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| Looking through pictures with Great Grandma |
The greatest thing
about Christmas for me this year was that the actual day didn't feel too
much different from the others leading up to it. We had already been so
focused on spending time as a family, that the only real difference was
that we opened a bunch of presents. More than anything, I am grateful
for the gift of time spent with my family; to watch my girls renew old
bonds and love these people who love them so dearly. I took hundreds of
pictures while we were in Arkansas because I want them to be able to
remember every little thing they did and every sweet memory that I will keep
in my heart.
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| Brunch with the Creekmores! |
I was so grateful that I was
able to not only see my family, but also friends I haven't been able to
hug in a long time. We had an impromptu reunion with several of my high school friends at the flower shop before I trucked it to Springfield to pick up John and he got to spend some quality time the next day with his boyfriend best friend, Matt, while I plied Jessica with cookies and marshmallows in an attempt to wake up the awesome little dude currently residing in her belly.
I didn't just get to see the people I make an effort to run into whenever I'm in town...true to small-town form, I saw someone from
way-back-when pretty much any time I ventured outside of my mother's house. And, unlike how I felt when I first escaped mountain home as a
punk kid, this time I embraced the opportunity to hug someone I hadn't
seen in over a decade or knew from Adam as a kid. I was eager to give an
open smile and introduce my girls to anyone who recognized me as one of
those Gamelin children. It was an entirely new experience for me and
one I hope will repeat in the future.
On our
way out of town we met up with some people who were incredibly
influential in our lives; Shannon and Deborah were the original
conspirators in John and my relationship. If they hadn't hired the two
of us odd college kids at the library, mothered us, and generally poked and prodded
us along, John and I would have missed out on the most defining
experiences of our lives. Those two ladies (and their families) are
family to us and I'm only sorry we didn't get to visit longer.
As
far as travel goes, the girls are rock stars. They were as
low-maintenance as could be imagined on the trip home and we are so
grateful to be able to travel with them.
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| Racked out with Papa |
The
recovery period, though, for all four of us was longer than we had anticipated.
Personally, I indulged in a ridiculous amount of sugary foods while on
vacation (from my problems!) and my body had to basically detox once I
cut it back out of my system. Luckily, the girls are finally back on a
normal sleeping pattern and John and I no longer feel eternally
hung-over from the transition.
We kept new
years pretty low-key this year and chose to spend the evening with our good friends Jackie and Nate. There was pizza, beer, chocolate mousse, coffee, more
chocolate and champagne involved. I also ended up seated next to our
cozy pellet stove while we were whiling away the hours until midnight...which means I racked out well before the ball dropped on the west coast, but still, I couldn't have wished for a more pleasant New Years Eve.
As far as the actual holiday goes, I've
always enjoyed the celebratory spirit, but never really felt the need
to mark the passing of another year with reflections on my
accomplishments and hopes for new ones. Instead, I tend to mark my
year with personal Willian holidays: I may take New Years as a sign that
winter and the Holiday season are passing, but I look to spring, instead, with
the preparation of my garden...I try to mark my self-improvement and love of
all things made by God with Earth Day...On our Wedding Anniversary, I
note the incredible passing of time and the blessings that have come in
abundance with it...I mark my calendar with the arrival of asparagus and
pumpkins, pomegranates and eggnog (and always, always pie day).
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