We had a lovely Thanksgiving with new friends who invited us to join them for a wonderful, traditional Thanksgiving feast. The food and fellowship was delicious and sweet and we came home that night with full tummies and hearts. Throughout the day I thought about loved ones 'back home' and tracked their happenings from afar. I loved imagining them all sitting around their tables together....what a blessing to be together. I prayed they were feeling blessed by their fellowship with one another on that special day when there was so much to be thankful for. I was giving thanks to God who brought us far from them...not because He took us so far away, but because He has a plan for us here....sometimes I don't know what that plan could be or if I'm capable of doing what He wants us to do. But, there isn't a day that goes by where I am not reminded of the love and support from loved ones across the many miles....so much to be thankful for. That love keeps us close at heart.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The following days found us scrambling to get gifts together to be packaged and sent off to those far away. We hoped for ways to be creative in sending our dearest wishes for each of them. It was more difficult than I thought it would be. I felt like what I wanted to express to each of them couldn't possibly be done through the mail. For years I've taken our 'proximity' to one another for granted. Oh, what I am learning these days. Well, as quickly as we got our packages sent, others started to arrive here. There were a few days when the postal workers would visit our home many times each day with arms full of boxes filled with beautiful packages for all of us here. Before long the ground beneath our tree was covered with gifts. Each glance was another reminder of how loved we were.
Each December day brought on new feelings as I prepared to celebrate this first holiday without extended family. One day I would be putting out Christmas decorations or helping the kids decorate the tree with all of our favorite ornaments. The memories flooded my mind and heart and brought sweet joy as I remembered the times spent with one another in the previous years. The laughter we shared here as we recalled those stories was a little added strength for my heart. God is so good to give us those memories. And even while we were laughing with our own kiddos right then and there, a new memory was being made:) On a different day, while baking traditional cookies or making favorite candies, more memories came flowing. We remembered who loved which kinds of cookies and candies best, and who couldn't eat certain things and we remembered when Torrey and I would make these same special treats with our own loved ones when we were kids. And after making them this year, we wondered.....what will we do with all of this food?????
And then the days came when I knew 'back home' people were doing the things we used to do every year - the parties, the concerts, the gatherings....the traditions. And on these days, my selfish heart longed to be there, longed to not be forgotten. And I found myself wondering if Christmas would ever be what I knew it to be for so long. And I thought I was done.
But, thankfully it doesn't end there. The grace of my God opened my eyes (again) to the blessed reminder that those things that I was was missing are NOT what Christmas was all about. I had made them just that it my weakness. Certainly, they were contributing to the celebration of the season, but HE is the reason for Christmas. And He is Emmanuel, God with us - wherever we are. I would have never had experienced any of my favorite people or treats or traditions in the ways that I had in the past if it were not for Him.
In the end, our family here had a wonderful season of celebration of our Savior's birthday. We spent much time with one another and with the new family and friends God has blessed us with here in Anchorage. We opened gifts, talked to family and friends who are far away as they were celebrating the same Savior in their own special ways. We ate and shared our special treats with neighbors. We had our birthday party for Jesus with celebratory 'Happy Birthday Jesus' pancakes - a new tradition! And our hearts are filled.
Certainly all that comes and goes with this season brings it's own thing - good and bad, it's different for each of us. But, I pray that each of you are feeling blessed simply because God loves you and is with you.
From our home, to yours....
Happy St. Lucia Day!
Christmas love from Aunt Katie et al
cars...just what he thought every gift he opened was going to be. I think he got 20 more cars this Christmas!
To: the 'bookworm', From: the 'Peach' - one she hasn't read yet...but did in just 2 days:)
Christmas Eve dinner
just a small part of the post-Christmas morning mess:)
