Christmas Memories (2013)

What a spectacular holiday season Don and I have shared with family and friends!  Despite the sub-zero temps and poor driving due to snow it was a beautiful Christmas that I'm going to share here so I never forget it!

It started with our Austreng Christmas gathering on 12/14 at The Blue Heron Supper Club.  Twenty-five family members arrived with gifts and children to celebrate together.  Always so much fun!  This year there was an added delight for young & old when Santa showed up (compliments of Mike & Jeanie).  Everyone found their inner child and many pictures were taken with the jolly old elf.  We all had a wonderful meal, and all to quickly the day was over...time to say our good-byes.

Except...

We were lucky enough to have my nephew Jack Austreng and sister in law Missy from Hudson, WI spend the night with us.  Don's brother Duane wasn't able to make the party, so we were very happy to have His wife & son as guests.  Such easy, gracious guests...we hope they return very soon!

In between the 14th and the 24th there was of course shopping, wrapping, baking, cleaning, Christmas concerts, Drs appointments, scans and infusion.  We were blessed again with a PET scan that showed no new progression, which shows that my cancer meds are still effective.  I rested a lot...and we enjoyed every day of the season!

Christmas Eve was spent at church.  We had a lovely candle light service and tons of traditional Christmas songs.  Don & I came home and watched holiday movies and ate appetizers and slowly opened our gifts to each other.  It was a beautiful & meaningful night together!

Christmas morning we exchanged Santa stockings and awaited the arrival of Michael & Jenny.  Due to bad roads they got here about noon.  After a few snacks, MORE gifts were opened (amidst lots of laughter and joy)...and then off to the Heins (my sister Barb's hse) we went.  It was a perfect day!  I don't really know how to explain it, but it was just so good to be all together...laughing, seeing my son with Jenny and Barb's two children, being with Don, and Barb and Tom...well it was just very special to say the least!  Dinner was delicious...there were even more gifts to open...I think we are a tad crazed in this family!  At the end of the day it was very hard to leave...thank you everyone for such a special memory!  I love you very much!

I bet you think that's it don't you?  Well not quite!

On 12/26 my sister Kim (yes my Florida sister!) and her two children..Matt (19) & Megan (13) came to MN for a 6 day visit.  As I write this it is their final day here...it has been such a pleasure to get reacquainted with the kids.  They spent time with all three of their MN cousins and got to meet Jenny.    They've done typical MN stuff...sledding, tubing, building snowmen, eating snow, they've experienced sub zero temps, but most importantly they have had quality family time with this half of their family.  The half of their family that loves them dearly...but rarely gets to see them!

Our final Christmas was celebrated on 12/28 with Don's son Jeff, his wife Cheri and their 3 darling children!  It was a fantastic afternoon of laughter , conversation, food, oh yes...gifts...and fun.  We love spending time with them and are so grateful when they visit!!!

Which brings us to tomorrow...New Years Eve.  I am grateful to be entering 2014 feeling as well as I do.  I am eternally grateful for my family and friends and for my medical team.  As always I ask for your continued prayers for my husband Don and my son Michael...this is so hard on them.

Happy New year & God Bless...Kathy xoxo