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Was reflecting back ... way back ... to my childhood and some traditions that have continued into the raising of Carin and Melisa, let's see what I can recall ...
* We always had "real trees", and I always helped decorate as soon as I was tall enough.
* Always baked cookies with my Mother, somewhere there's a picture of me at 3 or 4 years, helping?
* Tom and I were allowed to open our smallest package under the tree on Christmas Eve.
* REVISED: How could I forget this one ... always had oyster stew for Christmas Eve dinner ... can we say torture for Tom and me, ugh!
* Always attended church on Christmas Eve, and there was only one service at 11:00pm.
* Our stockings were filled with an orange, apple, walnuts, some candy and some very small treasure. They were hung on our bedroom door before morning and we could excitedly open their contents before Mom and Dad awoke.
* My Father insisted on breakfast BEFORE any package was opened, and he was a smoker in the house (remember I grew up in Iowa), and sometimes he had to have 2 cigarettes after breakfast ... pure agony!
* After all the excitement of toys, it was then on to Grandma and Grandpa Holmes house for a family gathering with Aunt Betty, Uncle Dick, Sharon, Peggy and Linda; Uncle Lloyd, Aunt Inez, Janet and Suzanne; Aunt Velma, Uncle Bud (Stan) and Joni, they owned a florist in Tama so he was sometimes called Uncle Bud. I'm thinking as Grandma and Grandpa grew older we'd often go to Aunt Betty's, Uncle Lloyd's or to Aunt Velma (these Aunts and Uncle were my father's side of the family).
* I can still smell Grandma Holmes homemade cinnamon rolls as they were rising next to the heater.
* One of my most favorite memories was waking up on Christmas morning to a fresh, beautiful blanket of snow ... there is nothing quite as beautiful.
* Then, of course, at some point during Christmas vacations there was the building of snowmen, ice skating and it didn't matter if the temperature was below zero, I'd beg my father to take me to the outside skating rink (finally as a teen we did have an enclosed ice skating rink). And not to forget the new snow sled, such simpler times, no CD's, DVD's, computers or all the other electronics, I really feel sad for children today ... we had to be creative, and we played outside ...
Ahh, the "good old days", what a wonderful and magical childhood I had ... well, still have lots to do before Christmas Eve, so my friends, I'll reminisce about Carin and Melisa's Christmas as children in another post, until then ... Have a very Merry Christmas, and may God Bless you and your families in the New Year, Love to all who may read this ....
from our carport to Tamale King! Trivia, I know, but it's been a crazy month and I've found myself not doing things I should be doing, or want to do, because of my Mother's health. Like our mini-family reunion I missed since she was in the hospital, that's totally understandable. But today I should have been with Don as he traveled to Houston for the funeral of longtime friend, and "old man ski trip" buddy Ray Lester ... couldn't go with him as Mother couldn't stay alone for that lengthy period of time.
So it's time, it's time for me to start living my life with Don once again; which means, in January, I'll have to look for a facility where she can live, it's not going to be easy for her and she will no doubt make it difficult for me, so if in the next few months I'm on edge, please be patient and pray for us as we complete this transition. There are so many things I want to do with my life, and it's time.
Which brings me back to 12.9 miles, and a drive through Inks State Park headed to Tamale King to pick up tamales for Christmas Eve dinner with Carin, Rusty and Dylan. Do you know how beautiful that drive is through the Park, even in the gray of winter, the scenery is breathtaking at certain turns, we are so lucky to live in the Texas Hill Country.
Well my friends, Christmas Eve is almost upon us, what a glorious time this is, and it truly is my favorite time of the year for so many reasons. We received a card today and I'll close tonite with it's verse, "The gift of love, the gift of peace, the gift of happiness, may these be yours at Christmas", and always! Until next time ....
well, it's been a wild 10 days, what happened to Thanksgiving, and the short time Melisa and Henry came for their visit, it was wonderful and then God's plan happened. You know He has plans for all of our lives and the blips on life's highway help us to grow in strength, compassion, understanding, faith, love, hope. Our family has been through a lot in the last two weeks with my Mother's hospitalization ... went in for an intestinal bleed and came out with a pacemaker ... how'd that happen?
It's God's plan, I think sometimes He's hoping I'll become more compassionate as I know I'm lacking in that department a lot so He throws me these curve balls, so "what's she gonna do with this one?"
Well it's been emotional, exhausting both physically and mentally, and the emotions continue to build ... I'm so tired and am now a real caregiver, even more so. The good news is that Home Health came for a visit today and we're going to have nursing visits 3 times a week, a physical therapist, and someone to help bathe Mother until she regains her strength ... the not so good news ... I'm no where ready for Christmas and our plans for a trip to Michigan might not happen. Oh why can't Melisa, John and Henry be just a little closer? Oh, that too was God's plan.
Am tired, and don't have the answers for any of my questions, but maybe my brother's prayers for my continued strength and health will be answered and that one day Don and I will regain our life and continue on the plan God has for us. Love to all, so until next time ....
