Thanksgiving

Oh, the holidays...such an exciting and busy time of the year! We went to see my family in North Carolina for Thanksgiving. We also got to meet our first nephew, Gabriel, who was born back in August! (We have another nephew due in March in Maine...I guess we need to go ahead and start planning this trip because it was hard to wait 3 months!) It was so great seeing family. Everyone always makes the time to get to my Mama and Dale's house to see us.

This year, we are so grateful for life. We are both grateful for the choices we made this year to have more time together, for the ability to have another holiday season, and more trips around the sun!

The first picture is so precious, considering it was a travel day

(see at the bottom)

Nothing like being able to provide a snack to a baby!

Can't get through the holidays without a

picture with the nieces and nephew!

My sister did a photo session with us so that we could have photo Christmas cards this year. She just loves the camera and is just so kind to give of her time and talent

(I remind you she just had a child 3 months ago and it is her 3rd!)

Now for the ALS part....YUCK!

Trips have proven difficult for us. Going to see my family is a 7+ hour drive away. We used to split the driving and we would get up at 4am to beat the traffic! The long driving has become difficult for reasons that are hard to explain. I won't even do a good job because in reality, the trip is pretty easy for me. It is not easy for Jason, although he NEVER complains.

First, there is a lot of equipment. We need the same equipment whether we are gone 3 weeks or 4 nights.

Second, 7+ hours really means that with stopping and traffic, it takes 9 hours+ I feel that while trying to relax when we get there, we also need to play catch up with all the things we skipped while driving-arm exercises, eating, MOVING.

While the trip is long, I get the run inside and use the bathroom, get out of the van and pump gas, change positions, take Jackson for a short walk to go to the bathroom, move around....Jason gets to move when I am able to help him move-when we are stopped and only within the confines of what his chair and the room in the van allows. My mama wrote it best very recently on Facebook: "Sit in a chair for just 15 minutes moving nothing but your eyes. Nothing. No speaking, no scratching your nose, no shifting your weight, no changing the TV channel, no playing with your phone. Only move your eyes. As you sit, imagine: this is your life. Your only life." Imagine doing this for 7+ (sorry! 9+ hours) and only being able to ask someone to move you in a limited window of time!

AND, on top of this, Jason agreed to stop on the way back so that I could have lunch with college friends, making his time being uncomfortable even longer. At times, Jason sets his own needs aside so that I can get a spirit lift!

We did not get a picture, but it was so good catching up with Courtney, Kal, Liam, Natalie, Bonnie and Jonathan!