Merry Christmas

For those of you with an empty heart and home, struggling with IF or the aftermath, I wish you a most peaceful Christmas filled with family and friends who bring you comfort.

For those waiting for your child to come home, I wish you a fulfilling Christmas whether or not 2008 is your year.

For those who brought a child home from overseas this past year, I know there is little to nothing I could wish for you that you don't already have.

And for those of you who's families are complete, my wish for you is the continued ability to never take a day for granted.

(for those of you celebrating a holiday other than Christmas, as many of my adoption friends are, know that I thought of you during your holiday and the wishes above apply.)

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There are many differences this year for me at this holiday over the last few years. First, our tree, it's the smallest one we've ever had, it's not a fake, it's a FAUX FIR, as I joked with our friend Al. Second, the cards we received this year, I realized that we never looked through any in 2005 and didn't send any out (first year I'd ever skipped), in 2006 we glanced at them and I sent out Chinese New Years cards instead, but this year? They hang on the wall and I realized there are 5 or 6 children on those cards who weren't there last year and I am so happy for those families.

There are other differences too, but that's a starter list.

This is the first Christmas since 2005 I've been able to enjoy and I have a renewed sense of peace and happiness. Though in all likelihood Magpie will not be home nor will we see her photo in 2008, she is ever on our mind and we continue to look forward to the wind in our hair as time rushes past and brings us to her.

Every year Magpie gets a Christmas gift from us, this year it came all the way from Germany. This luscious sweater/shirt combo and 2 pairs of warm as can be slippers. It was hard not to shop for her every day, but we held back.

The last photos... they are my crafty attempts with a day off. Both are molds I've had for a while but hadn't tried out. The bugs, came out fine, first try. The snowman cake... kicked my ass, I had to make it twice before I could even put it together, the first attempt was pretty sad, they don't say how far to fill the pan... I learned the hard way as I smelled burning cake from the overflowing pan which never entirely cooked in the middle. Attempt two, success. No matter what, I'm pretty damn proud of how well it came out!

For our family dinner something a little less Christmas'y, it's tacos! Should be fantastic.