An Almost Perfect Christmas

Our Christmas was almost a Perfect day, but Chris and David could not be home with us. This is my wonderful family, bottom row, left to right is Me, Pat, granddaughter Theresa, grandson Jacob, and Al

Standing from left to right is our oldest son Donnie, dil, Heidi and our youngest Jonathan.

Now you can see how happy I felt that day and for the first time in over 10 years, I was pain free. I just wish it could last forever, but I am enjoying it while I can.

Now Donnie's smile was worth a million bucks to me after not seeing him for 2 years.

Not many decorations this year, but having him home was the best gift after Jesus's birth.

Jonathan and Theresa in the kitchen having fun. Jonathan is 6 ft. tall, so you can imagine how tall Theresa is for being 9 years old.

That's my little angel and I'm praying Chris will have children, because I think Jonathan and Heidi

are finished having children.

She is such a sweet child, but when I have her and her brother together, they fight over such

silly things, so I try to have one at a time. Of course Jacob is at the age when it is not cool to hang with granny.

3 generations of Jochums, so hopefully when Jacob is old enough, finished with college and finds his mate, they will have a boy and we will have 4 generations. Al's mother is still living, but his dad drowned when he was about 3 years old, trying to save his nephew from drowning. His mom raised 5 boys alone at a time when there was no welfare for her.

Everyone, including myself, thought they were not ready to marry, but Heidi was pregnant and here they are together and will be married 15 years this April. Both have great jobs, but I always wished that he would return to college and get his degree like our other children and Heidi.

Here we are, the men in my life---Al is still a part of my life, even though we can't live together.

Chris, if you are reading this, we missed you and David, but we understand. Maybe next year, we can all be together and you and David will be married by that time.

Our Christmas was not about gifts, but about Jesus and Love of Family, so for me, it was the greatest gift.

Donnie left on the 28th and flew out on New Year's Eve, after visiting some of his friends. He rested and then caught a train on New Year's Day and spent a few days in Montreal. He will now leave for Portland, Oregon and will have his Christmas with Chris and David in Vancouver.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my family. We are very close and we all love each other unconditionally. They are my strength and it's what kept me fighting when I was so sick.

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families, because without family, there is a void.

We are having a deep freeze, but nothing like people are having in the Midwest and North, but with temps in the low 20s, we have to take precautions and get things as though a hurricane were coming, not to mention protecting pipes. There is a possibility of some snow mixed with ice. I like the cold weather, but not in the teens.

I wish all of you the best this year filled with many Blessings, lots of smiles and buckets of hugs. Take the time to say I love you or that you are sorry for hurting someone when you didn't mean to. Life is too short to hold grudges. Love, hugs, and Prayers. Pat