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Susan Gilly

Female. Is married.

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I'm a 4th degree black belt in Setgen Kwan and American Tae Kwan Do... A blue sash in Muay Thai... a... View More

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Susan Gilly

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Susan Gilly

December 24, 2020 1:50 am

It's that time of year again... Time for ... Our Annual Christmas Eve Pizza and Prayer Story ... ? ... View MoreIt's that time of year again... Time for ... Our Annual Christmas Eve Pizza and Prayer Story ... ? Every year, I share with everyone the reason that we eat Pizza on Christmas Eve.. and I will continue that tradition today.. This year marks our 18th year of "Pizza and a Prayer" Christmas Eve... This year was full of heartache and loss...along with frustration and disappointment... But, mixed in were moments of triumph and joy.. We have experienced things I never imagined and challenged ourselves in many ways... In each moment, low and high... God showed us we were not alone... We have Him and each other... Not to mention amazing friends and family... With so much love and support...we have come through, once again, stronger and more blessed every day!! So, please understand as, once again, as I share our Christmas Eve tradition......????? Back in June of 2002, Alan had deployed to Okinawa and the following December we were set to have our first Christmas without him.. As the days and weeks went by, the news of the possibility of an expanding war grew and grew.. Because of this, we lived in fear that the call would come that his unit would be extended... each day we waited on that critical decision... and then.... it came... the exact word they used was.. INDEFINITELY... I was heartbroken... The reality was that now I had to tell my kids, that.. not only was their dad going to miss Christmas... and be extended... but.. I had NO idea when he was coming home... It was devastating for them... The sadness was hard to shake for us all... As Christmas approached.. I did all I could to make the holiday spirit come alive for the kids.. the white and blue artificial tree (that they picked out).. the presents, baking cookies to send to daddy, decorating the house and tree, singing carols and watching Christmas shows... (Everything but snow.. that darn 29 palms desert.. haha)...... Christmas Eve brought our pajamas and cocoa in front of our yearly "White Christmas" movie showing..... yet.. something was missing... it was Alan.. there was an emptiness all around us that we just couldn't ignore..... That night as we all sat snuggling on the couch, I asked the kids what they wanted to make for Christmas Dinner.. and their answers were... "It doesn't feel like Christmas".. "I miss Daddy"... "I don't want to have Christmas without Daddy"... "Let's just have pizza and watch MIB" (yes.. that's Men in Black.. haha.. it was Kristofer's favorite at the time).. then they went on to say how they didn't want to open their presents without their Dad.. My heart was breaking... Nothing I was saying was making a difference... but.. I figured they would change their mind in the morning.. So.. I got them all tucked in and told them we'd decide in the morning.. The next morning, I got up and put the monkey bread in the oven and down came the happy kids.. I thought.. "Oh.. good.. it's back to normal".. Boy was I wrong.. Kris and Michaela asked what smelled so good.. I said it was the Monkey bread.. and then, without missing a beat, they asked... "Where are we getting the Pizza from for dinner?".. I was taken aback.. "Wherever you want.. but, we can decide that after we open presents." I answered... "But, we don't want to open presents!" was their response... I was speechless...... I simply turned away and fought back the tears... So, as we sat down and ate our breakfast, I tried to convince them that we should open the presents... But... they were adamant that they were NOT going to have Christmas without Alan.... So, I finally gave in... we spent the morning moving the Christmas tree out to the garage along with all of the presents.. and that's where they stayed until the end of May when he came home... We curled up on the couch and watched movies and ate pizza... and had our Christmas the way it was meant to be celebrated... when our family was complete... Now.. every year.. we have Pizza on Christmas Eve to remind us of all those military families missing a loved one during Christmas.. a Husband, a Wife, a Dad, a Mom, a Son, a Daughter, a Brother or a Sister... Or even a dear friend... and we say a prayer that soon their Christmases will again be complete with their loved one's return!.. So... If you are facing this Christmas without your military member... This year our Christmas Eve Pizza and Prayer... is for you!.. If you know of anyone who is without their military loved one.. please share with them or tag them so we can pray for them too!.. God Bless!!... Love, The Gilly Family

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