A Noble Cause: Christmas!

This year our family had a different Christmas. My older sister, Crystal, went into the hospital on Saturday the 20th. Sunday, India and I went to spend a few days with my parents because Matt had to work. Then on Christmas Eve when it became apparent Crystal wouldn't be out of the hospital our family made the decision to spend Christmas in Pocatello. In all the years she's been sick this was her first Christmas in the hospital. Since, our family was coming from out of town the hospital gave us dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then a hotel stay at Best Western. We dropped off all the presents at CeJay's house. Then we went to the hospital for a visit. After we ate and checked into the hotel. Brooke and Brecklyn came over at 11pm to go swimming in the hotel pool and hot tub. It was so fun watching Brecklyn!

Christmas morning we got up and had some hotel breakfast. Then ventured to the hospital in a ton of snow!! Not really sure how we didn't get stuck!

After the hospital we went over to CeJay's and opened the gifts Santa had brought.

Brecklyn got a doll and doll stroller which was one of the favorite toys of Christmas by far!

Then my mom, dad, and I went back over to the hospital to watch Matt, Crystal, and India open their gifts from Jolly Old Saint Grandpa.

When we got to there we walked in and found India with a whole host of doll accessories.

She also got a doll and stroller. She kept walking the stroller up and down the hall. Along the hall they have little night light type vent thingy's which India always thinks is hot. When she was walking her doll, she stopped and said to the doll, "Wanna touch? HOT!" Then she took the doll out and put it's hand on the light and said, "See! HOT!" I was laughing soooooooooooo stinkin hard. As I thought "is this how Crystal taught her hot?"

When we were getting ready to leave the hospital to go back to CeJay and Brooke's for Christmas lunch we got a phone call from CeJay saying Cassidy had called early. We rushed over to CeJay's house. I don't think I've ever seen my mom jump out of a car so incredibly fast ever before in my entire life. She ran to the phone and talked to her little baby boy ha ha. She laughed and cried and then repeated over and over ALL day long. I was slightly annoyed when I was talking to him and mom felt the need to steal the phone after two seconds of conversation. Then lunch was ready; we let Cassidy go to talk to Crystal while we ate. He then called back and I finally got some uninterrupted time to talk to my little brother.

We all went back to the hospital and opened family gifts. India got incredibly excited when she opened the gift I gave her of boots and hair bows. India had drawn my name and gave her "Aunt Cassidy" a sweater.

Then we decided to venture home in the blizzard. An hour drive took over 2 1/2 hours!! I'm pretty sure my dad was white knuckling the steering wheel the whole way!

That my friends is how our family spent Christmas. We were so grateful for the generosity of others who made it possible for our family to spend Christmas together through such a difficult time. We'd been praying for a Christmas miracle it wasn't exactly how we'd imagined the miracle working out, but in the end it made for a Christmas which will never be forgotten!

Some Extra Pictures