The Greatest Gifts In The World

It’s Christmas Eve and as tradition before us, we gather at Nanny’s house to exchange gifts with the children and then we will spend Christmas Morning at their home.

The wind has been knocked out of my sail (soul) with the death of my friend and the events of this year.

Talk about a reminder how fragile life really is and how limited our time on earth really is, 2017 has been the mother of reminders!

Nothing was baked, cooked or any effort really put into today, the trays of food is pre-bought along with bakery cookies and everyone’s favorite drink.

I did take extra care with the gifts; more love was put in the wrapping and every ounce of pain that was brought from my body to do so was heartfelt.

Nothing is perfect as I wish it was…. There is no tree…. No Christmas music playing… No candles or decorations.

To the outside observer the house looks as it always does, every single day of the year.

Except in the corner is a pile of 4 large boxes with smaller packages wrapped and stored safely inside.

I hope no one will be disappointed this year but surviving emotionally has been all I can seem to barely manage this year.

The gate finally opens and I see that white truck pulling in, with the greatest gifts this life has blessed me with, my heart and soul has arrived.

There is so much I wish I could share with you, but some stories are only meant for the heart.

Laughter, good belly laughter, raw unfiltered snot snorting laughter filled my home all evening.

Pranks and get backs were on the menu for the night. Yeah, well hold on to your hats, paybacks are a mother!

Reflections of mistakes and regrets were left outside the house, only love, gratitude, appreciation was allowed inside the walls of this home tonight.

If you had been blessed enough to be sitting there listening and watching the joy that filled this home, and the laughter that shook the walls and the I will get you back that filled the air with anticipation and joy, you would never know, that a few months ago we thought we would have no homes to join together in. You would never know, that earlier this year we weren't sure we would all be here to celebrate, cancer can be cruel you know.

We looked and sounded just like a family that has only known blessings and easy days in their lives...

Old traditions were honored and new traditions were made, just no one knows it yet, wait till next year. 

Today I am grateful that in my life, that I have known what it is to love and be loved. Really loved.