Puzzle Solved...

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,

stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?

It came without ribbons. It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

         Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr Seuss)

The day after...well, the day after Christmas.  As usual the stores are offering humongous discounts on all the stuff people need to have for gift wrapping, etc for next Christmas.  This is the week looking forward to the new year...new year's eve parties, bowl games...then the Super Bowl and basketball.  Wow!  Schedules are filling up faster than you can blink your tired little eyes!  Time's flyin'...yes?

The quote about the Grinch touched my heart...I 'spose it's because Michael and I did things a bit differently this Christmas.  We had a 'heart to heart' about the meaning of Christmas...we tweaked our thinking and made some good moves! 

I absolutely enjoy shopping (any time of the year) and usually buy M some things he really doesn't need and he does the same for me!  And honestly, neither of us needs or wants anything...we're 100% happy. 

This resulted in one shopping excursion...together.  He's lost weight since Ms. Amy moved into his throat...so we bought him two pair of pants!  I have a favorite perfume that I was down to the last spray...so we bought me two bottles of Daisy (Marc Jacobs perfume).  That was it and we didn't even wrap them...we put them to instant use.

I cheated a little though...Michael loves fruitcake; I ordered three small individuals from Collins.  His fav pie is Mincemeat...okay, I know most people turn up their noses at the above mentioned delicacies but who cares?  Not my sweet M. 

I cheated once more...I've been unable to find mince pies for a long time...ho, ho...spied one during my last minute shopping Christmas Eve afternoon.  (Okay, I know what you're thinking, 'Why didn't you make him one, Vasca?  'Cause I'm not the pie-maker my mother was, that's why.)  On with the shopping; I hid it until Christmas morning and surprised Michael with both delicacies!  He didn't mind that I sort of broke our agreement since both of us could enjoy all those calories!

This year our family, all 20 of us, were together at one time or another.  Another precious gift.

Our 10 grand's range from 13 years to 32 years; we had our first engagements...Brandon to Donnae and Alan to Leslie Ann.  What?  Two precious gifts in such a short time?  Told the g'kids they'd better hurry and get someone married 'cause Papa and I are getting way up there!  Maybe this will encourage others???

Some gifts came without ribbons; came without tags...

They came without packages, boxes or bags.

Our Christmas this year didn't come from a store,

For Michael and Vasca, this Christmas meant more!

Topping off the special gifts, Michael announced that his newly found voice is holding strong; he enjoys eating now (been a long time coming) and ta-dah, he's getting his eyes 'fixed' in January.  He said that he's gonna' be a new man...renovated...and he's wondering just what God has in store for the new him! 

M & I do things together so trust me, we aren't losing sleep over it because whatever it is, it's gonna' be awesome and get this...

It won't come w/ribbons; won't have the tags...

and it won't come packaged in boxes or bags...

Fall in our laps when neither is looking...

God's plan for us is steadily cooking!  (Please forgive me Dr. Seuss)

2011 has been awesome for us and we're eagerly looking forward to continuing our walking the talk...no matter what the season...

and guess what?  It's much more than wonderful...it's downright heavenly.

From my heart...to yours!