Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Cheers to 2023

  • Post category:Holidays
  • Reading time:4 mins read

Here we are once again, getting ready to say goodbye to another year, and hello to a new one. Overall, I think James had a pretty good year. Yes, he had a few bumps in the road, but that’s to be expected from him. If there is one thing he excels at, it’s keeping us on our toes.

This will probably be a relatively short post since I don’t have much to share besides Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

Thanksgiving

James lies on his cushioned recliner covered a patterned sheets featuring wales. He wears a red plaid shirt over a white T‑shirt decorated with colorful fall graphics — leaves, warm tones, and a pumpkin motif. A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. The image is framed with a red‑and‑brown plaid border accented by wheat illustrations, and a circular emblem at the bottom reads “Give Thanks.” The overall feel is cozy and seasonal, blending comfort with a clear autumn theme.

 

As always, we are thankful for our friends, family and all of James’ fans. We’ve met so many wonderful people along this crazy journey with James. Some of you we’ve met in person; others we have not. But we are thankful for you all.

A special thank you goes out to Nestle Health Science for the beautiful flower arrangement you sent over.

 

A fall floral arrangement sits on a table indoors, filled with orange roses, orange carnations, deep red blooms, and yellow autumn leaves in a brown vase. A small card is tucked into the bouquet with a printed Thanksgiving message from Town & Country Gardens. Behind it, a window with patterned curtains lets in soft light, and a Route 66 sign hangs on the wall above a red booth‑style seat. The whole scene feels cozy and festive, centered on a bright, autumn‑themed gift.
Flowers from Nestle Health Science

 

 

Christmas

James relaxes in his cushioned recliner wearing black‑and‑white checkered pajamas, with a plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow resting around his neck. Behind him, a decorated Christmas tree glows with lights and ornaments, surrounded by wrapped presents and gift bags. The living room includes a wooden cabinet, a doorway lit from behind, and a red rug. The image is framed with illustrated Christmas trees and string lights, with “Merry Christmas” at the top and “2022” at the bottom, giving the whole scene a warm holiday feel.

 

In mid-November, the rescue that we got Maggie from had an event where she could get her picture taken with Santa Claus in exchange for a donation. We donated some towels and dog treats. Most of the other dogs there were running around. Maggie is just laid back and took her leisurely time walking over to Santa to get her picture taken. He called her a slug because she was so slow compared to the other dogs.

 

An adult dressed as Santa sits on the floor in front of a maroon couch, holding Maggie, a light‑brown dog. Behind them is a festive backdrop with snowy trees, white lanterns, and holiday décor. The couch is decorated with Christmas‑themed pillows, including one that reads “HOME for the HOLIDAY” with illustrations of trees and a car carrying a tree. The whole setup feels like a cozy indoor holiday photo scene centered on Santa and Maggie.
Maggie with Santa

 

A couple of weeks ago it was James’ turn to see Santa. He looks so big next to Santa, doesn’t he?

 

James sits in his wheelchair indoors, wearing a gray long‑sleeve shirt printed with a skiing Santa and the words “DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW.” He has on blue jeans and holds a colorful pouch decorated with comic‑style text. The wheelchair’s padded supports frame him, and the background shows a table with chairs and a nearby waste bin.
Waiting to see Santa

 

James sits in his wheelchair beside an adult dressed as Santa Claus. Santa wears the classic red suit with white trim, and James wears a gray shirt and blue jeans. They’re positioned in front of a winter‑themed backdrop filled with snow‑covered trees, artificial snow on the ground, and a blue‑purple sky dotted with stars or snowflakes. The whole setup feels like a cozy Christmas photo scene designed for festive portraits.
James with Santa Claus

 

At school, James’ Secret Santa got him a toy game controller that makes noise and lights up.

 

James sits in his wheelchair in what looks like a school or community room, with tables and chairs visible behind him. He wears a gray shirt and a red‑and‑white striped neck support. A brown paper gift bag decorated with colorful dots, a blue bow, and his name written on the front rests on his lap. Also on his lap is a Fisher‑Price “Game & Learn Controller” toy. The scene feels like a cheerful gift‑giving moment in a group setting.
James had a Secret Santa at shool

 

Christmas morning was a little bit sad. We woke up and thought that Santa had forgotten about James this year. He didn’t leave any gifts under the tree. The only gifts under the tree were the ones that he got at school.

 

A small decorated Christmas tree sits on top of a wooden cabinet, lit with soft white lights and covered in ornaments — a red‑and‑black plaid star, a yellow mitten‑shaped ornament, a white ornament with red accents, and other colorful decorations. Beneath the tree are a few gift bags, including a green bag with a tag that reads “’tis the season to sparkle” and a brown paper bag with colorful dots, a blue bow, and James’s name written on it. Behind the tree, a roll top desk with glass door hutch holds small decorative items, and two large Christmas stockings — one red, one green — hang above the hutch. The whole scene feels warm, festive, and full of holiday charm.
Did Santa forget about James?

 

We were heartbroken. How could Santa forget about James? James wasn’t bad this year. He’s never bad. We soon realized what had happened. Stacy had to go let out a dog whose parents were out of town for the holidays. As she was backing out of the garage, she spotted the gifts.

