Christmas at our place!

Christmas at our place has been one wild ride this year. Dad had total knee replacement surgery on the 10th of December on his "other" knee, the one left bad after his knee surgery in June to replace the left one. I am amazed at how well he has done with both replacements. He doesn't think it is healing fast enough but those of you who know dad know that nothing gets done fast enough for him!! :) He is so thankful for everything I do for them: if it's helping get him hooked up to his knee machine, running mom to the store or just popping in to snack! LOL! Yes, grown 40 year olds still go home to eat!!! Dad is such a solid rock in my often whacky, on the go (constantly) world. He is so loving and there is never a day go by that he doesn't tell me how much he loves me. No matter how often I fail in everyday life, he always treats me like a million bucks! I am more thankful for him than I could ever tell him. He is a wonderful dad, a super granddad, a great husband and probably one of the best friends I will ever have in my lifetime!
Speaking of great guys in my life, Chance is home after completing his first semester at Vernon College and is looking forward to returning after the break. He did pretty well with his grades considering it is his first semester away from home and school has never come easy for him. I am very proud of him! He made several new friends but is a little bummed about the fact that a couple of them are transferring and won't be there in the Spring.
I have to say that I have enjoyed seeing his smiling face on a daily basis again! I thought I was ready for him to go out and explore the "real world" but in all honesty I have had a really hard time with his being gone! I am amazed at how unimportant his mom has become since he has been out on his own per say. I thought I would always be his #1 or at least share that with his Granny but somewhere along the way, I think I have fallen down the list! He doesn't understand, as I am sure I didn't at his age, the importance of a relationship with his mom for mom's sake. My mom, Granny, says I am only payin' for my raisin' and that the day will come, as it did for her and I, that he will realize the sacrifices a mom does for her children but until then I guess I will just have to take a "chill pill" and wait!
Anthony, one of Chance's friends who attends Tech but played basketball with Chance here in Childress, has been at Mom and Dad's since break began. We think of him as one of our own and it has been really nice having him home for the holidays. His brother, Dontae has also spent a great deal of time at the house and I know he is enjoying getting to spend time with Ant. Anthony tends to keep Chance well-grounded and I am very thankful for that. He is very appreciative and we have all enjoyed the holiday season with him around.
We had a full house last night for packages. I got a couple of good pictures. I will try and get Chels to help me add them to this post. The noise of all of us together filled the house and my heart. It was so wonderful for me to have everyone there. Granny stresses about all of the extras and works harder than she should to get things just right but I know she enjoys it as much as the rest of us do.
I haven't mentioned much about Chelsea but once again, let me tell you, I couldn't have done this Christmas season without her and all of her help. Dad's surgery threw Mom and I both in a tizzy but Chels came through with flying colors. She decorated, wrapped presents, cooked, baked, came up with some great gift ideas, and worked very hard to make this Christmas special. She is part of a youth group at church and they hold various fundraisers throughout the year. Well, they have an account for each student that they deposit a portion of each fundraiser that they help with in and Chelsea had enough in her account to purchase an Olan Mills packet, which was a church fundraiser, and to have her picture made for Christmas presents. Granny cried!!! The pictures are beautiful and the thought behind them was even more beautiful. She is a great daughter and very, very thoughtful. What a blessing she is!
Wow, this post has taken up way too much space. Posts are suppose to be short and to the point right? Well, maybe if I become more regular with them they will be. Merry Christmas to you all!! Later, Lisa

Okay, so I am totally new to this technology lingo stuff but I am going to give it a shot. I have been viewing Trey Morgan's blog and am amazed at how he always has the neatest things to talk about. I am sure nothing I will have to say will be near as interesting but I figure why not, if Chelsea can have a blogspot why can't I. (She is helping me to get this going and OUCH! , she smacked me for that "if Chelsea can do it, why not me" remark!) Nowadays, I have to count on her alot to get me through. She is a technology phenom and is it just me or do all of these kids just amaze you with how they can do anything on a computer, even some things they shouldn't?

Chelsea fills many shoes in my life. She is my daughter, friend, and God warrior. She just knows that God will be there for you no matter what and has to remind me that I am not in control of anything when it comes right down to it! Her faith is very strong and I am learning with admiration from her daily.

I don't know if I am the only one around that forgets so often to tell my children what they truly mean to me but I will end this blog with a couple of things:

1) No Chance, I haven't forgotten about you. I am equally blessed to call you my son. A relationship with your son is unlike any other relationship a mother can experience and I am sure the other mothers of boys will agree. I am so proud of you and your quest to get a college education. It will only make you more amazing than what you are now!

2) If you haven't told your own children how wonderful they make you feel, do so now and do so often!

Later! Lisa