It’s Christmas Eve night, and we’re gathered in the living room.  The tree is decorated and lit, and we’re watching Christmas cartoons with Alyssa.  Santa has already called and said he’d be here after she’s asleep.  It all seems like Christmas, but in many ways it doesn’t feel like it.

Christmas, first and foremost, is about the birth of Jesus.  It is certainly a joyous time in that we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

However, this year is very different.  In one sense, we are celebrating another great present in our new son, David.  He is so precious to us.  In another sense, it’s a very hard Christmas because we’re waiting to see how well he recovers from heart surgery.

There will be no trips to a grandparent’s house on Christmas Day.  There will be no siblings coming to our house.  There will be no huge dinner with all the family.  There will be small meals and trips to the cardiac ICU, but it’s all okay.

Why?  Because our son is making progress.  Because we’ll still give as much joy to Alyssa as possible.  All four of us will be together.  Maybe not in the typical holiday setting, but we’ll have each other.

In the end, what more could you ask for?