Christmas Time

It's Christmas time.  I haven't been feeling it so much this year.  It's been like that for the last few years.  It's just kind of work.  I think it's more work than I want to put in.

Decorating, shopping, buying, wrapping, more decorating, cards, more shopping, mailing, delivering, driving, cooking, more wrapping, baking, more decorating.  

Just work.  Once it's all done, especially the decorating, I'm good.  I get up in the morning, I turn on my tree, it's on until I go to bed. Once the presents are bought, it's a good feeling - there is  nothing more I love than giving a gift.  I love giving a gift a Brazilian more times more than I like receiving a gift.   Once the presents are wrapped, I love the sight of them.  Once the stockings are hung, I'm very excited that they are there.  I think it's just the effort it takes to get to that point.  It's almost exhausting.  You throw in there your  normal life and it's just overwhelming at times.  Trying to find time to just do the things that need to be done is wearing.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas.  I love the sights, I love the sounds, I love that everything I do centers around my family.

It's nearly done.  It's almost over.  Once it is done, there is that big sigh of relief, then a little disappointment over the fact it is over.

Speaking of Christmas - here is this year's Christmas letter.  Thought I would share:

We would like to welcome you to the inaugural flight of Conrad Airlines.  We thank you for flying with us this holiday season and would like to introduce you to your crew.

Captain Ted and his co-pilot Colleen will get you where you’re going.  Their world was flipped upside down and vaulted into a completely different universe when Colleen retired from Salt Lake City 911 after working there for 32 years.  She was only retired for a little over a month when she started her new job as a customer service agent for Delta Airlines.  The Captain and his co-pilot love to go places and the flight benefits of the new job have them going whenever they can; Portland, Phoenix and Idaho Falls together.  Ted has also taken off on some journeys of his own by going to Phoenix and Kansas City while Colleen worked.  They are always trying to plan where to go next – HMMM, somewhere beachy and warm in January?  That’s the plan!!

Our maintenance crew is the Walker clan; Brandon, Crystal, Zachary and Chelsea.  Brandon continues to drive the train while Crystal, Zach and Chelsea are going to school.  Zachary started karate lessons this fall and absolutely loves them.  Chelsea is busy taking four dance classes, hip hop being her very favorite.  They had a very busy summer with activities.  Crystal and Brandon worked very hard remodeling their kitchen this year and it turned out very beautiful with custom cabinets and new flooring.

Our ramp agents this flight are the Hitt family; Joe, Randi, Aedynn and Lydia.  Joe spends a lot of time working away from home, but they are all a great team and make it work.  Randi has been going to cosmetology school and is nearing completion of that.  She does great work and even used Colleen as a guinea pig and did lovely color, highlights and haircut.  Aedynn is becoming quite the amazing young man, he watches after Lydia while his mother is at school and takes very good care of her.  Lydia is extremely smart and precocious, she is very much fun to be around.

Our flight leader this flight is KayeLynn.  She is a very caring and compassionate woman who works two jobs to take care of herself.  She works for two different home health care companies and is adored by her patients.  She is looking forward to a trip to New York with her mama to see Phantom of the Opera sometime this spring. 

Our flight attendants are the Farnworth family; James Rodger, Rustie, Penelope and Harper.  The family moved to West Jordan this spring after living for six weeks with the Captain and co-pilot while Rodger attended training for his new position as conductor with the Union Pacific Railroad.  The position allows Rustie to stay home and take care of Penelope and Harper. Penelope is growing, developing and is an amazing big sister.  Sweet Harper Rue was born on October 21 weighing an astounding 9 pounds 11 ounces.  Her start was a bit tumultuous, but she was able to go home healthy and happy after two weeks in the newborn intensive care unit.

Our ground crew is the Conrad clan; Melody, Gabriel and Cash.  Melody moved back to Idaho Falls this autumn and is an amazing single mother to Gabriel and Cash.  Gabriel is doing very well in school and has taken up wrestling.  Cash has been dubbed “Ricochet” by his grandmother because of his pinballesque bouncing around.  They are both all boy and fun to be around.

Again, we would like to thank you for flying Conrad Airlines.  We hope your holiday season is wonderful and we wish you a very Merry Christmas and an equally wonderful New Year.  Please fly with us again sometime.

If you don't hear from me before it's over, I hope your Christmas is wonderful, your New Year amazing and I hope everyone you love is healthy and happy this coming year.