Unexpected Christmas...

This Christmas didn't go exactly as planned.  It was amazing and beautiful and wonderful.  But it didn't go as planned.

It started with both of us getting sick.  I mean SICK.  I was throwing up every 2 hours.  We woke up, the morning of Christmas Eve feeling like we were dying.

We were celebrating at my mom's house on Christmas Eve.  We were planning on getting there by noon.  But we couldn't get out of bed.  Somehow we managed to get cleaned up, but we didn't make it until around 5:30.  And we were struggling.  I started feeling a little better, but didn't really leave my post on the couch.  David was really struggling.

We made it for presents, and thats about it.  We went home and went to bed by 7:30.   But, as a perk, baby Stefanich even got some gifts!  Aunt Liz and Uncle Cody bought their new niece/nephew some great books!  And cousin Eddie helped break them in :)

Then Christmas morning came.  

Christmas morning we woke up to the news that  my Grandpa has passed away at 6:45am.  I can't even begin to tell you the impact this man had on my life.  But he couldn't have chosen a better time.  He got to meet Jesus on his birthday, and he got to celebrate in the best way known.  And on top of that, he got to see my dad once again.  

Words can't describe the loss my family and my sweet Grandma feel.  He was the love of her life for 53 years, and their love and relationship is an amazing model for David and I.  He was a man of God, and he was the kind of grandpa that would both hug you and harass you by stealing your last bite of brownie.  He was an amazing man.  Amazing.  And the amount he will be missed cannot be explained in words.  

But like I said, it was also very beautiful.  I knew my Grandpa was now spending Christmas with my dad, and with Jesus.  And his passing was a peaceful and beautiful thing.  He was surrounded by family that loves him, and I can't imagine a better way to spend your last minutes on Earth and your first moments in heaven.    

On Christmas morning we drove to David's parent's house to spend Christmas with them.  I wasn't really feeling better, and had lost 5 pounds in the last 24 hours.  But I was able to keep toast and sprite in my system, so I was on the mend.  

We had a really great couple of days with his family, and would you believe Baby Stefanich got some more gifts?  I think those gifts were my favorite ones to open.  

We got a darling pug receiving blanket, a superman onsie (of course, one of Dave's favorites), a Duke bib (another Stefanich family favorite) and the final onsie you will see is MY favorite. 

So while this Christmas was nothing like I would have planned or expected, it was amazing, and beautiful and wonderful.

It was amazing because I got to spend a lot of time the last couple of weeks with family members that I love.  You can't beat family.

It was beautiful because I got to celebrate the life of an amazing man.  And man who made the kind of impact that cannot be measured. 

And wonderful because I can look forward to Christmases where there will be sweet babies in those onsies.  Babies to cuddle and love, read stories to, and tell all about their Grandpa and Great Grandpa who are looking down on them from heaven.  

I feel lucky.  Because now my child(ren) have another guardian angel looking over them until they are safely in my arms.  And that gives me a feeling of peace.  

This was a great Christmas.  A Christmas like no other.  And I'll never forget it.