The First Gift of Christmas

On Christmas Eve, after all the traditional happenings, it was time to settle the children down so the elves could get to work. Not an easy task. We had to read a few Christmas books: The Polar Express {we believe in this household & we do hear the ringing} and The Night Before Christmas. After reading that story I can never resist going to the front door and opening it to yell in my loudest & jolliest voice into the dark cold outside, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" This is the most embarrassing thing a parent can do in front of their older children. I don't care. I still do it. And they actually follow me, hanging back a few feet, to see if I'm really going to do it.

This time Andrew yelled out the door too. So fun..:)

Then comes the great pleasure of tucking Andrew into bed for a long winter's night. I knelt next to his bed for 10 minutes or so just listening to him talk about all his Christmas wishes. The first wish he explained in detailed was how he knew Santa would bring him a John Deer tractor to ride on in the back yard. This is the thing he asked Santa for when he saw him at his preschool Christmas Party. I couldn't help the smile and happy heart as I listened...

A very good friend of mine had called me a few weeks ago to get the okay on a special surprise for Andrew from her 10 year old son. He was given a front loader as a gift one year and has out grown it and wanted to pass it on to a fellow tractor lover. We all know Andrew's dream to be a "Working Dad." Plans were made and the time was set for the special delivery. How wonderful to be on this end of the giving. It felt so good to know that Andrew would be the receiver of such a thoughtful & perfect gift, especially since we could not possible give him that amazing wish this year.

So the bell rang and we rushed Andrew to the front door to answer it. He had already been asleep for ten minutes. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was so confused but so happy. He rode it into the house and road it around in the living room {still no furniture} and he gave Peter a few rides. Then I read the note to him.

And with a beaming smile he said, "Mom, I'm so happy right now." I'll always remember how that felt. Amazing. He'll be hearing the ringing of Santa's bells for a long time. We all will. Thank you dear friends.:)

Sweet Surprises

I took Peter to a doctor's appointment today. A routine, once a week visit for blood work and outpatient chemo. He's getting use to these visits. He doesn't fight or cry to get his weight, height, or blood pressure checked anymore. That's a big improvement. Next, he sees the doctor. Our favorite one {they're all wonderful} Dr. Horvath, is a very kind, tender hearted, grandmother. She was out today. She has a clock in her office on a shelf behind her desk. There's a drawer under the face of the clock and it plays music when the drawer is opened. The Doctor has made a little game up with Peter. She's taught Peter about the drawer and leaves a little wrapped chocolate in it for him to find. When ever he goes to an appointment he always walks into her office and pulls out the clock drawer for his little surprise. He loves chocolate. It makes him happy and the rest of the visit goes well and he never complains to "go to see the doctor." So when he went to the clock today I knew he was going to be disappointed. He wasn't. There inside the drawer was his piece of chocolate. What a sweet woman! I'm a grateful mother.

Thanks Addie for the blanket fort!