Lee and Justis left a little bit ago to take Justis to his mom’s [or at least halfway to his mom's]. It’s always so sad to think about him not being here for Christmas. And it will be even more sad on Christmas Day when all of the presents are opened, but his will still sit wrapped under the tree. And his stocking will still be full hanging from the fireplace.

We will also be missing Granny this year. For many years she came to our house on Christmas morning to watch the kids open their gifts and to open her gifts from us. Last year she moved to Arizona to live with Lee’s aunt so we didn’t get to enjoy her company and this last September we lost Granny forever. But we will hold on to our memories. And we know that she is always with us in spirit and in our hearts.

So for now, I’ve decided not to dwell on what we’ll miss, but instead focus on the positive this holiday season. We still get to spend the holiday with my family. We will still get to enjoy four of our five children waking us up at the buttcrack of dawn to open presents. Ok, so maybe enjoy isn’t the word I’m really looking for there. But after I get the sleep out of my eyes and regain my balance from being torn from my bed, it’s fun to watch the excitement in the kids’ eyes as they open their presents. And then we get to play with all the toys after they’re opened. Did I say we. I mean, I meant they. They get to play with their toys.

And this year I’m going to start a new tradition of Christmas brunch after we open presents. Wish me luck [or rather wish my family luck since, if you've ever eaten my cooking, sometimes things just don't turn out like the recipe says...and I'm sure that's the recipes fault, not mine].

Plus this is the first year in many years that I have had the vacation time left to take the week off between Christmas and New Years. So I get to be home having fun with the kids rather then thinking about them all day from my desk at work. I’m so excited. I’m giddy with anticipation. Only two days to go before my vacation. Woo Hoo!!

And Justis will have a good time with his mom. I’m thankful that he has a good relationship with his mom. Seeing the issues that Lee has dealt with growing up without a mother or a father and knowing how wonderful my childhood was growing up with a very loving mother and father, I truly am happy that Justis has three parents who love him very much. It will be awesome for him getting to spend this time with his mom and his sister. Not to mention seeing his friends he left behind when he moved back in with us in June.

So even though we miss Granny and will miss Justis for Christmas, we still have a lot of things to be thankful for. And that’s really what the holiday is about.