Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Merry Christmas


We wish you a Merry Christmas. And we are having a merry Christmas. No, really I mean it.

This holiday season has been hard. We are emotional. We've had frustrations and challenges which all seem so much larger while we are mourning. My head isn't all in the game, and I've forgotten things. We have had tears of sadness and of anger. Sometimes it has been ugly.

But we are working through it together. Mom losing her cool one particularly ugly evening unexpectedly seemed to make a breakthrough with one particular child. Nolan and I were having a hard time. There was a lot of attitude. There was a lot of tough guy covering up a wounded heart. Maybe seeing mom break is what it took to break through his shell. I don't know, but I do know since then he has been a much kinder Nolan, the big teddy bear that I knew was still there.

I am excited for presents. If you know me well, you might be surprised to hear that. We normally keep that part of Christmas to a minimum. I did still stick to our four gift strategy, technically. I just went a little bigger with it. I know any therapist would tell you I am totally trying to compensate heart hurts with things, but I don't care. I found some things I think the kids are going to love, and I'm excited to see them open them! 

I love having all the kids home this week. It has been a relatively low key week. I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen. We've baked, and I've cooked real meals. Well, dinners anyway. Frozen pizza for lunch while mom is baking cookies does happen here. We had a Star Wars movie marathon. It is nice to have the boys around. With the school schedule, we barely see them during the week. When they are home, I spend most of the time nagging Nolan to get things done. I am enjoying this more relaxed time.

I find comfort in keeping our traditions. Our traditions are pretty low key. I know for some who are grieving, traditions bring sadness, for me they bring comfort. I guess in knowing life does go on. We cut our tree from our property. This one is pretty scraggly, but it serves the purpose. It is even decorated, which is better than we did last year. I baked some of our favorite cookies. I baked a cheesecake, Tim's favorite. We will go to Christmas Eve services. We will stay home for a quiet (or as quiet as it gets around here,) Christmas morning, and travel the next day.

I am in awe of the continuing support we receive from our community of friends and family. People continue to support us with their time, money, words, and prayers. It is awesome to be loved and remembered.

I am learning to quiet my heart, and turn toward the Lord. That is what He has been teaching me through this whole process. When the emotions, the daily tasks, and the frustrations seem overwhelming there still is peace and joy. And isn't this the season of peace and joy? 


Merry Christmas!

10 comments:

  1. So thankful for the breakthrough! Merry Christmas to each dear heart. And the gifts in your honor are warming the hearts of other families and even providing for their food and financial needs. Will be so much fun to find out about all of that when we get to heaven!
    Aunt Nancy

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  3. Continuing prayers for you and your beautiful family Stephanie! You are an amazing woman! Merry Christmas!

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  4. Learning to quiet our hearts and turn to the Lord is what ALL of us need to learn to do in every circumstance! It's amazing and awesome that your circumstances have led you to Him. In Him is the only place where life makes any sense.

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  5. Continued prayers as you and your family are on this new journey-- and do have a Merry Christmas enjoying the Savior who made you and holds you tightly in His arms! Rod and Sharla

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  6. Merry Christmas Steph and family, I've enjoyed reading your blog and know how hard it must be with losing a loved one..an old neighbor from back in the days when you lived on graber Rd..Katie

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  7. You & your family are in many, MANY prayers this Season and always! I just wished I could have heard Tim sing ~ he must have been so good!! LP Widder

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