Just wanted to take a quick moment to wish everyone in the blog world a very Merry Christmas. I'll try to post another update over the next few days but wanted to make sure everyone remembered how blessed we are. It was a special Christmas this year for us to be able to have my dad home after having a double lung transplant just 12 short weeks ago (today). The girls had a blast baking cookies with family, icing Baby Jesus' cake with G-Man while having him totally sugar them up and having a sleepover at G-Man's house. Enjoying today with my dad and the rest of our family though I couldn't help but think about all those we know who have lost loved ones this past year. Sitting with my uncle (my cousin Danielle who passed away this past May, her dad) in Christmas Eve service last night, I couldn't help but hurt for him. I realize I haven't seen her the past few years at Christmas, but it's a time for family. We had just been watching old home movies a few nights before and Dani was on there from our wedding. It was those great memories I will never forget, not the missed holidays or the things in life that kept us apart. I do know that one day I'll get to see her again though.
Then I found myself thinking of the fellow F-16 family, the Sullivan family (http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/) who lost a wife and new mother back when I was home during the week with my dad after just finding out he had 6 months to live without a lung transplant. I stayed up late one night reading all of Brady's blogs and was captivated by their strong faith through all their trials. I can imagine what a tough time today must have been with it being Chloe's first Christmas, but I know that Brady also knows that one day he, Sara and Chloe will all be reunited again.
Which brings me to the Giglio family. Just last Friday on Capt. Giglio's birthday, he had his memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery. We were unable to travel up there for the service, but many of our fellow squadron members made the trip. Storms hit that area like crazy and everyone still made it safely and home safely. Please continue to pray for Leigh, her daughter Grace and unborn son Caleb as they all get through the next few months and Caleb joins this world in February.
Last but not least, I couldn't help but have an aching heart for the Friedman family, but am so glad to find out through Facebook status updates that Jon was able to make it back home in time to be with his two boys for Christmas. Katie is missed greatly, as are all the people mentioned above, but Jon has done so well to make sure everything is in order for him and his boys to include having to travel back to Italy to outprocess and close out the last chapter of his life with Katie. Katie too, will one day meet up with all her boys.
Merry Christmas everyone. And please take a moment to be thankful for the ability to simply breathe and enjoy each others company. Stupid issues and mind games are never fun, but just think, you may never know when one day may be your last, so make every day worth living. This year I am blessed to have a loving husband, two beautiful daughters who test us daily but make us laugh daily, a father who has had a life changing miracle over the past 12 weeks and so many other family members and friends to love and cherish.
Happy Birthday Jesus!
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