Our story continued...

MY VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS AS A THOMAS!!

This is how I know God is good and bigger than we can imagine.  One would probably expect us to say, this was the worst Christmas Ever since Timber isn't here... but I can honestly say, Christmas was in fact very blessed.  I would have traded anything in the world to have gotten to have my first Christmas as a Thomas with both of my in-laws, but I didn't get a choice.  But we did have a choice as to how we reacted, we could share old memories and create new ones, or we could wallow in our grief -- we chose the memories and I know God was pleased!!  It was a Christmas full of memories both old and new.  We started a new tradition, Christmas Eve at our house!!  Tara, Alden, Mom, Us, Dad, Judy, Hitch and Grandma Pat... Oh and Ashely and Crystal usually stop by.  It was so awesome, starting a new tradition.  And the old traditions continued as well, Christmas Eve, Memaw always made smothered steak, mac and cheese, rolls and mashed potatoes... she passed that on to Mom and Mom cooked us up the best Christmas meal ever.  I look forward to smothered steaks on Christmas Eve EVERY year!!  This Christmas Eve there were some special gifts to be passed out.  A James Avery bracelet and charm for Tara, in honor  of my precious niece that was then only a bun in the oven.  Memory Bear's for Tyler and Dad -- these were bears made from Ty's jeans and work shirts -- ours (Tyler's) was made out of the jeans that Timber wore at our wedding.  We will always cherish those bears!!  We also gave Mom a memory book, filled with letters and stories that friends and family had written about Timber -- She loved it and was totally surprised.  Oh, and we gave dad a shotgun that was Ty's.  We gave him a gun case to throw him off, then brought out the gun -- he was shocked and got teary eyed.  Sad but oh so happy all at the same time.  Each gift was a step toward healing and a step toward remembering at the same time.   It's what the Thomas' family does, make memories!! 

Pics below:

Alden's first treasure hunt... he got a gun safe!!

And the Proposal!!

And another new tradition... a toy for all 3 guys!

The next morning there were lots of gifts under the tree just for the 3 of us.  I got several charms for my James Avery bracelet, 2 of which were from Mom and Timber -- a daughter charm and a daughter in law charm, the daughter charm wasn't engraveable so they got both.  So very special to me, especially since they got them just after we got married and it was from Timber too!  I TREASURE them!!

Also got the cute lil pistol I had been wanting!!

And Tyler's annual treasure hunt began...

It was a browning x-bolt 270 WSM. 

And after this treasure hunt we enjoyed our delicious traditional breakfast, homemade cinnamon applesauce, ham and rolls... so TASTY!!

Oh, and Tyler actually had two treasure hunts... his Mom got him this...

After our morning together we gathered with family at my Uncle David and Aunt Becky's where we continued to receive the comfort of the Lord, given through the awesome friends and family He chose for us. 

None of us will EVER forget this Christmas, my very first Christmas as a Thomas.  And even though we missed Timber VERY much, we know he was among the cloud of witnesses!! (Hebrews 1)