Heaven on Earth

Today is my girl, Katie's, birthday and I must say it's been fabulous.  The last few days have been absolutely wonderful.  This Christmas has carried such different meaning for me this year than any other year.  Christmas eve for the Field's was somewhat of a disaster what with two cases of the flu and no one making it to church.  But after driving myself home from the Auntie's and laying down in bed with a heat pack watching White Christmas I fell asleep to awaken feeling wonderful and ready for my Christmas caramel roll.  

I awoke at 8:30 and rolled out of bed to find my father tampering the kitchen with a hot pot of coffee at the ready for me.  I must say I thought it was heavenly.  My mom was putzing around and had already popped the caramel roll in the oven.  This Christmas morning was different than any other in that our whole family rolled out of bed leisurely, ate brunch together as a slow pace (rare for our family) and then casually suggested perhaps moving into the living room to do stockings.  Generally, we run down the stairs rush to the stockings, rip open packages and then get around to doing breakfast. I must say, this relaxed way of doing things was just up my alley.  After sitting around and opening a few gifts each, we broke to wait until the whole rest of the family showed up, after which all hell broke loose and Anna and Gabe came in like tornadoes ripping open all their presents. I loved not being the center of attention when it came to present opening. Heavenly.  

Afterward, I went for a Christmas day walk with my Aunt and Uncle from California and my Dad.  I love walking in the snow and it was uncharacteristically warm for a late December day.  When we returned late lunch was ready followed by sitting by the fire, guitar jam sessions and lots of merry making. How I love all that is Christmas...  

That evening I went with my immediate family minus Laura to see the movie "Marley and Me". I have never cried harder in a movie.  I don't even like big dogs but the central message of death was too much for me to handle. I ended up hyperventilating in the car on the way home I was crying so hard.  I think the next few months are going to be incredibly painstaking while we watch my grandpa whither away.  I am just thankful I have my wonderful family to lean on in this hard time.  

As I mentioned, today is Katie's birthday.  This morning we rang in the day with brunch at OPH and I have the fabulous Santa Fe omelet with no cheese and dry wheat toast accompanied by delicious black coffee (my third cup for the day :/ no judgement, Jon) Once again, heavenly.  After we went to Papa Bear's hotel (the Westin) and did some hottubbing.  Then we all returned to the Winter's home. Karen joined us and the three of us were once again reunited after a whole, gasp, week.  It was heavenly and we watched the Tyler Perry movie, "Why Did I Get Married?"  Hysterical.  I love those movies.  This evening we got Thai food and now we're sitting in the basement, just Katie's family and I, watching Planet Earth.  Sigh, I love my life.  

Today, I am thankful for my friend Katie's family, who has welcomed me into their family with open arms.  Also, I am thankful I have a family that treks all the way down to the shady part of uptown to listen to some bluegrass band at a hole in the wall pizza joint.  I love everyone in my family and I feel like I couldn't have fallen into a better niche of society.  

Love love love, 

Kate 

Ps. Can you tell I'm in a spectacular mood? I get to sleep in tomorrow! :) yay!

PPs. Above are just a few of my favorite things.  :) :)