Happy Holidays! (Finally!)

Well it's New Years Eve and I've been meaning to write this post since Christmas! I don't know where the week has gone since Christmas-but I think that it took the whole week for me to recover and at least two days to put it all away! We had a busy, holiday and of course, received the best gift of the season in that Mom was home from rehab. in time for the holiday! She's recovering at home and getting stronger every day-of course not fast enough for her. She says she's never come home from the hospital feeling so exhausted, but then again she's never been sick for so long. She went to the hospital November 9-home December 16-that's a long time. She had a followup doctor's appointment Wednesday and checked out well. The doctor said for each day she was hospitalized it will probably take a week to regain the strength she lost, so she will probably be all winter getting back up to speed, but at least she's on her way! We are all very proud of the strength and grit she's shown! Go Mom!
We had Christmas all together at our house. It was crazy, loud, chaotic and fun! We decided not to try to have a sit down dinner-way to much for my house, so we all made a number of dishes and had a few crock pots, so people could just eat whatever when they were hungry. Tons of food-meat and cheese platters, lasagna, homemade macaroni and cheese, sausage, meatballs, scallops, about a thousand desserts-the list goes on and on! If anyone left hungry-it's their fault! Some pictures of the fun...
























I'm sure that most of you reading this recognize the usual "cast of characters". The last picture is of my daughter-in-law, Erin's parents, Carolyn and Dale Shaw. The very last picture is of Dale Shaw and me. The significance of this picture is to represent survivorship! Dale battled pancreatic cancer this year and of course I continue my fight with ovarian cancer. We both have a lot to celebrate!
With the coming New Year I have been reflecting a lot on 2009. I am ever so grateful to be in continued remission. Tomorrow is the start of a new year, a new beginning for each of us, and it is a time to take stock of our lives and what we would like to see for the future. For me, I am thankful to be alive and in remission, and I am thankful for my wonderful husband, family and friends. This year, I will try to find a way to deal with life's stresses, I will pray more, and I will live my life to the fullest. I will love and laugh freely. I wish for all of you a very happy and healthy New Year, filled with love, laughter, and hope! Nancy