots of velcro and bungee cords. They will gradually lessen the plastic until I'm just down to bungee cords.

Friday was my last day at the temple for awhile. I have everything in place for my workers to carry on in my absence. Bless their good hearts.

I will be shutting my computer down tomorrow afternoon. I won't be able to lift it (nothing over 5 lbs.), so I'll be on my little one. It's so little it fits in my purse. My new rule from the occupation therepast is: No BLT - bending, lifting or twisting. My house now looks like a nursing home - grab bars in the tub/shower, raised toilet seat, shower seat, walkers, canes, etc.

If you would like to call Kerry for an update, feel free. He will probably be home after 8:30 each evening, and it's okay to call up to about 10:30 pm. (419-756-7033) If you would like to call me, I'll have my cell phone (419-543-1087), or the hospital (419-526-8000). I'll do my best to answer. It wouldn't do you much good to call Kerry on his cell phone while he's at work. Unless it's me or one of the kids, he probably wouldn't answer. He believes if he's at work, he's at work.

This has been a hard decision for me. There are days when I feel no pain at all, and I wonder if I've made the right decision. Then, there are days when I am yelping in my sleep. Just today, during the closing song, my leg totally went numb and pain shot up through the top part of my hip. I was having trouble hitting the right pedals on the organ, for my feet can't feel them anymore. I thought I was going to flip over backwards with the pain, but carried on through the end of the song. Kerry always comes up to the organ to see if I need any help. This time, he didn't have to ask. He could see my face. He began working on my leg to try to get some of the pain out of the hip and the numbness out of the rest of it. We were trying to not let anyone see it. For the rest of the day, I was on a cane.

After that episode, I have no doubt at all.

But, back to Christmas. No matter what kind of a year y'all have had, I hope that the sweet spirit of this season can permeate your hearts. Just about everyone I know has had it rough in one way or another. Perhaps these things are allowed to happen so that we'll focus on the things that have real meaning - our homes, our families, our Lord.

Some newsies:
Little Miss Vanessa, granddaughter of my sister Betty, was blessed by her daddy today. (Similar to a christening. Babies are not baptized in our church. They must be at least 8 years old). What a special opportunity for a young father.

Niece Sarah, daughter of David and Martha, has received her mission call to the New Zealand Auckland Mission and will leave in March. She is such a dear, sweet girl. I know her parents are so proud of her.

Thank you for all of your well wishes. I'll be fine, for I have a good doctor. He's the same one that put Peter back together after his accident 12 years ago. I have no doubt in his ability, for by all textbook accounts, Peter should not have lived.

But, he did.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Think of Him more than thinking of me. He won't leave me alone...

Love...
Miss P