A Family Filled Holiday Season

Well that was an epic fail.  So much for posting every day, eh?  Oh well, you got a few more entries out of me, and I do think I was more thankful in general throughout the month. 

I headed down to Florida to spend the actual Day of Thanks with Tres and his extended family- most of whom I’d never met before.  They were very welcoming and friendly, and it was nice to meet people I’d heard so much about.  It’s an annual gathering for their family, many of whom living in the Florida-Georgia region, and it made me wish that my own family wasn’t so spread out all the time, but that’s a pretty standard wish these days.  The sunshine was gorgeous and very welcomed by my vitamin-D deprived body, and the relaxation and delicious food made for an all around great holiday break.

Tres came back to Baltimore with me, mostly just to make sure his 12ft inflatable Santa got set up in my apartment yet again this year.  We also set up my fake Christmas tree, and enjoyed a Friendsgiving with my missional community from my church.  (yes, a part of my soul does die every time I set up my fake Christmas tree- but my lifestyle doesn’t lend itself to a live tree- so I buy lots of tree-smelling candles)

Unbeknownst to him, I had booked a trip to Portland for this last weekend using my frequent flier miles during one of Southwest’s sales this fall.  So I lied my way through Friday December 7^th, and had him convinced I’d gone to work and our unit Christmas party when in fact, I’d been flying across the country.  He was surprised to see me, but had a busy weekend ahead of him, and felt bad that he couldn’t make more time for me.  I wasn’t worried though, because a weekend in Oregon with some time to myself sounded like the perfect way to prepare myself for a little bit of a crazy holiday schedule at work.  The calm before the storm, if you will.  I took him lunch at work, and then we ventured to my very first NBA game to watch the Blazers play the Raptors.

Since then, I’ve worked a lot.  We’ve been short at work for the last two weeks or so, which means extra shifts for those of us who are on call.  I got to see Tres for a bit while he was out here interviewing for a job, but mostly I’ve been hanging out with kids, giving them meds and trying to fit sleeping into a busy holiday season.  I have two more shifts this week before a weekend of gift-wrapping and church.  Then I get to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day at my home away from home, spending time with some pretty great kids, while helping make the hospital feel a little more like home for them.

 and then I turn 25.  um, what?!

Hope your holiday season is full of family, love and laughter!