Copass Family Christmas Day 2010
After Being Snowed In At Grandma's House With No Change Of Clothes

Christmas eve was spent at the Burns' side of the family this year. We spent most of the day there, eating, playing games, eating, opening presents, eating, talking, and eating. Mom and I went to the Christmas Eve service, while Dad stayed home and watched all the young ones. Dustin spent the day with us also, but as he worked the night before, and planned to work that coming night, he slept through the evening. My mom had all the granddaughters make Christmas ornaments, which I was really thankful for. I am trying to get the girls special ornaments to mark each year, and I did not get around to it this year.

When Dustin woke up, it was around 6:30-7pm, and we discussed getting home. It had been snowing all day, and my sister (who had left a couple hours earlier) called to say the roads were really quite bad. We decided to give it a go, but after about 15 minutes on the road, decided not to go any further. It wasn't impossible, but it would've taken a long time to get home. So we got off the interstate and went to Dustin's parents' house for the night. One of the gifts the girls had gotten from my parents were matching princess pajamas, so we got the girls changed, their teeth brushed (Grandma has all those things at her house since the girls spend the night there a lot), and put them to bed. Dustin insisted on going back home to get some things, so he traveled through the night, Santa Claus style, and brought all our presents from home. About 4 hours later or so, he was back.

That morning, when the girls woke up, we let them open the gifts we got them. We don't get the girls anything really spectacular because that is just not how we want to celebrate the holiday. But it is nice to have some fun and excitement; I just hope my girls will know how to celebrate Christmas without it. Later, we had a wonderful dinner followed by Christmas present opening. The girls were not as behaved as well as I would have liked. Claire came down with a bad cold so was pretty high-maintenance. Lara had a bit of an attitude and didn't seem really happy. I actually had to skip most of the Christmas dinner in order to keep them in the other room and calmed down. But they were both off their routines and really worn-out with the festivities. We still all had a really nice time, and were also glad to spend time with Dustin's grandmas and Uncle Andy and Aunt Molly. One of the gifts from Uncle Andy and Lisa were really cute, personalized Snowman snow globe ornaments that light up. I was really thankful for this. I am trying to get the girls special ornaments to mark each year, and I did not get around to it this year. ;) As you can see, we definitely have this year marked on the Christmas tree!!

When we got home, we got the girls a quick supper and let them open their stockings. We also have a new tradition I started this year. Everyone thinks about the gifts we are given from God, and we write/draw them down, wrap them in a box, and open it on Christmas Day. I didn't get around to wrapping them, but I did take them out and we talked about how, for us, Christmas never ends-because of the gifts God sends!!

It was obvious that they were both in better spirits when we got home. Everything was quieter, calmer, and normal. But we had a hard time getting them in bed. Despite putting them in bed by 8-8:30, neither girl fell asleep until almost 10:30-11. Then Claire was up constantly, being plagued with congestion. Then when I finally woke up for good in the morning, I stepped right into a big pile of cat vomit. Then Lara woke up and continued her bad attitude, so was sent back to her bedroom.

We had responsibilities at church, otherwise we all would have stayed home for a well-deserved rest. But I went into town, and Dustin stayed home with the girls. After church, I did a little shopping and eating, and it was nice just to be alone for a little bit. Then in the evening, our friends came over and we did our annual gift exchange. It is amusing because I believe this is the second year in a row that we have gotten each other similar, if not the same, gifts!

Claire had another bad night of sleeping last night since she was so congested. I ended up sleeping with her on the couch for a few hours, which really helped. You can't give babies/toddlers any cold medicine, so I just rely on Vicks vapor rub, saline drops, and our vicks vaporizer thingy. I also elevated one end of her mattress.

Lara had her stitches taken out today.

I am plagued today by a sad heart. I have a sweet, sweet friend who I've not spoken to in a couple months. I've attempted to contact her, and she has not responded. They left our church home a couple of months ago, and I have been concerned that that is why she has not spoken to me. We talked about her decision to leave our church (after the decision was made), and we agreed that we still wanted to connect over play dates and other things. But after that conversation, I've not heard from her. It was recently explained to me, through our husbands, that our friends think it is better if we do not connect after all since we attend different churches now, despite that my friend apparently misses me. :'( I just cannot grasp this concept at all. I think Dustin warned me that this would probably happen, but I strongly felt that we were all at a maturity level that would prevent it. I thought our relationship transcended the walls of our church building. I do not mean to say that my (un)friends are immature, spiritually or otherwise. We are ALL immature in different areas, and that does not make us generally immature. I do not view my friends as immature at all, but unfriending people because you no longer attend the same church is a Fail.

It is God's will for each of us that our relationships with one another are strong, loyal, loving, and forgiving. He desires restoration and peace in our lives. He wants the church to bring people together, to be a light...not to tear apart. I have had some ask me why these friends left our church building, and I do know why, but it doesn't matter. As God's people, we should ALL be better than this!! I am outside God's will in this relationship, which puts me in a very negative and sour place.

I can speak candidly about this friendship that has gone awry, because I am surrounded by friends who are very loving and caring. And being in a dysfunctional friendship has led me to see, even more, the strength and peace in my other friendships. I am more grateful today for the friends I have who I know, without a doubt, will still be my friends no matter what. And I will be theirs.

Today, Lara said, "I don't really care about all these gifts; I REALLY care about the gifts God has given me! Like my family, and my mom and dad..."