holiday arrivals

For the 1st time in about 5 years or so, I'm really enjoying December. Not just Christmas itself (which I generally always enjoy), but the whole month. Well, except for the whole cold weather bit, but hey that's my fault for choosing to live where I do. ;-)

Today was a particularly good day. I had fun with some friends after work, eating pizza at a great local place on campus and then driving around after to look at Christmas lights. The goal was to find the tackiest displays possible, and we certainly found some. I was in the back seat of the minivan with the one friend's 2 y/o son, and when he started getting cranky, I helped amuse him by singing Christmas songs. He loves Little Drummer Boy and Jingle Bells in particular.

When I got home, it was to a surprise package from another friend. She sent a box of items from her program along with some stuff that she made specially for me related to my running. It was very sweet and unexpected. I can't wait to make the soup and dip and the candle smells absolutely lovely.

But the best parts of today were long-awaited arrivals for my family. Today, my brother-in-law Mark arrived home from his deployment to Kuwait with the National Guard. He was overseas only for 9 months, but was in TX for 3 months before that, so other than short leave in mid-summer, he's been gone for a year. My sister is letting all calls go to voice mail so the two of them and their children can enjoy being together without interruption.

Also today, my newest niece was born to one of my other sisters via scheduled c-section. Hooray for Norah! We did not know until today whether she would be a boy or a girl, and the anticipation was fun. I was antsy all morning until I finally got the call from my mom. I've already seen photos and can't wait to cuddle her. Since Mark's unit is based in the same town where Norah was born, he and my sister planned to stop by the hospital before heading home so they could meet her.

I won't get to see Mark or Norah until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, since that is when I next will be in my hometown, but that's ok. Knowing that both of them are here, safe and sound, is the best gift of all this year. The lights, the presents, the music are all wonderful and fun, but in the end they are not really what is important. Friends and family are.