 

A small brown dog, Maggie, lays inside a house looking out through a glass door. Outside on the doorstep, several wrapped Christmas gifts and packages sit on a festive mat decorated with Santa’s legs and boots and the words “Santa Stops Here.” The presents are wrapped in colorful holiday paper with patterns like snowflakes, reindeer, and cartoon characters, and some have tags with names such as Jeff and James. Patches of snow surround the mat, giving the scene a wintry, holiday feel.
Santa left the gifts at the front door

 

Here’s what we think happened. Maggie has become territorial. She doesn’t like anyone except for me, Stacy, and James in “her house”. She will constantly bark—and sometimes nip—at anyone besides us in the house. She is perfectly fine outside of the house, but the second someone walks in, she doesn’t like it. So, we think Maggie didn’t let Santa in and he just dropped the gifts off at the front door. Sorry about our crazy dog Santa!

After Stacy got home from letting the dog out, we had some breakfast—waffles and eggs if you’re wondering—and opened gifts. Care to guess what James got this year? If you guessed clothes, you are correct. Lots and lots of shirts…because he doesn’t have enough already. That was sarcasm. This kid has so many shirts that he could probably go a month, maybe two, without wearing the same shirt twice.

 

In a cozy indoor setting, James lies on his cushioned recliner under a blanket while Stacy sits nearby holding up a black T‑shirt with the Jurassic Park logo. A small dog sits close to James, looking toward the shirt. Behind them, a shelf holds several dumbbells labeled with weights, along with decorations, and a television mounted on the wall shows a blue screen with text. Gift bags sit on the floor, including one with “NO PEEKING” printed on it, giving the scene a warm, gift‑sharing feel.

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket while Stacy sits nearby holding up a turquoise T‑shirt printed with a yellow car and the words “SPEED TEAM.” Behind them, shelves hold dumbbells, toys, and small decorations, giving the room a lived‑in, everyday feel. The scene captures a simple moment of sharing or showing new clothing in a cozy home setting.

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket with a plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow around his neck while Stacy sits nearby presenting a light blue T‑shirt. The shirt features an orange‑and‑white robot with raised fists and the text “SPACE TROOPER.” Behind them, shelves hold dumbbells, and a decorative sign that reads “THIS IS US.” Gift bags and wrapping materials sit nearby, giving the scene a cozy, personal holiday‑gift feel

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket while Stacy sits nearby holding up a blue T‑shirt printed with a colorful sports car and the words “SPEED MACHINE.” Behind them, shelves hold dumbbells, and a decorative sign that reads “THIS IS US.” Gift bags and boxes sit close by, giving the scene a cozy, personal holiday‑gift atmosphere.

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket while Stacy sits nearby holding up a green T‑shirt printed with a blue dinosaur skull and the words “FOSSIL HUNTER.” Behind them, shelves hold dumbbells, a small stuffed toy, and a wooden sign that reads “THIS IS US.” Gift bags and decorations sit close by, giving the scene a cozy, personal holiday‑gift atmosphere.

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket while Stacy sits nearby holding up an orange T‑shirt printed with a fighter jet graphic. Behind them, shelves hold dumbbells, a stuffed animal, and a wooden sign that reads “THIS IS US.” Wrapped gifts and decorations sit close by, giving the scene a cozy, personal holiday‑gift atmosphere.

 

In addition to shirts, he also got a gift basket with a teddy bear, coloring book and markers, and a blanket that says “You Are Loved”; an Amazon gift card; and a new tablet. The iPad he’s had for the past several years reached the point where it could no longer be updated and some of the apps he uses to watch videos when we’re away from home no longer worked because they couldn’t be updated. I didn’t want to shell out another $400-$500 dollars for another iPad, so I decided to try an Amazon Fire tablet instead. It was a fraction of the price of an iPad and should support all of the video apps that he uses.

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket while Stacy holds out a festive gift basket toward him. The basket includes a plush teddy bear wearing a plaid scarf, a folded red blanket with white lettering, a box of Crayola markers, and a copy of “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” Behind them, shelves hold dumbbells, photos, and other household items, giving the room a cozy, lived‑in feel. The scene captures a thoughtful holiday‑gift moment full of care and seasonal warmth.

 

Stacy holds up a bright red blanket with large white text that reads “YOU ARE LOVED,” positioned near James as he lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket. Shelves in the background hold dumbbells, a stuffed toy, photos, and other household items, giving the room a warm, lived‑in feel. The scene centers on a quiet, reassuring gesture meant to offer comfort and care.

 

James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket while Stacy sits nearby holding a boxed Fire HD 10 Plus tablet. The bright orange box shows an image of the device on the front. Behind them, a wooden entertainment unit holds gray dumbbells, photos, and household items, with a television mounted above displaying a program. The scene captures a quiet, personal moment of sharing a new gift.

 

Santa also left some treats for Maggie that we put in her stocking. Perhaps if he had given her one or two when he stopped by to drop off the gifts, she would have let him in.

 

Stacy sits in a living room holding a red Christmas stocking decorated with white bone shapes while Maggie, a large tan dog stands nearby, with her head in the stocking. In the foreground, James lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket. Behind them, shelves hold weights, boxes, toys, and other household items, giving the room a lived‑in, festive feel. The scene captures a warm moment of holiday gift‑giving and companionship.

 

Maggie, a tan dog wearing a light pink collar, stands facing Stacy who is holding up a blue bag of Carry Outs dog treats. Stacy also holds a large red Christmas stocking decorated with white bone shapes and a white top embroidered with the name “Maggie.” In the foreground, lies on his cushioned recliner under a patterned blanket with a plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow around his neck. Behind them, a wooden cabinet with sliding barn‑style doors and various household items creates a cozy, lived‑in backdrop. The scene captures a festive, affectionate moment of holiday gift‑giving centered around the dog.

 

 

Cheers to 2023

As this year comes to a close, we want to wish you all a happy and safe New Year, and all the best in 2023. And thanks again for all of the love and support you have given us this past year.