To Good Times

It's that time of the year again! When we break out the new calendars and ponder about our life. Another Christmas has came and went, the holidays have filled our bellies. Long distance friends and relatives have spread the cheer by sending greetings by computer,phone, and U.S. mail.

For my family we shared a small thrown together meal. You see our oven went out a week before Christmas day. We still had to bake our gifts for all the family, we made due with toaster ovens. They turned out surprisingly well, we even enjoyed some ourselves.

It would have been nice to have the landlord call us before he enjoyed a feast at his family in another state.

Like I said we made due, we had a Cornish hen with butter, savory, and rosemary. I made some deviled eggs,red roasted potatoes with red peppers, with sugar snap peas. Lisa made some stuffing and crescent rolls. Lisa, Malayna, and I shared a good warm meal together.

Malayna got sick just before Christmas and both us shortly after. So, we had plenty of tissues to go around.

Later that evening we watched "It's A Wonderful Life" it is our favorite holiday film. I usually discuss this film in depth, but will let it speak for it self this year. I really enjoyed Charles Dickens this year, "A Christmas Carol" really touched me this year. More than most years, I guess it's because I feel blessed to have friends and family in my life.

For the first time I was able to read "The Night Before Christmas" to M.J. She asked me to read it twice, Lisa enjoyed it too. We allowed Malayna to open 2 gifts, she was overjoyed by it. It was a bit of a task to stop her after two, even more so to get her to sleep. Eventually she crashed, so we placed the cookies and milk out.

Then from the top of the roof we heard a clutter and Santa delivered her gift. We told Santa it was about time and went to bed.

Late afternoon we opened all the gifts and documented the occasion with cameras and video. Lisa got me a "Doctor Who" book that I wanted and I put together an album of our family. It contained photos of her youth, photos of things we did before M.J, what I like to refer to as B.M.J.(1999-2007)

I placed her baby belly photos with some birth pics, and countless photos that have been stuck on my cell phone. They have been on it since 2007, I had won the battle and retrieved them all.(Another long story.....) I had prints made and surprised her with this family album. :)

My father and stepmother Kay stopped by and handed out more gifts. We had a good time and they were off. They left to prepare for the get together in Pekin, IL. They booked a Hotel for a couple days and threw a bash for the closer relatives. It went well, we shared more memories, food and gifts.

The trip home was nerve racking, the roads were covered with snow. The three lane interstate had only half of a lane cleared enough to drive. There was no drifting and it had stopped snowing, but they never cleaned the roads? I think it was a money issue that caused the madness for the holiday drivers. It didn't help that the majority was discourteous and I had my wife and daughter in the car.

I was fearless in my youth, but having loved in your life can alter your behavior. Most of the time it's for the better! :)

I do hope those who read this entry had a good holiday. If anybody would like to share a memory, feel free.

In the last year my family has dealt with cancer. My Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer and has recovered for now. My wife and I had dealt with a miscarriage and some other troubles. Just like most people we have grieved and celebrated the passing of loved ones. We've cherished the good through all the bad, for it could always be worse.

In life we can march to a slow death or embrace life for what it is sometimes. Maybe we don't have much to be thankful for, but we have just enough. The ups and downs of the past years have shaped our souls, the years have granted us some truthful wisdom. My wife and I are in our thirties now and have to start from scratch again!

Every bad year allows us hope for a new beginning, it permits us to try again. Some people say that if they had the chance to do it all over, they would, that would be me. Only I would try a little harder to remain healthy and optimistic with my life.

The truth is life's what it is sometimes and we have to accept it for what it is.

I would like to make an early New Years toast before I finish this entry.

May this coming year be rewarding and kind for all that wish it so. May the world embrace peace and love. I sincerely hope the best for humanity and the rest of this wonderful world. Let us welcome the start of the next decade and learn from the mistakes of the last one.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by my place and reading this basic blog. Maybe next year I will try to make it "Sassy" or something.

Until next time, please take care!

Peace & Love
Wes,Lisa, and Malayna Jane Ackerman