Sunday, December 26, 2021

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in the beginning of December (2002), during our first snowfall. That year I wanted our holiday card to be special..... as this was our first Christmas with Mattie. I literally dressed him in a Santa suit and brought him out onto our deck with snow in the background. We took a whole series of photos that day, but this was the one which made it onto our card!

Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins. 

• Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 52,176,102
• Number of people who died from the virus: 816,554

On Christmas, Charlotte's (our five year old god daughter) parents snapped a photo of us by the Christmas tree. How do I feel about the fact that Charlotte is close to the age when Mattie was diagnosed with cancer? I am certainly aware of it. Perhaps because of the gender difference I do not get emotionally upset around Charlotte. She instead brought life to our holiday table and it is fun to see the world through the eyes of a five year old.  

I forgot to post this yesterday, but this was our Christmas buffet...

organic turkey

homemade stuffing 

sweet potato souffle

cranberry sauce

carrots

string beans

and a coconut layer cake for dessert

My friend, Ilona, made me a Mattie Miracle ornament to hang on my tree. Ironically I distributed these ornaments to my volunteers during the Foundation's tenth anniversary (2019), but did not keep an ornament for myself. Most likely because back then I did not decorate for Christmas. So I am honored to have this orange ornament near Mattie's photo on our tree. 

Before I left California one of my dad's caregivers gave me a house warming gift. A furry type rug. I placed that rug near a window and sure enough Indie found it!

While grocery shopping this week, I came across red and white tulips. Typically I only decorate with these flowers in the spring, but something about them reminded me of a candy cane! So they became my floral display in our front hallway for Christmas. 

Despite struggling with a sinus infection (like an anniversary I get one every December or January, so I know the symptoms well), I am still working, helping my mom unpack and doing tasks and chores. But I admit I am dragging and I also understand that if I stop functioning the whole process in my house would come to a screeching halt. So I do get my reality and I am focused on slowing down in order to recover.