A wonderful Christmas

I had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family, the only thing that would have made it better was if my dad was here! Our weekend was so nice and relaxing, just hanging out with my family, doing a lot of eating and watching movies...it was perfect!

My niece experienced her first Christmas, although she won't remember it we all will! She is so cute and time with her goes by so fast. Last night she cuddled with me and fell asleep on my shoulder. After an hour of holding her when I finally put her down I had a nice big drool spot on my sweater, but I loved it! There is no better feeling that a baby falling asleep on you with their little arms wrapped around you! I am so excited to see her again tomorrow!

Another Christmas is over and 2012 is a week away...I can't believe how fast time flies! I am so blessed for all that I have and this Christmas has been amazing!

Reflecting

This is the time of year we show those around us how much we care, we call friends or go visit family. It's also the time of year that we reflect. We think about all that has happened throughout the year, remembering those that we lost, others that joined us, thinking about how much we accomplished or a friendship we have gained or lost. This year, I can't help but think about where I was last year...what I was doing on this very day and where I was in the world. Last year this time I was with my cousins in Kish, an island in the Persian Gulf. I was preparing to leave Iran on Christmas day and head to Sydney. I remember not wanting to leave, but being so excited to see my family in Australia. I was sad to say bye to Iran, but thankful for my time there.

I have a stack of my favorite books on my nightstand. Every so often I'll pick one up and read one of my favorite parts. Books like The Last Lecture, Rumi's Love Poems, The Prophet. Although this isn't my favorite passage from The Prophet, it's up there with the best:

"Speak to us of Friendship.

And he answered, saying:

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."

And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;

For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For the love that seeks aught is not love but

a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide,

let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."

Thinking about my aunt tonight.....

I always say that I wish my family lived closer together. We are literally all over the world, everywhere from Australia to Germany to Iran. We are so spread out and I know that if ever anything drastic should happen, we are there for one another in a heart beat. When my uncle passed away in January, everyone was in Toronto within a day, that's pretty amazing.

However, there are other "not so sudden events" things that process over months like a sickness or other hardships and those are the times that I really wish we could be with one another.

I can't stop thinking about my family in Sydney. I wish I there, I wish I go for a few weeks and be a helping hand. I think about my aunt daily and pray for her all the time. Although I know she will be ok there is no comfort being so far away.

All I can do is pray and send love her way. I hope in the near future things will get better and we can make a trip down under!

Yesterday I was volunteering at Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I was updating their data base. Basically I was deleting patients with changed addresses and those that lost their battle with cancer. Again I am reminded of how short our time here is and to live life to the fullest.

To all those that bravely fight against cancer, I admire you!

I miss my dad. He's the only person that can always put a smile on my face :)

I can't get over how quickly time flies. It feels like Thanksgiving was just yesterday and yet two weeks have gone by. I can't believe that my niece will soon be 3 months and Christmas is almost here. I feel like I am always looking 2 weeks ahead and I'm missing today! I already have my next 3 weeks planned and my calender is filled...crazy!

I guess losing track of time also means that I have been busy which is a good thing. We have been working hard and the next 20 days will tell all. I have never prayed for something more and I hope with everything in me that this all works. I am not quite sure how I will feel or what I will do if this falls through, but I'm not going to think about it until I know for certain.

My dad left a few days ago and I already miss him. I don't know why, but this time when we said our goodbyes there was a sadness over it all. I couldn't help but tear up and worry for my dad's trip and to be honest I am not sure what I am worried about, but just worried. I pray he has a safe trip and returns home healthy and soon.