.......more orders than I have ever had in my life! I certainly can't complain about being busy.......Lord knows come January it's all going to go away. But.......whew. I'm spent.
Today at church I looked at the tree on stage and noticed it had just a few blinking lights. A million memories flooded through me. The first was a little out of the ordinary, but comforting just the same.
I grew up in the coal mining area of Kentucky. It was a great place to grow up. But my family had some problems like everyone else does. I had an uncle who had serious drug problems. We hardly ever saw him even though he lived with my Grandmother who's house was right beside ours.
I was sleeping on the couch at my Grandmother's late one night on Christmas after we had all opened gifts and I woke up to the sound of crumpling paper. I opened my eyes to see my uncle sitting under the tree opening his gifts. He didn't know I could see him. He opened a bunch of flannel shirts.....the only thing he ever wore....and some socks and other necessary things. And as I watched, I really felt warm. I was 11 years old and I remember feeling so happy to see my uncle home and opening gifts like a kid. It was comforting. The next day, he was gone again. But, it's still a lovely memory.
I thought about Lilly's first Christmas and how we flooded her with gifts and photos and kisses......and this poor 2 month old was completely overwhelmed. But she smiled and seemed to look and reach for whatever we showed her. And I have a sweet picture of her, sound asleep, with a santa hat and candy cane in her hand. And I couldn't believe my luck. What an amazing life.
Then I thought about how my little girls, Kevin and I are making new memories and traditions. We have an elf named Joey who causes mischief and leaves the girls treats in our advent calendar. Every morning in December they run downstairs and try to find him. It's so funny when they do.
And, then our future. About my sisters unborn, little girl. Who we'll have the privilege of spending next Christmas with.....for the first time. And we'll flood her with gifts and photos and kisses.
I hope you are flooded with memories when you see a blinking Christmas tree, too. And I pray you are making memories every day of this season.
Merry Christmas!
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