Home Again!

I just got home late Saturday evening from helping my sister-in-law who had had major surgery. I forget how blessed I am to have a loving husband and children, plus the incredible blessing of having my mom to help, too. SIL has been divorced almost as long as I have been married, had no children of her own, although she taught school for 32 years, and never remarried, and her mom passed on 15 years ago.

Anyway, I took the train to OKC in the middle of the ice storm so I could get her home from the hospital...only to discover she had no power at her house. We bunked at my mom's home for three days, along with my youngest son and his wife, while power was restored and the weather quit being too threatening...we didn't want to relocate again.

The saddest part of the time with her was throwing away all the food she had prepared ahead of surgery so she would be able to care for herself more easily when I left. Two refrigerator freezer parts full to overflowing plus all the iffy stuff in the fridges themselves. I filled one of those great big trash bins cities issue to their customers. I cried as I did it, and she really did!

But, praise the Lord, even with the weather and spoiled food, she is doing extremely well. She is wanting to do more things for herself than I would let her (Nurse Ratchett is my new nickname), and can't wait to be able to drive and get back to her estate sale roaming. I take this as a GREAT SIGN!

We also celebrated Christmas three times last week. Once with our son, daughter-in-law, SIL, other son, my mom and our oldest grandson, the next night we drove to our oldest son and daughter-in-law's home to celebrate with them and the rest of the grandchildren. On Saturday, my brother and his children drove down from Tulsa to OKC in the snow to gather at mom's for the annual Christmas festivities. A good time was had by all, but I am glad to have today to rest!

We came home on Saturday to be able to be at the bris of our friends' twins yesterday morning. It was a most interesting ceremony. I applaud the parents of these little ones for being able to witness it. I was in the back and because I'm so short, I couldn't see anything...hearing those sweet little ones was enough. The dad said, "I've been to lots of these, but it is definitely harder when it's your own children!" Well put. The rabbi explained this ceremony welcomes these boys to the family of Israel. Welcome, little ones.

Lest anyone think we are forgotten for Christmas Day, oh no, we have TWO invitations to eat dinner, one at 2:00, one at 4:00! We will go by our son's inlaws for a short visit and bite, then head to friends up north of FW for more festivities...I won't have time to miss my kids today!

Having given everyone the update of my life the past two weeks, let me say that God gave us the ultimate gift in the life of His Son, Jesus. In all the busy-ness of our lives, do remember the One Whose birth we celebrate. Happy birthday, Jesus, thank you for humbling yourself to come to save me. Merry Christmas everyone and may you experience the blessings of God in the coming year.

Decorating Hassles

My Christmas tree has been up for about two weeks. It has had decorations on it for about one week. During that time I have been searching high and low for the Christmas stockings of two of my sons and one of my daughters-in-law. You see, I have what I call "safe" places in which I put things. Unfortunately, I sometimes - nay - MOST times - cannot recall where these "safe" places are. My oldest son and grandson's stockings were easily discovered, and new stockings were made for the newest daughter-in-law and grandchildren...but where, oh where, had I put the others? I even found the stocking I had made for our dog, AKA, the Queen! After searching high and low, opening every box of ornaments two or three times and rummaging around in them, I gave up. I decided I'd just go to the store and replace them. Oh, no, not so easily done. There were no more stockings like the ones I had to be bought even if it was only the 6th of December. Woe is me! Finally, I resorted to praying. Unfortunately, I often leave that til last. I even went back to the store (another branch) to try to buy stockings yesterday and found ONE, and bought tree skirts to cut up to make the other two. When I got home, I remembered I had had a thought about looking in the Christmas giftwrap for the missing items. Eureka! God is good! There they were, all along, waiting for me...now if I could just remember to pray first and not obsess about "lost" things, I'm sure my life would be easier! Merry Christmas everyone!

Hanukkah Blessings

I am privileged to know a couple who are celebrating a very special Hanukkah this year. They welcomed twin boys last week, and brought them home on the first night of Hanukkah. These little ones were long awaited and truly embody what I understand Hanukkah is about...miracles. So to the family of these little guys I say congratulations, and I bless them with joy and peace and long life. May they grow and become pillars in the community as their parents are. God bless you all.