For those of you who are anxious, the verdict is in!!!  Click here to see the latest ULTRASOUND update on Baby Campbell!

It’s been a whirlwind of a day, of a whole week in fact.  This Christmas has not been the same for us, as I’m sure many of you can imagine.  We didn’t decorate this year, nor go to the malls, wrap presents, or just about anything else involving multitudes of people racing around with reckless abandon.  It has instead been a season of reflection, peace, and continued grief.  We keep on missing our baby boy Evan.  One of the questions that bothered me the most is, “So, are you all ready for Christmas?”  And my consistent response was, “As ready as I’m going to be.”  What else can I really say?  I’m ready for the celebration of the birth of Christ into this world.  But unfortunately, that’s not what people want to know when they ask the dreaded question, so I guess I was just as ready as I was going to be.  Take it or leave it.

The last few weeks leading up to Christmas and to today have been difficult.  Remember that December 20 was Evan’s G-tube/Nissen surgery last year, the first of 52 days in the hospital.  So it’s not just the holidays for us, but it’s also a time when Evan’s suffering is vivid in our minds.  I always hope people don’t forget about that, because it’s what makes Evan’s life so meaningful to us.  He took up his cross and followed Jesus.  So many of you helped us through that difficult time, and we are eternally grateful.

Last week, Jon and Alicia came in for Christmas.  They had to leave on the twenty-third but we had a nice opportunity to visit with them a little bit.  We had dinner at the Campbell household on the twentieth, and we enjoyed some time with my parents, Christopher, Heather, Jon, and Alicia.  Christopher and Heather are deep into the wedding plans now, so we look ahead to that with lots of joy and hope as well.

On Saturday, we traveled to Upper St. Clair for the 1st annual Winter Solstice Brunch with Heeter, Howie, Henry, Dennis, Jill, Joey, Rob, & Cathy.  It was nice to get together with everyone and see the kids (Henry & Joey) continuing to grow up.  They’re getting so big now, both walking around and getting into mischief!  We also had a chance to get down to Trinity on Saturday to visit Evan’s place in the columbarium.  Dennis, Jill, & Joey hadn’t been there yet, so they tagged along.  The manger scene was up and ready, awaiting the arrival of baby Jesus in just a few short days!  It’s a nice touch and such a heartwarming place for a burial ground.  We still believe it’s the perfect place for our Bubba to rest.

The biggest part of our week has been church, both Sunday’s service and Christmas Eve.  On Sunday, we had a Lessons and Songs service without communion or a sermon.  What an inspirational event!  It started in the Old Testament with a reading from Genesis, then gradually built to the Gospels of Luke, Matthew, and John.  A song came between each reading, ending with some traditional Christmas hymns in full glory to God.  It probably took me an hour to come back to earth after that service.  It was just awesome!

Christmas Eve’s candlelight service was traditional, but again very inspiring.  David’s sermon was wonderful, and reminded us that Jesus is indeed the “gift we would never take back.”

Christmas Day was spent at the Verner’s.  Again, it was a very relaxing evening, talking, eating (and eating and eating), and watching A Christmas Story (Amy’s favorite).

You know, it’s been nice having Christmas this way.  And with Baby C on the way, I know we won’t have too many like this.  But we didn’t operate under deadlines.  Heck, I ordered Amy’s last present online on Christmas!  The “stuff” of Christmas was completely ignored, and we truly embraced what God intended Christmas to be, without any added stress.  So ultimately, yes, we were “all ready for Christmas.”  I hope all of you can feel that as well.  God bless!