I'm sitting here with a heart and head full of wonderful and not so wonderful reminiscences of our Christmas together in 2008.The most precious part of Christmas, next to the realization that it is the Birthday of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is "visiting" with family and friends through Christmas Cards, Email messages that are heart-felt, telephone calls, and just memories. Christmas cards are treasured by this recipient -- more than the senders will ever know. I relive wonderful memories of each individual as I read their sentiments and in some cases their newsy newsletters. I love each and every one of them.
Billy came home for Christmas and brought his Cello with him. We were entertained greatly with his amazing talents.
Eliot also came and gave us a demonstration of "mini-cello" playing on my violin. We all laughed and had a wonderful time.
We all gathered for a light Christmas Eve dinner before opening packages. Billy brought Anna, his new girlfriend and we had a wonderful time getting to know this delightful girl.
On Christmas morning, we headed for Washington on impossible winter highways. It was a good drive, however -- Billy's Subaru is an amazing car! We traveled through rain, ice, snow and slush, and finally arrived at our destination by 5 p.m. Our first stop was for dinner at a wonderful Philipino family's home. They opened their hearts and their home to us and shared their Christmas/Birthday feast. After the dinner, we went to the hospital to say good-night to Dean's mom.
This is an exceptionally difficult Christmas for Dean and his family. His mother is in the hospital in Tacoma, Washington, with no expectation that she will ever recover. We wait daily (hourly, actually) for news that her life on this earth has ended. She is an amazing lady, with an amazing family. We all gathered around her bed the day after Christmas, and Billy played "Silent Night" for her on his Cello and Dean and I sang while we watched her mouth the words so lovingly. Afterwards, Billy left the room and wept. He had given his grandmother her last Christmas present.
This is by far one Christmas that will not soon be forgotten. And now, we look towards 2009, as a year of many "changes" (and that is not necessarily politically!) We ask God's blessings to be with each and every one of you as you close yet another chapter in your life and begin a New Year with a clean, new page. May you write beauty, love, hope and peace on each and every page.
2 comments:
What a special gift from Billy to his grandma. Those are the things that mean the most, and I know Betty was so touched by his tribute to her. I'm so sorry for Dean and his dad and brother. It will be a hard loss for them all, I'm sure. But they are faithful and know that she will be at peace and "whole" again. Their separation will only be temporary. Please give them all my love and we will keep them in our prayers.
Love you!
What a beautiful Christmas. I'm sorry that Dean's mother is not going to come home again, but what a special time you must have had together as she prepares to go "home" again. I was sorry to hear about Billy's band problem too. Hope all is well in this New Year.
Love you,
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