Let’s see – when the girls and Spencer arrived, they knocked
on the front door and then sang Jingle Bells to us. It was so wonderful to see
them all and to get big hugs all around. What a great way to kick off our Polar
Express party! Ephraim had come over one day to help me paint the train, and
then Gideon helped another day. They had one little spat that blew over
quickly, and then we had a fine time working to create our fun train. Simeon
helped Grammy decorate train shaped cookies, and then snuggled with Poppy Mark
to watch Prep and Landing.
The party was fun and very very busy – everyone came so the
house was full, the table full of good food and good snacks. We learned that
Simeon should not have large amounts of chocolate ‘pennies’; none of us had
ever seen him quite so hyped. He was still cute as could be – just in high
gear. PrairieDawn gave us the most laughs; she played with a little rocket and
when it ‘shot’ Grammy, who of course reacted dramatically, Prairie belly
laughed with glee. She eventually ‘shot’ it at everyone in the room and we
laughed at her till we cried. Aunt Corie sent gifts for all the kiddos and they
opened them at the party – Ephraim and Gideon were thrilled with their books,
and they were tucked into couch corners for the rest of the evening,
contentedly reading. Levi, Anna and Kash took the Polar Express movie pretty
seriously, and Anna sat on Grammy’s lap for a good deal of the movie. Nice to
snuggle up with a beautiful granddaughter in her lovely black velvet and plaid
taffeta Christmas dress. Lucy attended in her party dress too, adorable girl
she is.
Keeping the focus on the shiny spots: Christmas day while I
was still upstairs, Mark had Christmas with his boys. It was nice for him to
have some uninterrupted one on one time with them, and I was happy for them.
The boys had a nice breakfast, opened presents, and then decided to get into
the hot tub before taking off. For just a few minutes, they sang together and
their voices drifted up my way, bringing some cheer which was gratefully
appreciated.
Spencer and Michelle came back over to just hang out with us
on the 26th for a while. It was so nice to get a little bit of time
to visit just with them. We had a really good visit.
Finally we got to have Christmas! Dinner was warm, house
still sparkly and magical, presents waiting…so we began tearing in! Rescue
Heroes! Pink cape! Gift certificates! Books! Beautiful window prisms! Plants in
personalized pots! Window chalk! Bows and arrows! Movie tickets! Charming
handmade sign! Tiny log house of balsam fir with incense smoke! Driftwood
heart! We are a blessed and generous family. On to dinner, and then to movies
for the littles, rocking baby to sleep; and visiting and laughter.
Amongst the shadows of illness and frustration, the
shimmeringsilveryshiningstarseconds glowed and flowed through us and by us and
around us. The dull gray walls of expectation gave way to lighteningbugflashes
of joy.
It is not about the plans or the expectations; it’s all
about the results, and if in the giving, we forget to look for the right
result, then we need to reconsider the why. We just needed to open our eyes and
see them, the will o’ the wisps of wonder.
Merry Christmas, whenever it is for you.
