• Carmen is breathing well and wide awake right next to me.
• I am 32 weeks pregnant! I saw my OB this week and he said that the next important goal is 34 weeks and then….THEY WILL LET ME OFF BED REST AT 36 WEEKS!!! And, I can stop taking Terbutaline. So, that means 4 more weeks. I’ve made it 9 weeks on bed rest, I can surely do 4 more!
• The Christmas tree is up. Dave and Lauren decorated the tree last night. We are officially ready for Christmas!
• All the Christmas presents are purchased, via the internet! Although I love Christmas shopping, it was kind of nice to just click and wait for the UPS man. And I avoided grumpy shoppers. One year I got screamed at by a lady in Michael’s who thought I cut in line. I called my friend Christina in tears and she said, “Remember that many people are buying Christmas gifts for people they don’t like with money they don’t have.” I’ve never forgotten that and try not to let grumpy shoppers get to me. Anyway, I avoided all that this year!
• Hebrews 11, my favorite chapter in the whole Bible.
• Lauren, who climbed in bed with me this morning and said, “Mom, cross your heart that you love me more than the whole universe?” Yes, Lauren, I do!
• Dave, who continues to do more around here than he probably ever thought possible. He even went to Target yesterday and braved the little girls’ department to buy socks for Lauren (it was about time to move 6 year old Lauren out of size 3 to 4 year old socks!).
• Every one of you who have blessed us with meals. We have had some of the BEST food ever!
• NY Grandma, who is driving down on a rainy day to help for a few days while Dave is in Chicago.

Now that our tree is up, I can enjoy a new view from the couch. Here is a picture of one of my favorite ornaments on the tree, Children of the World.

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Big thanks to Mario and Nushi for the HUGE order of Greek food! Dave asked the delivery lady if she was sure this was all for us! Thanks to Claudia for the Shepherd’s Pie. True comfort food!

Christmas tree decorated with colorful ornaments. Gifts wrapped in shiny paper and ribbons under the tree. Christmas music playing. Nativities around the house. Wonderful holiday baking smells throughout the house. Reading the story of Jesus’ birth. Gingerbread houses covered in icing and candies. Extended family Christmas mornings full of laughter and love.

I love Christmas!

This year we will be home (second time in 11 years) and want to start our own Christmas traditions. Nothing too complicated. Doesn’t matter how big or how small, tell us about your Christmas traditions! And if you celebrate other holidays in addition to or instead of Christmas, tell us about those too!

Speaking of Christmas, Lauren’s friend, Annie, sent Carmen a Guatemalan angel ornament. The Angel of Hope was made by impoverished Guatemalan women who live in a slum called “Esperanza” (hope). These women have worked together to develop a community medical center, dental clinic, a crafts project to generate income, etc. We have it displayed on the fireplace mantel.

Carmen’s Guatemalan Angel of Hope

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Thank you to Annie (and mom Diane) for the adorable angel and for the fun birthday presents for Lauren! She had great fun using the letter stencils yesterday and they are good upper and lower case practice!

Thank you to Alecia for the Peruvian food! It was delicious. Thank you to Azeb for the Ethiopian dinner. I am so glad you introduced us to Ethiopian food. We were missing out!