Family!

I know I have been a bit absent from this scene again. I just wanted to stop in quick and brag about my family a little bit! Usually, we all go to Montana for Christmas. This year I have to work and instead of be stuck in Portland, my family rearranged plans to spend Christmas in Portland. It will be a year of some new traditions. My nephew is now 19 months and it will be a special treat to see Christmas through his eyes. My parents are currently driving from very snowy montana to be here by tomorrow and I can hardly wait!

Here are some highlights of my Christmas season, December 2013 thus far!

Winter Ale Festival 

Winter Ale Fest

Peacock Lane 

Peacock Lane Christmas lights

Home for Christmas

Recently I found out that I am going home for Christmas!  It was questionable there for a while due to high prices for flights and only having one day off for the Holiday.  But my parents are so wonderful and wanted me home, that they purchased my ticket for me.  Its amazing how blessed I am by my family and I feel lucky to spend three full days with them!

As the lights and sounds of Christmas are more evident each day, I am constantly reminded how much it means to spend this season with your loved ones.  The past three months I've spent at Craig have reminded me of how powerful it is to have family around when a loved one is trying to heal.  This past week I had two patients discharge to go home and next week, I have one more discharge home (which equals half my caseload)! Though it is incredibly said to see these patients go, I know how necessary it is for them to be home during this phase of their journeys.

Here are just a few pictures of the Holiday lights at Craig that I took last week.  I will leave you with one little story.  During a group class that I lead, while stretching we went around the circle and answered the question "What is the best thing about Christmas?"  All answers were good, but the best (and most heart warming) was a patient's husband that said the best thing about Christmas was spending it with his wife (who had a stroke).  It melted my heart.  Even during the most defeating and desperate times, the thing that is valued the most is time spent with loved ones.  Cheers to time spent with the ones you love this season.

The garden

The lights on the bridge

Patients at the discharge party!

Christmas Card

Here is my family's Christmas card this year!  Fun right!?  Fairly affordable too if you're looking for an option to create one!

Blessed Family Religious Christmas Card

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