Family Holidays

I am sitting on my mother-in-law’s screened patio in Florida.  The wind is whipping through the palm tree in front of me.  I have been watching a pair of sandhill cranes carefully, cautiously walk around the edge of the small lake.  Such beautiful, graceful birds!  I have resisted the urge to run and get my camera.  I am at peace simply watching.

We arrived here a couple of days ago to visit my 93-year-­old mother-in-law.  We haven’t done much but that is okay because I am tired and still recovering from surgery.  Today we went for a walk, yesterday we joined others for lunch, and the day before we went to the pool.  It’s enough.  Tonight, New Year’s Eve, the three of us plus my sister-in-law and her boyfriend are going to the New Year’s Eve dinner and party for this retirement community.

My husband and I spent Christmas at our older daughter’s house in North Carolina,  It was wonderful spending time with her, our son-in-law, and our 15-month-old grandson.  We also had the opportunity to be with our younger daughter who lives close by.  On Christmas Day we were joined by our younger daughter’s boyfriend and our son-in-law’s parents.  We had a full table.  The highlight of our visit was our grandson.  It’s been a long time since we’ve been around a small child at Christmas.  What joy they bring!  Of course, he is too young to understand anything about Christmas yet but old enough to appreciated some of its delights.  One night we rode on a wagon behind a tractor on a farm that had been converted to a huge light display that turned on as we approached.  The next night we walked through a Chinese lantern event.  These “lanterns” were wire sculptures of all sizes covered with silk and lit from within.  Our grandson stared with wonder at these creations—we all did.  His eyes were bright as he stared at all the lights.

On Christmas Eve we attended a 7:00 p.m. worship service with our daughter and family.  The little guy was dressed up in his suit and sat on his mother’s lap.  He loves music so he clapped after each musical number and even some scripture readings.  Of course nobody else did.  Occasionally he would add a loud laugh.  He was clearly enjoying himself.  Fortunately, the people around him turned and smiled at him in amusement.  Our grandson was not interested in the minister’s sermon so he and mom left for a little while.  When we returned home and he was ready for bed, we sat together in the rocker while I read “The Night Before Christmas” to him from a book that belonged to my mother, published in 1932.  This was special and the rest of the family watched,

Christmas Day was overwhelming for our grandson.  He opened his stocking, took a nap, and his other grandparents arrived.  He had a stack of presents larger than him but somehow he and his mom got through them.  Of course, nearly every toy makes a noise these days.  He learns quickly so he was going between toys, turning one on then going to the next one.  I am pleased that the little people airplane I bought for him is his favorite.  Needless to say, with all these new things and a bunch of people around, our busy little boy was tired and cranky at the end of the day.  Christmas overload! 

Christmas in North Carolina was not relaxing but it was a lot of fun.  Today I am finally able to simply relax in a nice warm climate.  The weather should be lovely for our last few days here before we have to return to Idaho’s frigid weather.  I hope to continue my recuperation here, appreciating the climate, scenery, and family.  Hopefully I can return home with a bit more energy, ready to tackle the new year.