This has been the most unusual Christmas ever. For one thing I have been sick, and any talking or attempts to sing cause a severe bout of coughing which leads to a shortness of breath, putting me back in bed to rest some more. That limits activities quite a bit, as you can imagine.
The weirdest part about Christmas this year, well one of the many weird things, is that I slept through a big caroling party that ended here at my own house last Thursday. I vaguely remember my friend Edith trying to wake me to tell me that the party had started, but I could not shake myself awake. Jim and the three kids plus my friends Edith and Lucy must have played the hosts while I slept soundly.
Our daughter Hannah is the only one who made it home this year, but she didn't arrive until Sunday night. That gave her a much cheaper airline ticket from California, but it also forced us to delay our Christmas until the 26th. That was different.
For the first time ever, our son Mike was not with us this Christmas. I would be lying if I said we didn't miss him terribly. It was kind of a small gathering. Only six of us around our table for Christmas dinner.
Chris and Amy are of course enjoying their new baby and couldn't come down, but we did get to Skype with them and see little Aria on Saturday morning. That was a blessing.
Tim and Heidi are still trying to finagle a trip down for a couple of weeks in January, so (Lord willing!) we will still enjoy them - after the fact.
Mike and Amy were with her family for their first Christmas together, and now they are on their way to Central Asia to check out some possible areas for future ministry together.
Yes, it's a weird thing indeed to have less than half the family present over the holidays. But this is how it is. And how it should be.
A part of me wants to sit back and reflect on Christmases past, and ponder future family reunions with future grandchildren. This has always been a weakness of mine - trying to stay in the present tense. However, when I look at today, it's all good. I'm thoroughly enjoying the three kids we still have at home - plus Hannah now for these next four weeks!
Some of my favorite gifts this year:
- a digital picture frame that shows family photos, including ones of our new granddaughter
- a set of figurines of an old man and an old woman in rocking chairs, which read "Grandpa's first Christmas 2011" and "Grandma's first Christmas 2011"
- a photo book with Mike and Amy's story
Over the weekend we will head south, and visit some fellow missionaries in similar ministries in Chiapas and in Guatemala. Road trip!
Yes, this is a different Christmas and New Year's than usual, but it is ALL GOOD. I am thankful for our many blessings.
Lastly, this is my reminder to myself as I start 2012, which I found on another blog this week:
Edited to add these photos:
4 comments:
Hope you feel better soon. Thanks for the reminder. I'm trying to live in 'today' but I keep having to remind myself as thoughts like 'I wonder if in 4 years Eli will be able to visit from college over the holidays?' Or I wonder what major issues we'll need to deal with in 2012? But the Lord is here, now, and will be there then..the same today and tomorrow. Happy 2012.
Oh I am so sorry you have been so sick. My prayers are with you! I know I am not too far from the same kinds of holidays....smaller and quieter. I am eating up every second that I have now with all of my children here.
On a lighter note...my girls got Jacob that same Pez set. It's hilarious!
Been getting ready for the big wedding all week. Wish you were here. Lisa~
Thanks, Kris and Lisa.
I wish I were there, too, Lisa. Hug the bride and groom for me, and greet the whole P family, too.
hope the new year finds you feeling much better, Jamie Jo! i'm tickled that you liked the graphic...if you'd ever like a copy of the original, please let me know! ;)
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