Goodbye 2002

It's been a while since my last post! So I'll start with Christmas Eve and bring everybody up to date. I know you're sitting on the edge of your computer chairs in anticipation.

Christmas Eve went down as it has my entire life; well, pretty much the same -- except instead of sleeping alone at my grandparents, Steve has been there the past two years! At around 5:30, my family heads to the church I grew up in for a Silent Candlelight Christmas Eve service. That lasts about 20 minutes, and then I exchange gifts with one of my best friends since childhood, Karen. We then head back to my parents houses for a little snack before driving to my grandparents house in the country (about 30 minutes from my parents). I have spent every single Christmas Eve of my entire life (even my first Christmas at 4 months old) at my grandparents. Santa did not come to my parents house. He came to my grandparents house. He did the stockings there and the Christmas tree presents. I used to ask my parents how Santa knew that my brother and I would be at my grandparents every year - how did he know we would be there and not at home? Anyway - so we head down to Grandmother & Grampy's and usually stay up late talking with them (they are in their mid 80's and still very active and healthy). We also found out today that my niece isn't going to be born for another two weeks! Her lungs aren't fully developed ... so they are postponing the c-section until at least January 7. Sooooo ..... no tax deduction for my brother and sister-in-law. Seriously - I was so excited about her being born December 26th ... and Mark & Glenda had been so busy preparing for her arrival -- it was kinda a letdown when the doctor postponed it. But we want a healthy baby .... so of course we are glad to wait another two weeks! Grow fast, baby Sarah .... We're all ready for you !!!

Christmas Day was a nice relaxing day. I didn't get up til almost 8:30 this year (FYI, that is really late for me on a Christmas morning!). My brother and his wife, my grandparents, my parents, and Steve and I all have the traditional Christmas breakfast on my Grandmother's pretty Christmas dishes .... and then we finally get to open presents. I got several cool things I asked for - and this is going to show how when you get married, you do sometimes want different things than when you're single. Here were my fav presents - A bread machine -- which I can't wait to try out! Since Steve and I got married, we have started a collection of English teapots .... and so my mom got me three new ones this year. I love the ones that are shaped like objects -- I have a British post box one ordered right now made by the same company that made the bus! It's adorable! I'm still trying to find this one (British Phone Box) and this one(Black Cab) somewhere in the states - preferrably ebay! They're just so cute! I got a few boardgames (I LOVE those), books, some clothes, and a few giftcards to various places. It was a nice Christmas - we are so fortunate to have what we do!

I had a sore throat most of Christmas Day, and by the day after I was feeling pretty yucky. So when we drove back to Nashville, I went straight to the doctor to get some meds. Evidently I had a nasty viral infection, along with bronchitis and the beginnings of a sinus infection. Thus began the six days of being sick for me. I had a raging sinus infection by Sunday morning and the drugs just weren't seeming to work - and today is the first day I've felt halfway normal. The stinky part of being sick right now is that I've missed most of the after-Christmas sales and bargains. Annoying. I'm feeling better today though - and hopefully tomorrow we will be able to get out and maybe do a little New Years Day shopping. (Last year we bought a TV on New Years Day! Good Sale!)

Tonight, since I'm sick, we're being hermits and staying in on New Year's Eve. If I make it til midnight, I'll be amazed. I have so many drugs in my system, I haven't been able to stay up very late (although I've not really been sleeping well either - can't sleep when you can't breathe and you're coughing up your lungs every 2 seconds. Grrrrrr). Sooooo ..... Hope everyone else is healthy and happy and that you all have a great new years eve celebration! See ya in 2003 !! Woohoo!!!