A Wonderful Christmas!

Michelle and me on Christmas Morning

Good Morning!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas celebration yesterday! For me and my family, it was definitely the best Christmas we have had in many years!

There are hundreds of reasons that Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.

When I think back on my childhood Christmases I remember Christmas Eve dinner at my Grandma’s house and eating the most delicious Italian food, I remember driving around- looking at the beautiful Christmas lights, I remember arriving home late and being allowed to open “just 1” Christmas present- which undoubtedly, was always matching Christmas PJ’s for my sisters and I! I remember leaving out homemade Christmas cookies for Santa, and some carrots for his reindeer- (and being sooo excited to find them eaten the next morning!), I remember lying awake in bed with pure excitement and anticipation for Santa to come, hoping he would bring me everything I had asked for. But most of all I remember the great lengths my parents went through to make sure my sisters and I always had the best Christmas possible, filled with lots of special memories.

I don’t think that many people can understand what the holidays are like for someone who is ill, especially a long-term illness that involves tremendous amounts of pain. During the past years of my illness, Christmastime was always very difficult for me and my family. From smelling the delicious food that I could not eat, to the lights and sounds I could not tolerate, to being in too much pain and feeling too ill to even open my gifts on Christmas morning with my family... It was very hard to find the “Christmas spirit” while dealing with the reality of the situation, but I think I can speak for my entire family when I say that this year, the Christmas spirit was alive and well in Mexico!

This year I really felt like I was a little kid again, experiencing the magic of Christmas for the very first time! From the food, to the lights, the decorations and the music… It has been been so amazing just getting the chance to enjoy Christmas day with my family once again! The best part, for me, was seeing the looks on my Dad and sister Michelle’s faces when they walked in and saw me sitting up in my recliner chair waiting for them! They were both shocked and amazed to see the progress I have made since I last saw them over the summer!

This Christmas I am incredibly thankful to be alive, to be re-gaining my health, to have an amazing family who loves me, and to know that I am never alone- in anything. I am thankful for the opportunity to see and experience the holiday for it’s true meaning, through a completely different perspective than ever before!

I am most especially thankful to Dr. Cantu! Without him my family and I would not be here enjoying this day together.

I am thankful for answered prayers… for everything!

We thank God and praise Him for carrying us to where we are today!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad to all!

In God’s Love,

Jessica (& the Stevens family)

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