Christmas

A few days ago, dear husband and I made the lengthy journey down to my in-law's in Independence. We occasionally stay for a day and night, and make a little 'vacation' of it! We had a wonderful time going out for breakfast at what could have been 6:00 am... (notice I said "could have been," we ended up making it by 8:30 ish) Then we spent the day thrift-shop-hopping, which we females loved, and the males endured! After several hours of trotting around Bartlesville, we made our way back to my in-law's house.

For supper that evening DH and I were helping my MIL fix enchilada's, spanish rice, refried beans, and punch for the Bible school dorm kids. Of course, being a typical female, my MIL wanted to make it a meal to remember. ...and, being a typical male, my FIL thought she was being to extravagant and would never get everything done on time! I'm not sure who was right or who was wrong, but everything was done on time, and I thought it turned out very nice, though I think we were all a little tired. And in spite of all the typical Davolt comments that were made by the two Davolt boys, they both helped out tremendously!

I said all that to say this...

After all the hustle and bustle was over, and a headache was setting in, I sat down in a recliner near the rotating Christmas tree. As the tree turned, it blurred slowly before my eyes until it became a willowy lady in a long grey winter coat, spinning slowly on one ice skated toe. (what can I say, my mind does funny things while coping with a headache...)

Then I started thinkig.... how I've dreaded the day when my children bring home crafty Christmas ornaments for the tree, like I did as a child. Wondering how I'd come up with some way to hide them among the branches, or maybe help them disappear. Then I looked closely at the tree before me...

and saw the little ornaments, some made by the childhood hands of my dear husband. I didn't see a crafty tree, but a gorgeous tree of memories... overflowing with the love of family.

I distinctly remember the pure pleasure and pride my sisters and I got from decorating the tree with our ornaments! ... and how beautiful we thought the finished product looked!

I knew then that when my future children bring home their crafty ornaments, I will watch with delight as they hang them on the tree. I'll display the tree in a place of prominence for everyone to see when they visit....

Because Christmas is about love!

The finishing touch on my evening was when the tree presented me with this view... as I saw the ornament and what it said, I thought how wonderful it was to be a part of this family!

I quickly ran and got my camera, snapped some pictures, jotted down a mental blog, filed it in the Christmas/family/blog, section of my mind, and went to bed!

What a wonderful day!