As usual, Christmastime is filled with joy and happiness - as it should be as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior.
But this Christmas, my heart is sad as well - it is the first Christmas without Mom here with us. She joined Daddy in Heaven on March 29, 2015 - she had missed him so much.
I have so many wonderful memories of Christmases past. When Mark and I were kids, we would be so anxious to see what Santa Claus had brought, we could hardly sleep and always woke up very, very early! We had fun opening our gifts first thing - I remember the smiles on Mom and Daddy's faces as well. Our early years, we would go to Grandma and Grandpa Whitchurch's house for Christmas lunch - sometimes with uncles, aunts and cousins, sometimes just us.
After Mark and I were both married, we would all be at home for Christmas Eve to spend the night and for Christmas Day. Mark and Mary always lived out of town but made it home - sometimes in several inches of snow and ice! We would make egg nog - string popcorn and cranberries for the tree - open gifts - have great food - party mix and fudge - and enjoy being together.
After Amanda was born, everyone came to our house for Christmas morning - usually Mark and Mary spent the night with us, and then Grandpa and Grandma would come over as soon as Amanda woke up (not soon enough for Grandpa). Sometimes Mark and Mary would come in very late after being at Mary's family's celebrate or just getting to town late, and one time they woke us up when they arrived at our house and scared me to death - almost literally! I screamed and screamed - and then they were scared too! We would always open our gifts and then have a tasty Christmas breakfast of egg casserole, breads, etc. Then we would go to Mom and Daddy's for the rest of the day of Christmas - fun, fun.
Once Joe and Tom came along, we had the same routine - they spent the night with us sometimes along with their parents, then the grandparents came over as soon as the kids were up and ready for gift opening. We always had a birthday cake for Jesus and peanut butter balls - a "kid" favorite.
Mark and Mary were so good to get here every year - even though they lived several years in Iowa which was 5 hours away in good weather, and they had to travel in snow and ice many years. Mom and Daddy were so happy they always came for Christmas (and many other times throughout the year too).
After Amanda and Chad were married, he was welcomed into the family and our Christmas traditions as well. We loved having him here too! Then came Peyton and Garrison - Daddy was still alive to have Christmas with Peyton two years but was in Heaven already when Garrison came along. Mom enjoyed Christmas with both of them through 2014.
My head tells me that I should be happy that Mom and Daddy are in their eternal home where there is no pain, and that they are together and with Jesus this year. My heart tells me I miss them terribly. I feel so blessed to have had my parents for so many years - I was almost 60 when Mom was called home. Some people are not so fortunate. I am thankful for the wonderful memories I have and for all that my parents taught me. They taught me there is nothing more important than God and family - I learned from the best Mom and Grandma ever how to love my family.
Thanks Mom for teaching me to ride a bike - how to drive - how to jump rope - how to cook - how to sew - how to make noodles - how to save - how to have a good work ethic. Thanks for insisting I learn to play the piano, even when I didn't want to - at all! Thanks for being the best Mom ever. Thanks for being the best Grandma ever, Thanks for helping us so much with Amanda - for picking her up at school - for taking her to piano lessons - for staying with her while she was sick - for teaching her to skate - for waiting for her after ball practice numerous times, etc. Thanks for being the best cheerleader and supporter for ALL of us. You were the best great-grandmother ever - Peyton and Garrison have so many fond memories of "Grammaw" and talk about you - a lot - every time we are with them. Peyton loves talking about her Grammaw memories. I am so grateful that you had some time with them - playing with them - going to the zoo with them - taking them to McDonald's - going to Peyton's pre-school graduation - it was so much fun watching you love them and them love you.
I've shed more than a few tears over the past few months without you Mom. There is a big hole in my life - I miss you so very much every single day. I pick up the phone to call and tell you something. When I get to Amanda's, I grab my cell phone to call to tell you I arrived safely. I just want to talk to you. I smiled when Derek Hough won Dancing with the Stars again - you would have loved it - I enjoyed so much our Monday night sleepovers for 4 years watching Dancing with the Stars. It's hard to fix dinner for just Ron and me - we loved having dinner with you every night for 4 years at your house.
I have so many cherished memories - thank you for being the best Mom ever. Thank you for holding on until we returned from our vacation so we could have your last 8 days here on earth together. I know you did that for me - I'm forever grateful.
Amanda and Chad have invited us to spend Christmas with them and the kids this year - making new memories and starting new traditions - we are hopeful it will lessen the hurt of not having you with us Mom - to do something different. It won't make us miss you any less, but maybe it will be helpful to be in new surroundings. You'll always be a part of our Christmases and our every days.
There is so much more I could say, but mostly, I want you to know Mom and Daddy, I love you now as much as I ever loved you - so very much. I miss you both.
Love,
Peggy
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