MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Well, it didn't turn out exactly as we had planned. Jackson went to Lubbock with my sister, Dana on Wednesday and me, Tony and Taylor were going to head out on Thur when Tony got off of work. By the time we left, Lubbock had already received 5 inches of snow and it was snowing in Bedford. Tony, being my constant voice of reason, advised that we didn't need to to go. I have never liked using tears as a weapon to get my way with my husband, but I seriously could not stop crying. He, against his better judgement, relented and loaded the expedition and off we went.

It was immediately clear that if we got there at all, it was going to a VERY long drive. The wind was gusting up to 60 mph and Tony battled keeping the Expedition on the road, much less in blowing snow. Travel was ok until we got to the other side of Weather and the conditions quickly deteriorated. Cars were sliding off into the ditches and the snow and wind was coming down harder. What was just wet pavement was now turning into snow covered pavement. I was monitoring the TXDot website for updates, especially on Ranger Hill in Eastland county. A pretty steep hill that is often the first thing to close in inclement weather.

More cars sliding into the ditch, more terrible wind and finally, the report, I20 was now closed between Ranger Hill and Abilene. I was not going to get to spend Christmas with Jackson. I called my dad to let him know we had to turn around and simply sobbed. Giant crocodile tears running down my face.

Taylor was too very disappointed, but she kept up a good face. After about 30 minutes of crying, I looked at my niece and the realization hit me, she needs a good Christmas too. So I wiped my nose on my sleeve, sucked it up and tried to act like an adult.

Heading back towards Fort Worth, the east bound lanes, where we had just traveled, looked like a war zone. Semis were jack-knifed, missing parts, had cars wedged underneath them, cars flipped over in the ditches, it was awful. The car in front of us stupidly hit their brakes and Tony started sliding. Fish tailing one direction, then the other, then we slid sideways towards the median to the left of the idiot who sent us in the uncontrollable spin. Tony fought to regain control off the truck and swerved his way right past them on the left and then just slipped back onto the road like he had meant to pass them on the left the whole time. I told him I was, at that moment, grateful for his childhood in AR acting like a moron in the snow for most of his life.

We arrived back home without further incident and even provided shelter to Michelle, our friend from the River who is a flight attendant for American. She had just landed and there was no way she was going to be able to get home.
























So, here we are, all looking at each other, trying to make the best of a pretty sad situation. I revised Jackson's letter from Santa and emailed it to my mom, asking her to "special deliver" it to Jackson in the morning.























We monitored Facebook alot, and it seemed everyone who had tried for Lubbock on Christmas Eve was not going to make it. In fact, many of my peeps sat on highways for over 12 hours. So with that in mind, Taylor and I decided this Christmas, "wasn't that sucky". We could be sitting in that truck, stuck, and no where to go.

One Sad Mommy

I gave everyone a Christmas Eve gift to open (a family tradition), even Michelle, and we settled in to watch 'UP' for the hundredth time. SQUIRE LL.

After Taylor went to bed, I did the best I could to make sure she had a decent Christmas morning. I rounded up an old tube sock and stuffed it with some of Jackson's Christmas candy, some left over Halloween candy, tied a bow around it with a bell, stuck some Holly in it and placed it on the fireplace, next to Jackson's stuff. Daisy, Stella and George were also visited with new collars and leashes and George got some cat treats. I made Michelle a Santa bag with candy, some fancy tea bags I like and a book, but she must not have seen it on Christmas morning.

Santa has been here!!
















When Taylor got up, the smile on her face over that silly Tube sock made everything ok. She enjoyed her other gifts and was, as always, a very grateful young woman and helped me make the best of it. We had pancakes for breakfast and spent the day playing Wii Resort games which Santa brought to me.

Taylor opening her Christmas Stocking/tube sock
















She too got a letter from Santa.























It wasn't great - but it wasn't that sucky.

Jackson should be home around 4 today and then we get to do Santa with him. Santa has brought a giant, swing set Fort in the backyard and I will have one very happy little guy. I waxed up his slide so it would be the "fastest in the neighborhood".

Stella with her Christmas Bow
















Hope you had a great Holiday and as for me, I am still very blessed, I am very grateful for the Lord above for keeping us safe and for his ultimate sacrifice of his only son for my life everlasting. Tis the real reason for the season.