Kelly Christmas love fest 2010

Side note:

(I felt really good about my ensemble today. True outfit satisfaction is pretty great, no?) 

I've been meaning to write more about my Christmas break with the Kelly family. 

I've almost felt a little intimidated when it comes to writing about it. How can I adequately put in words all my feelings about those 8 days? I actually just finished recording some of the highlights of our time together but then hit delete. It's not so much about the many awesome activities we did but more of an overall feeling of gratitude, love, and fun that I'm left with. I will say this: it was one of the happiest times in my life. At one point, we all sat around the table and went through each person, one by one, telling each other all the gifts/talents/nice things we see in them. That's when I thought this is what heaven must be like. Total cry/love fest.

Chas comes from a family of 9 kids. 9 glorious kids. And I think that's what it comes down to: it's all the individual people, the relationships that made this Christmas break so warm and fuzzy. 

 

(Both our families at our wedding luncheon almost 1 year ago!)

It still amazes me that I ended up a part of this family. Kevin, my father-in-law, was my bishop as a teenager. One of the most optimistic, hilarious, kind men you'll ever meet. 

Khaliel, my mother-in-law, was my seminary teacher in New York. Without a doubt, starting each day being taught and loved by that woman played a huge role in me being able to survive the loneliness that was my middle school/high school experience back east. When I got divorced, Khaliel sent me great, inspirational gospel books. Years later, she was still there for me. And now she's my second mom...officially, that is. It's hard to hold back the tears when I think of the profound way this woman has touched my life, starting when I was just 12 years old. 

Then there are the sisters-in-law. Like my mother-in-law, I've considered Chas' sisters my sisters too for many, many years. I still have cards, books, and jewelry given to me over the years from my Kelly sistas.

And as for the boys, I can't tell you how much I love having brothers. They are the best brothers and it's been a delight getting to know them more and more.

Everyone's spouse is a 10. A+ quality people. Oh yeah, and every couple makes beyond adorable children (so far).

And last, but not least, is Chas. You know him. Only the best person in the universe, that's all.

So just imagine all these wonderful, wonderful people who I have loved for so long, all together, in one big, happy family, loving life and each other all the day long. That, my friends, was my Christmas break.

I'm in the middle of putting together a fun little surprise that summarizes our very Kelly Christmas time. I've always been a believer in imagery conveying so much more emotion than words could ever hope to do. Sorry words and text, you lose.