Katie's BMT Updates

Dear Katie,
I was up at 3am thinking of everyone that I'd like to be with this Christmas. But I am thnakful most for your progress of health-being able to write hte note to Santa and getting out and doing things. the lobster dinner looked awesome especially the chowder which I love. gald that you got the box from Salt Creek-it is a small business out of Stroud which makes this stuff locally-thought it might make a good gift-something from the area. I hope Zach got his box of stuff and let you have some of the cookies and fudge.
Don has a really bad cold and we were going to go to Branson but had to cancel. We'll go for his birthday in January. It gives me more time to sit and make ornaments and watch TV. I am making the sequin ornaments-design my own and have been giving them to the mailman, the UPS man, the garbage lady, my hairdresser, etc-all the people who do things for you all year round and it isn't thought about too mcuh. It's been fun.
Remember when you and Peter came down with the chicken pox one Christmas? That is whne we atarted the tradtion of opening up a present a night a week before Christmas. It was so much fun and you guys really enjoyed the anticipation of it all. I had to really convince your dad that this was a good idea, he thought that it didn't make much sense. but then he came around when he saw how much you guys enjoyed it.
Well, we are going to go shopping tomorrow to get a big screen HD TV, that is our Christmas. We are both looking forward to it and we want to see the new Tom Cruise movie, Valakrie, about the attempted assassination of Hitler and I want to see Marley and Me, the dog movie.
Oh, by the way I got new glasses, Sarah Palin ones. They look great and I can now see again-really needed new lenses.
Have a good day-got to take the dogs for a walk and then make some more ornaments.
Lots of love to you, Ian, and Zach.
Mom

Did anyone sleep last night?? We had high winds and heavy snow, which I love to sit in the dark with the Christmas lights on and watch the snow fall in the light of the street lamps. You put my thoughts of Christmas Eve perfectly into words, I have always loved Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day! I spent a lot of time reflecting and sending emails to people in my life and as I read your post today, I thought once again of the amazing people that have come into my life throughout this journey. I would never want anyone to go through what we have been through, but at the same time I can't help but feel truly blessed to have made such wonderful friends and to have such an appreciation for something as simple as a smile or a kind gesture, or even watching the snow fall into the early hours of the morning. I know you can truly understand this sentiment! I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Dear Katie,
Well, it is football Sunday and I am cooking a turkey just because I have not had a homemade one in about 4 years or so. I was shopping and saw the breasts and just thought I'd make us a good dinner as we ahve been cooped up for 4 days because Don has been so sick. I cleaned the house and made more ornaments and watched movies and took the dogs for a walk and did laundry and did some mending etc. I actually have buttons on things that I've wanted to wear for a while. Today, I cleaned my desk off and will balance my checkbook to see what kind of damage Christmas did-although I don't think it was too bad.; I also did some shopping for myself on QVC for Christmas some things that I've wanted, a purse, a vest, some CD's, and a ring. So Christmas should be arriving a little at a time soon. I also bought myself a clock radio with a lithium battery in it that resets itself when the electricity goes off and also keeps the time for the alarm-good thing for around here as the power goes off frequently and it has a little projector that projects the time on the wall or ceiling if you want it bigger. It's really cool and the radio has a good sound to it.
Don's birthday is coming up and i got tickets to see Loretta Lynn in Tulsa in March. I got awesome seats and I'm sure that he will be thrilled as befor we met he had never been to a concert. Since we met we ahve seen Brooks and Dunn,(Reno) the Oakridge Boys,(Turlock) and George Jones in tulsa.
I can hardly wait for his birthday as I've been having troulbe keeping it a secret.
I love the picture of Zoe and Miazie in front of the tree. Reminds me of you and Peter in front of the tree the year that he was born when we lived on Green Street. You probably have the picture in your dad's slides.
We never did get to go shopping for a TV becasue Don was sick. Hopefully we will be able to go tomorrow. The weather is beautiful sunny and about 50 but a lot of wind.
Well, keep getting better and better and keep us up to date.
Lots of love
Mom

Happy Fifth Day of Christmas! No need to send the 5 gold rings. I love celebrating the entire Christmas season, which means frivolity for 12 whole days. Today Bob and I had lunch at a local cafeteria--my idea of celebrating can be quite low key. Still, Christmas is too special to be a one shot deal. I keep all decorations until Epiphany--unless they constitute a fire hazard. Think dried out Christmas tree.

I hope Christmas Day was filled with love. You are so very correct--Christmas is love; but you also know that I am a Believer in the Glorious Impossible. I hold you in my prayers, the ones I pray in the name of the Babe of Christmas and the Savior of Easter.

Much love, Eva

Loved the Christmas Eve blog and picture. Your Xmas card was awesome. Super great idea. What is Ann K. address. Your Dad always had a postoffice box so we never needed Ann's address. Cheers and a healthy New Year's to all.

Loved the Christmas Eve blog and picture. Your Xmas card was awesome. Super great idea. What is Ann K. address. Your Dad always had a postoffice box so we never needed Ann's address. Cheers and a healthy New Year's to all.

Just checking in from our holiday madness on this side of the bridge. Everything sounds so lovely and cozy there. I'm quite happy to hear that all the festive holiday eating is helping you keep your weight up. Vinnie loves clam chowder just as much as Zach. I've never made it- bad wife! I'm scared of the shucking. Now that your hands are getting steadier, maybe we can think about collaborating on a clam chowder project someday soon. I'm making food plans for my New Year's resolutions, seems more realistic than "must lose 20 pounds" and more fun! Happy new year! Much love,
Shona