Crazy Life of the Holders: We love our Family

Today I went on a $500.00 shopping spree for the first time in my life. Of course it wasn't my money, at work we raised the money for an Elf Louise Family that we adopted. It was so much fun and me being the emotional person that I am was so touched by the whole experience. Then I started thinking about it and it made me sad at the same time. Here we are spending all this money on children that we don't even know and my child may not get anything from Santa this year. Things have been so tight over the last few months that we really don't have the money to spread.

While I talked to my mom she, in her loving mother who knows everything way, reminded me that Christmas is not about the gifts. I have been so obsessed with making sure that all of Emily's cousins and all the grandparents and all the aunts and uncles receive the perfect gift that I have forgotten why we really have Christmas. Let me tell you, this is really bad since I claim myself to be a Christian. This is supposed to be a holiday to spend time with all the people we love and remember those we love that cannnot be here. After my mom set me straight, again in her own loving way, I began to think about all my family that I love. I have the absolute best (and craziest) family in the world. I love every single one of them. Even my brother who beat me up everyday until I was 12. In fact he's at the top of my list :).

My family has been through some serious hell over the past let's say 10 years. We have battled Leukemia, Breast Cancer, Lung/Brain Cancer, Divorce, Depression, and Death. Surprisingly we have come through everything together and strong (as strong as possible). I adore every one of them and I love the fact that they are always there. I never have to think twice when I need them. I know that the moment I call them they will be there. I also love the fact that if I need a good cry I can call Aunt Judy or my mom and they will cry with me. Sometimes you just need to cry but you don't always want to do it alone. These people have made me who I am and I look forward to my daughter making bonds with each one of them (even though she cries hysterically when she has to be with them, I told you they are crazy).

More than anything I love Christmas with my family. Since Robbie and Jeanene moved away we can't always be together that often. But Christmas is a time when we are all together. We have so much fun fighting over gifts and drinking margaritas while eating tamales, chili, rice, and beans. It seems like every year our family gets bigger due to marriages or births. I love this because since Stephanie, Chris, and I grew up there haven't been any children during Christmas. Now we have Taylor, Heather, Kaleb, Rowan, and Emily. Children screaming and running around the house make Christmas better.

Unfortunately this Christmas will be our first with out my grandma Claudia and our 7th without my dad. You would think that it gets easier but it doesn't. Especially not this year. I am going to miss her more on this day then I have any other time throughout the year. Everything will be different and change is always hard. I miss her so much and I know that everyone else does too. It is hard losing those you love, especially on the holidays. But i know that we can get through it...together. The same way we get through everything else.

My extended family is awesome too. I have the best neices I could ever wish for and my sister in law is finally a sister my own age that I can actually talk to. Aaron (my brother in law) is great too, he shares in my love for the Spurs and the Longhorns. Otherwise I would be on my own. I also have the best in laws ever. My mother in law is always there for us and watches Emily whenever I need her to. She has also been there to answer any questions I may have during my new walk with the Lord. My father in law is great too. He can always make me laugh and he has filled the void that my losing my father has left. I am so happy that Emily has him since she doesn't have my dad.

So my point for this was to tell all of you that I love you and am so grateful that God has put you in my life.

Here are some pictures of my wonderful family (I don't have pictures of everyone but this Christmas I will get them)