On this Christmas morning I can't help but look back at the past year and how our lives have changed. Actually my life changed 5 years ago when I brought my first son home from the hospital 2 weeks before Christmas. Just seeing both my boys smiling faces is all the Christmas I need.

Last night as I was at my dad's house celebrating Christmas with family, I couldn't help but feel the love that was in the room. Even though I was sitting there sicker than a dog and wanted to be curled up in my bed or on my couch with a nice warm blanket I was still enjoying myself.

Times sure have changed from when I was a little girl. Growing up we didn't have much and we was very greatful for what we did get. Last night as we was sitting down about to open up our gifts, my 14 y/o nephew made a comment he only got one gift........wtf. I wanted to scream "You ungreatful teenage twit. Look around you. There are 8 people in the room who love you dearly and should be enough of a gift for you. But the most important thing is that Christmas isn't about gifts for you, it's about Jesus' Birthday and celebrating his birth and him dying for our sins." He did get more than one gift, just only one was put in front of him at the time. I looked over at Harley and Davidson and they was just happy to be tearing open some packages. Of course they love tearing up paper, so that was making their day....lol. They not once complained on what they had recieved, but only asked if there was more paper to tear up....lol.

We just finished having our little Christmas, just the boys and I. They loved everything they had gotten. A lot of the items was recycled. Things I have bought in the past, like flash cards and such. The only thing I could afford to get them was some chalk, a folder and a couple of games. They didn't care, they are having a blast. The gift their little eyes lit up the most on, was a pic of them and their daddy I had put in a frame for each of them. I figured after a year it was time to let them have a pic of their daddy up in their room. The one true gift they are enjoying is what their Auntie Nikki had gotten then before we left KY, but I forgot all about last year. They are in the livingroom right now talking to their daddy in the pics and showing him they are pirates. Just hearing them laughing brings tears. Tears of joy, tears of greatfulness, tears of sorrow that they can't have their daddy here for real to enjoy their happiness. These days I am their mommy and their daddy. It's hard sometimes, especially when they ask when is he coming home. Hard to explain to them that their daddy doesn't want to come home to us and we are better off because of it.

Well, I better run for now and go and spend some time with my little angels. My little pirates just came in the room and told me they are taking me away to a secret island to find their treasure of pickles, and if I don't do what they say, then they are going to call the police and have me arrested.....lol. They could care less about having breakfast right now, they are having too much fun. I remember those days growing up way back when. Waking up at the crack of dawn all excited that Christmas was here and waking up mom and dad so we can open up Christmas presents. So what if only had gotten a package of socks and underwear. It was something that I needed at the time. Mom was upset that she couldn't afford more for us kids, but all I was thankful for was that we was home safe, and warm in our house. There are plenty of people who are out in the cold with no home, no food and no family on this Joyess day. The next time you hear a child or even an adult complain about what they did not recieve for Christmas or how many gifts they had gotten, remind them of what they do have and to be grateful for it. Too many times these days we take things for granted and forget to be thankful for the little blessings we have in our lives.