We take an interlude the first week of December – to celebrate several birthdays, one right after the other.  5 years ago, Darren’s sister went to be with the Lord on Jonathan’s Birthday. Each year it gets a little easier, and a little harder. We miss her more, but the pain is not as sharp. We have thrown the craziest over the top carnival type parties for Jon each year – to distract our guests from seeing our tears in the corner of our eyes.  Jon was also born on Pearl Harbor Day. And we talk about the sacrifices people have continued to make to serve our Country and keep our freedoms. Some religious groups would not want us to mark birthdays. Their thought is that alot of bad things happened on them.  Who would have more experience than our family with December 7th? We find joy in birth. New Beginnings. ReStarts, fresh starts and do overs. I can almost hear the noises, touch the faces, smell his skin, of the moment they put him in my arms. Oh how my heart swelled. I had no idea that my heart could grow to allow for more than my first born. But it did – and it does. What a most precious day that my son was given to me.  And so – we celebrate Christ’s birth and sacrifice – remembering – and joyful and a little sad – but with hope. 🙂