Year 2009 In Review From A to Z...

A. Andy has a job still! (hope he keeps it this coming year & next & the year after that & the year after that & the year after that & so on)

B. Blessed

C. Cuts & bruises & broken bones (& I'm not just talking about the kids)

D. Dirty diapers!

E. Estate value is down.

F. Funky odors coming from Gavin's room.

G. Giggles & giggles.

H. Hospital visits for Andy & Landon.

I. I tried authentic Greek food & I liked it (most of it)

J. Jumped for joy when Landon got out of the hospital.

K. Kids EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

L. Landon is born & with us & lots & lots of laughter

M. Moving family members to Texas.

N. New car for Andy.

O. Overnight stays at grandma & grandpa Atkin's

P. Playing new board games.

Q. Quiet hours?

R. Restful nights?

S. Sleepless nights! (yes that sounds about right)

T. Two tone finger nail polish for Emma & I.

U. Universal health care (YIKES)

V. Vivid imaginations from Gavin & Emma.

W. Wild & fun playing times with Gavin, Emma & Landon.

X. X-rays of Landon's chest & Andy's arm.

Y. Yummy food.

Z. Zippty do Da!!

That about sums it up more or less. Happy 2010 Year!!!!

I Believe.......

Christmas is here I can't believe it. Do you remember as a child it would take forever for Christmas to get here? Those 11 months seemed to drag! Now as an adult I am sitting here asking where does the time go & why is it so stressful but at the same time fun to play Santa? And who still believes in Santa? Does he really exist? And if so why do we believe so much?

An eight year old girl in 1897 questioned if Santa was real & she wrote the local newspaper & this was the editor's response:

Dear Editor--I am eight years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 W. 95th Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. I love that last part. So yes, Santa is real. It's all about faith & love & generosity that make it REAL :)

I believe! Do you??