What does Christmas mean to you?? Is it a time of togetherness & family? Is it Santa & his elves? Is it church & the birth of a new born baby in a manger under a bright star? 

     For me, in the past 10 years, Christmas, while being one of my favorite holidays has also been one associated with quite a lot of turmoil. For some reason, I tended to have a majority of my major health crises happen right around Christmas. 

    One year, I had to have surgery on Christmas Eve and my surgeon came in to see me in the hospital to break the news that he would have to operate dressed as Santa with his resident dressed in an elf costume. Then two years ago I had surgery the day BEFORE Christmas Eve, but still made it to church, although a little worse for wear. I didn’t realize until this year, when three days prior to the big day after I had a really great check up with one of my doctor’s and got the “all clear” and was told I didn’t have to come back to see him for a whole year, just what a gift that truly was. And how I had really been holding my breath for this day for quite some time now. 

    But don’t feel sorry for me. With those challenges came a lot of good. My family was always there to help & celebrate with me, & often my dearest friends would join in the festivities too. One year, friends of mine in San Diego were generous enough to loan us their house when they went away on a cruise for 2 weeks, and my entire family moved in for the holiday so we could all be together under the same roof. My best friend Kym also did the same thing the year prior with her beach front condo in Pacific Beach when she & her boyfriend at the time were in Australia visiting her family. It’s a beautiful thing when people loan you their home & give you a place to stay. 

   I guess that’s what Christmas means to me. Family, friends, and the bonds we make. Sharing the love & not taking any of it for granted. There’s a story from long ago about a man and a woman who were expecting a baby. They had traveled a long way and needed a place to stay. The shelter they were given was modest, but they too were able to all be together all under the same roof…and well, I guess we know how that turned out. It was GOOD.