Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 was definitely interesting to say the least. This was first Christmas I was truly not in a bah-humbug mood because the weather was too warm, or missing fam, etc. With a quick spell of actual snow the week before, and with cold weather all the way up to a couple days before Christmas, I was actually feeling very festive.

And then a bug hit the Sheldon home. It was a very large bug that tortured and tormented its victims. I am fortunate to have a strong immune system, I guess, because I only had mild symptoms. A & J must have even stronger ones, because they haven't been affected (yet), by the malicious little bugger! B and Braden were torn apart though, unfortunately. Casualties of war, I guess. He got them good to, because no matter what we threw at him, he wouldn't let go of those poor troubled souls. They both had temps over 100 degrees for three days, were sore and achy, and just didn't feel good. This could easily be the most worse off I have ever seen B and Braden, when it comes to any illness. B had to call in two days in a row, and for those that know her know that it must have been B-A-D for her to call in once, let alone TWICE. By the end of it, she was feeling miserable and down and out.

Now it's time to get better though. Both seemed to be feeling better today, with no more fever (as of this writing anyway), so hopefully they truly are on the road to recovery.

Christmas festivities were fun though. The kids were spoiled way too much, like we always do, and then the aunts/cousins/grandparents/friends/neighbors gifts all poured in to where we felt we were drowning in presents, wrapping, and bows! We truly are blessed. It was so much fun to see them open their gifts, and every year it sinks deeper in how much more fun it is to give than to receive. Don't let that deter you from thinking that I didn't enjoy what I was given. Quite the contrary! I made OOOOOUUUUUT!!! I had been wanting to get some more Hawkeye stuff, and was given the most awesome Hawks windbreaker and stretch-fitted hat from B! I loves 'em! The gift that blew me away the most, even though I admitted that I had a feeling she had gotten me it, was a handheld digital camcorder that I had wanted, called a "Flip Mino". I wanted a small camcorder like this, so I can have something with better than a cell-phone resolution, and always on me, so I can start taping more things and putting them on DVD, my blog, facebook, etc. I'm so pumped about this and what I'll hopefully be doing with it! Thanks babe for one of my best gifts ever!!! As usual, B topped herself, but I think I did pretty good for once in my own right. I got B a few books she had been wanting, and a couple gifts she basically told me I had better get her (HA!), but I surprised her with an ipod shuffle that went over as good as I had hoped. I also got her a bike, so we can start training for our triathalon on real-world bikes, not the stationary ones at the Y. That bike took me over a month to shop for because I could only find one place that had a purple bike like she wanted. I upgraded a few parts, and just PRAYED that she would like it. She did. I was ecstatic! Whoever thought that buying a bike for someone would be so hard to do?! Kids, they don't care as long as it looks cool...maybe that's all B wanted? I tried to top that though. Wanted to get good gear shifters, pedals, seat, etc. We still need to upgrade her pedals and get her a helmet, but that shouldn't be hard. Or will it?!?!?!!?!

I pray you all had or will be having a Merry Christmas. May you enjoy the gifts and blessings you receive. May you realize how blessed you truly are. And may you realize the true blessing of this season. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to save us.

Forever in awe.