Day 349 - A Memorable Christmas

Sometimes it’s the sacrifices that we all make that make great memories. As parents, it was often a financial sacrifice to take the kids to Disney World, or to go on vacation in Colorado. But that’s where memories were made. I’m not saying that you can’t make memories at home or in familiar places, you can. But it’s harder because when you are there, you tend to slip into the same ruts. You don’t make memories in ruts. No, you make memories by being adventurous, by pressing the boundaries. So, when I booked this house, and talked to the girls and they agreed to come, I knew in my heart that it was going to be special. It was special. It was a Christmas I will remember, and I think that the granddaughters will especially remember. It has been so much fun watching them play and interact with each other all week. Just to be around them and see how much they have grown. It’s so hard to believe that Adair will be 13 in January, and Meleah will be 11. It seems like just yesterday that Julia and I took them to Disney World. I think Meleah was 4 and that would have made Adair 6. Time really does fly.

It’s been fun watching Julia be the human vacuum cleaner. She walks around the house constantly looking for something on the floor to put in her mouth. And it’s been fun to watch Anna Roan try to coordinate everyone’s activities. She is going to be a tour guide or President. She wants to know and understand what everyone is doing all the time. I really think she just doesn’t want to miss anything. But probably the most fun is being able to spend time with both Jennifer and Lisa in the same house. Last night after the kids were in bed, we sat and watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. We laughed for almost two hours. I don’t believe we have laughed together like that in years. I’ve laughed many times, but to be able to laugh with both my daughters at the same time, that’s special.

Christmas started with Santa Clause for the young kids around 8AM. Then Lisa made pancakes for breakfast. After breakfast we opened gifts and then we had Christmas dinner. It was Roasted Turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and salad. It was delicious. I had thought about having some sort of special sharing about Julia. But I canned that idea. We didn’t need it, she was there with us. She has been with us all week. Occasionally we will talk about her, and comment on missing her especially during the passing out of gifts. That used to be her job, to give the gifts out to everybody. But I have felt her presence, and I m sure everyone else has too. We didn’t need a special time to comment on our love. It’s still obvious.

This afternoon was a lazy afternoon. It was nice here; in the high 50’s and partly cloudy. The bad weather comes in tomorrow. So at about 3PM I went for a 4 mile run on the beach. I think it was the first time I have been by myself for any length of time this week. I really enjoyed the run. The winds were calm and I could just enjoy running on that nice flat hard beach. It gave me a lot of time to think. I feel like I’m at another crossroad in my life. For the past year my life has been in four main parts. First pressing into the Kingdom in school, church and wherever I could. I know that will not change. Second, trying to find time to work in travel to see my kids. I know that that will be the same. Third, work at Delta. That wont change, except I’m still trying to get it to slow down a little. I have to work, so as long as I can, that will continue on some level. Fourth, and this is where the change is coming soon, the blog. After Julia’s death I dedicated this year to write the blog and honor her memory. I have been faithful to write every day. Through this I have been healed, and I know from talking to others it has helped many. But what now? That is the question I was asking Papa as I ran today. I don’t have an answer. I don’t know “what now?” Maybe in the next few weeks He will show me. I know that He will and if I am listening, I will hear Him. But He did tell me this today during the run. Don’t be afraid of what may come. In other words “Fear Not”. I believe tha what he was saying to me was that don’t do something because you are afraid not to do it. He was also saying don’t not do something because you are afraid of the consequences.

I don’t normally get words like that from Him. I usually am not dealing with any fear, and I don’t think I am now. I see it as a warning not to let fear, any fear, dictate my choosing a path. He didn’t give me an answer today, but he said it was in my heart already. So I have the clues, now as a King all I have to do is look for the treasure. So, it looks like I’m going on a treasure hunt these next two weeks. I know that he will lead me with more clues, and I know I will find the hidden treasure. If I have learned anything this year it’s this. God is good. He’s even “gooder” than you think.