Shelby Stidham

Merry Christmas… Eve

Today is Christmas Eve and I’ve done close to nothing all day. It’s been boring. There are only a couple days that I’ve actually enjoyed doing nothing and today, surprisingly, wasn’t one of them. It’s the time of year where taking drives, getting yummy coffees, walking neighborhoods, and hanging out with you family is far better than down time and relaxing. Isn’t it? This evening my fiance Matt and I are going to mosey on over to my grandparent’s house (just to visit) then head 20 minutes north to cook and serve dinner at a gospel mission. It’s a church where, above the chapel and kitchen, there are bunks for homeless people to sleep. We’ve done this before and it was kind of sad but tonight I hope it makes up happy to know these people are getting good meals and a place to sleep. I’d take pictures tonight to show everyone what I’m talking about but it’s sort of inappropriate… isn’t it? Then after we leave the gospel mission we’re going to have a quick dinner with my in-laws (soon-to-be) at a pizza place or something. I don’t like pizza but it’s the “being together” that is the special part, right? Tomorrow we are going to my Mom’s house in the morning to do a family Christmas gift-exchange and then at 11am, the rest of the family is coming over for breakfast. Then Matt and I will head to his parents house in Oakdale for a family dinner there. It should be fun. This year we aren’t doing the gift exchange on his family’s side because his uncle and grandpa got into pretty good and now they aren’t speaking.. and thus, none of the family is able to meet. It’s sad but what can you do really? Yesterday the people who live next door to Matt’s parent’s.. well, their house burned down. There’s almost nothing left. Nothing could be salvaged, really. It was so sad to see. I took the woman a basket with some stuff in it, in hopes to cheer her up a little. I think she appreciated it. When we left, they still hadn’t found their two cats. Thats worse than losing your house–losing your pets. Especially for a couple who has no children–pets are extraordinarily important. I don’t know what to do if I ever lost my cats. Cry for weeks I’m guessing.. and then never really be able to get over it. My fiance had a dog when he was younger and when the dog died, he said he was so sad that, to this day, he’s never been as sad as that. We’re animal people, totally. I can’t wait til I can get a puppy. Blah, I’ve got to go dry my hair now and switch the loads of laundry.. get ready for tonight. I hope everyone has a splendid, happy, healthy, fun holiday. Much love always!