- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Hello, I wanted to write about some unexpected aspects of the holidays so far:)
1)
I tried to relax and embrace the peaceful aspects of Christmas. On the plus side, I got to bed around 11 PM on the 24th (Seeing some of the Facebook posts regarding 1, 2, and 3 AM bedtimes for some of the Moms made this feel like a blessing). On the minus side, I mis-labeled at least 3 packages (amazingly, my ASD daughter who was most impacted by having presents labeled as hers that weren’t took it in stride). I enjoyed watching “The Nativity Story” with my family (we do that every year). My oldest daughter also really finally started to “get” the meaning behind “A Christmas Carol” (that we also watch every year). 2)
2 moms cleaned out their daughters’ closets and passed the clothes onto my family. It was joyful to realize that I won’t need to budget for clothes for my toddler for the rest of the year. My oldest also got some more “sophisticated” (i.e. hideous geometic patterened) leggings that she really likes (I miss the cute flower days already!)…. 3)
Unexpected Family– Our next door neighbor and her daughter adopted my daughters as family when we moved here 3 years ago – and they always invite my oldest over for their Christmas festivities. My heart is touched that they got thoughtful presents for my daughters (including a beautiful coat for my toddler). I am also happy to report that we made them some monkey bread and gourmet popcorn, and got them some apples and apple cider – it was a hit AND we pulled the executive functioning trick off to organize and create it. 4)
Kittie-llama Blankets. A sister in our branch showed up on Sunday with 2 flannel tied blankets for my daughters as a thank-you gesture for some surplus items we had given them when their son was born. My oldest has started reaching for the blanket as a source of comfort, warmth, and a way to self-soothe for the past few days – which brings my heart joy. Both blankets have Lllamas on them – but my oldest has named them “Kittie-Llamas”, and the description does fit the pattern pretty much…. 5)
The Lost and Found Cat– We had some friends come over to visit Thursday night, and our cat got out in the tumult of visitors. For 48 hours, my husband, daughter, and myself were heart-sick for our cat (who is a truly crazy patient cat who LIKES to be held in a fetal position by his person and sits next to the toddler by choice regularly). It was a moment worthy of a Hallmark card (or ornament) when I looked out the window Saturday morning and saw the cat nonchalently sitting on our deck steps. The reunion of my daughter and her cat was in the same emotional league of the prodigal son being greeted by his father. 6)
A Pact to do Better– My husband mentioned the need for us to sit down weekly in a companionship inventory/planning session. My husband does not plan. My husband does not do well when I advise we need to plan. The admittance of the possibility of planning and improvement in this area has meaning for me. 7)
Secret Santas– The items were lovely, the chocolate will be delicious – but more importantly to me, someone saw that we needed love. The meaning behind this gesture for me is that we are not forgotten. 
An evening sans girls– One of our adopted grandmas took the girls for several hours on Saturday so that my husband and I could finish shopping/decompress. 9)
An angel with a sledge hammer– My husband determined that we needed to change the brake pads while I (and the car) were home on vacation. Several hours and minimal swearing on Monday resulted in the first brake pad set being replaced. On Tuesday (after the presents were opened), we went to take care of the 2nd brake pad set. NOTE: My husband said, “This one should be much easier and go much faster because I know how to do it.”
What we did not expect was 2 hours trying to pry the tire off once the hubcap and other car parts holding the tire on were removed. Finally, at 7:00 on Christmas Day, we call our amazing Home Teacher (who can fix pretty much anything). He made the 15 minute drive to our house, chatted with my husband for a few minutes while investigating the situation. It is forever etched in our memory our wiry 60+ year old HT wielding a huge sledge hammer (the way that Thor would use his hammer to play a game of croquet) on the back of the tire and the tire come flying off the axle.
There are wonderful and thoughtful presents to integrate into our lives now. There were lots of traditional Christmas moments similar to the many mentioned in my Facebook feed. But I want to remember the angel with the sledgehammer, Kittie-Llamas, and the Hope for a better future that this Christmas emboldened for me.
I see our family as very connected in the community. We went around caroling for Christmas and delivering plates of cookies to our friends. About half of the families that we visited were LDS and half not. We were also on the receiving end of such visits. All of the visitors that we received were LDS. Maybe this is just a function of the LDS community having a culture of caroling and delivering treats around Christmas (something that is pretty time, planning, and labor intensive). However it is helpful for me to remember that for all that I grumble about community elements – the LDS community is a real community and better than many.
Amy…thanks so much for sharing these! I needed to read this today.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.