Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2008. Mattie was home from the hospital and at that point, we had a hospital bed in our living room. Life was beyond chaotic, Mattie was in a great deal of pain, and suffering from depression, anxiety, and medical traumatic stress. Ironically, one would think we'd want to be home for the holidays, but what Peter and I quickly learned was that being home was NO PICNIC. It was very challenging, stressful, and we missed our medical family. We never felt isolated when they were around. Mattie felt miserable and it was heartbreaking not knowing how to make things better. That day, Mattie's friends dropped off these cute Rudolph the Reindeer noses and hats. These things provided moments of happiness and laughter. Gifts like these were much more than tangible things. They helped to achieve the impossible...... a distraction from cancer and the ravages it produced.
Quote of the day: A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. ~ Saint Basil
Peter and I have invited some friends over for Christmas tomorrow. These friends were with us last year and are well aware of our situation. One couple is my friend in cancer, as she has lost her only child to cancer as well. The other couple are friends of Peter's from work. They have a 6 year old, who is our God daughter. We used to see them more frequently, but I am happy I can at least make Christmas work.
To cook a meal for 9 people, I started prepping on Thursday. Each day I made something. Thursday was a mashed potato with two types of cheese and chives and I also made cranberry sauce, Friday, was stuffing, which is made with sour dough bread crumbs, cherries, apples, onions, celery, and parsley. Today, I cleaned and marinaded the turkey and then Peter and I worked on making a red velvet cake.
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