This past Christmas was really great. We (or at least I) had a lot of fun shopping this past year for gifts. Thanksgiving night we went to Wal-Mart to get Garrity a car for my parents. Then on that following Saturday we went to Joplin and started our shopping. We had fun. It was one of the first years we have really been able to afford to buy really good gifts for others and I think that's one reason I enjoyed Christmas so much. It made my heart happy to be able to buy our parents things that in past years we would not have been able to afford. I know that they did not/do not care if we give them anything, but both sets of parents always go out of their way to make sure that gifts are a plenty. I know that that is not what Christmas is about, but it sure is fun.
I also had a fantastic time shopping for sweet Garrity. This year she was finally old enough to tell us what she wanted (anything and everything she saw on tv commercials). I loved seeing and/or watching via text video her opening her 1-12 days of Christmas gifts from us. Amy made her last day really special for me by inviting Shane and I to their house to watch her open her last days gift and have a little party. Shane was unable to make it (I may have forgotten to tell him all the details of the plan). It was priceless when she opened the box and saw her real life Dorothy Gail dress. It made me so happy that she was so happy to get it and promptly demand that she put it on. Christmas morning at my parents was also really fun to watch her open her gifts and be so excited about everything she received. I guess age makes you understand how when you were small your parents and family were excited to watch you open your gifts and that's why when I was growing up (and even to this day) my parents and family still make Christmas special.
We also started a new Christmas tradition this year with Shane's mom's family of working Lights around the Lake in honor of Shane's grandma Mary. Mary loved Christmas and loved her house being decorated to the max. She passed away suddenly in December of 2011. Due to her love of Christmas lights, we worked the lights on her birthday and donated all the money we collected to Lights around the Lake. All in all, we raised a little over $400.00! We had a great time and plan on doing this every December 14th on Mary's birthday.
Christmas 2012 may be long gone, but at least I have the memories. I'm sure Christmas 2013 will be even more wonderful, but this past Christmas will be hard to beat and I miss it all ready.
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