The Empty Box

On this Christmas morning, I am sharing with you a story which happened
25 years ago.  I was 27 and had two s mall sons.  My mom had died that  June and it ws our first Christmaas without her.  My dad was only in his 50s but we had been noticing some alaraming symptoms.  Things that made us believe he was developing some sort of early  onset dementia,  It was devastating for us to think that my vibrant, extremely intelligent father was literally slowly losing his mind. We all missed Mom and it was difficult even thinking about Christmas without her.  But Dad insisted we carry on.  I remember he often said those last few weeks before Christmas that he was out Christmas shopping.  He wanted no help...he wanted to do t on his own.  My mom had done most of the shopping so this was a  pretty new concept!!      So on t hat Christmas morning he slowly handed out our presents.  He handed me a box wrapped in pretty  Christmas paper. It was the size and shape of a clothes box.  I opened the box and inside....it was empty. Dad was sitting near by anxiously waiting to see my reaction to the gift he picked out for me.   I showed him the box and said.." Dad the box is empty...there is nothing in it.""  I will never forget the look on his face, the embarrassment, the frustration, the disappointment.  He said"Oh Shoot!!and ran back up stairs with the box.  A few minutes later he came down and again handed me the box.  Inside was a beautiful dark green zippered sweatshirt.  It was perfect.  Those of you that know me know that dark green is my favorite clothes color and as the mother of 2 small children, I  loved sweatshirts. My Dad on his own had picked out the perfect gift.  But he was still feeling bad about the empty box.    And truthfully so was i.  The fact that it had happened  only confirmed what we had already been fearing.  The dad we had known all of our lives was changing.  There was something going on and we cold not ignore it. And yes, the disease progressed, he was diagnosed with both Parkinson's and early onset demntia.     The following years were tough and Dad died at the age of 64  way too young for a man who had so much to give.  I still think of that Christmas and of the box that dad handed me...but I  know something now...that I didn't know then.  The box wasn't empty at all.  It was filled with love, the love of a man who knew just the right gift for his daughter,  the perfect sweatshirt in her favorite color.  I miss my Dad always....but never as mush as on Christmas.

My most favorite time of the year.....(one of them!)

Today was Christmas tree choosing day.  There is a tree farm about 30 minutes away that sits high on the mountain!!  The farm has been there a long time and the owner isn't planting anymore trees...but there are tons left.  Any tree is 35 dollars.  Can't beat it.  Paul was away for the weekend but Jenn came...and David and Amanda.  We piled into the pickup...singing Christmas songs along the way.  The view is incredible  and the trees are my favorite...blue spruces!  The pictures tell the rest of the story...they show the absolute beauty of the day!!!!!  By the way  Jenn chose her tree and Sierra chose ours.

Christmas Prelude...a journey to Maine!

On our honeymoon Scott and I went to Kennebunkport Maine.  I love Maine.  I love the beautiful ragged shoreline...I love the people...seemingly always friendly and willing to talk...I love the weather....not too hot summers with cool falls and wonderful winters!!!  While walking around Kennebunkport and wandering through one of their many  shops...I came across a beautiful framed photo.  It was of a lit Christmas tree in the middle of town.  All the  surrounding shops were decorated.  There was a light powdering of snow on the streets.  It was beautiful.  I pointed it out to Scott.  Five years later we returned to  Maine to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.  Right before we left to head home... Scott  handed me a large package.  In it was the large framed photo...the one I had admired 5 years before.  I loved it!!!  I secretly wished that someday I could be there when Kennebunkport celebrated their Christmas Prelude.....somehow I could see the tree lit and standing beautifully in the center of town.  The problem was...Scott works for the highway department...we never go anywhere in the winter  ( well except to China in January 2009...but that was an exception!!)  One day last year , as we were celebrating Chinese New Year at our house...I showed my friend Ellen he picture.  I told her how I wished I could someday go.  She said..."well let's go...let's go in December!!!"  "Lets bring Sierra and Gretchen and let's go to Maine!!  ( Gretchen is her adult daughter )  So last Friday morning we packed into Ellen's convertible and headed for Maine.  I can not even begin to tell you what a wonderful time we had!!!  We walked by the ocean...Gretchen and Sierra went IN the ocean!  We hunted for sea glass and small shells....we shopped and shopped and shopped for Christmas...and we stood in the center of Kennebunkport.... on a beautiful December night...when the tree was  lit !!! Sierra had a blast..She was awesome the entire weekend.  I loved sharing my dream weekend with her.  I loved spending the time with Ellen and Gretchen!  I was sad that Scott couldn't be with us...but I was appreciated the opportunity to have a girls weekend out!!

These are some of my favorite photos

I am hoping all my family and friends have the best Thanksgiving ever.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't stop and give thanks to God for all the wonderful blessings that have been stowed upon me.
This year we were saddened by the absence of Scott's father.  We had spent every holiday with him and we missed his warm smile.  We are comforted  knowing that he is not suffering and is no longer in pain!!!

Years ago when I was a little girl growing up in Long Island, my girlfriends and I would sit and dream about our futures.  We would imagine what our husbands would look like, how many kids we would have, and what their names would be.  I couldn't wait to be a  Mom.  I  couldn't wait to have babies.  I  loved being pregnant.  And I love being a Mom.  So much, in fact , that 17 years after my last child was born, I became a Mom again.  And I have enjoyed every  minute of it.  I am lucky.  All my children, even the ones not living home, live with in 4 miles of me.  I get to see them a lot.  But on Thanksgiving my heart always fills with joy as we meet at Scott's brothers and we are altogether.  And to have Paul and Jenn there as husband and wife, it made this Mama proud!!!!

Scott, Sierra and I started out the day with a wonderful walk down along the Hudson River.  It was a beautiful November day, bright sunshine, crisp temperatures, and no breeze.The mountains stood out against the sharp blue sky.  The only thing to  mar the moment was the fact that my camera battery died and I had not brought the other, charged battery.  I did get a few shots but not as many as I would have liked.  We then stopped at m y brother's house, but he also had decided to go and take a walk.  We came home and I called my sister who lives in Maryland.  She is actually in Florida and enjoying some relaxing time there.  I so miss having her closer for the holidays...but she surprised me with the news that they will be up this way for  Christmas!!!!!

We went to Scott's brothers and had a most delicious meal...oh my did we eat....and eat...and eat.  I try to remember though, the many children and adults in our world who are going hungry this  Thanksgiving.
 I know how fortunate we are that during this difficult economic time that we both have decent jobs And we have much family time.  Scott and I both work full time jobs but we both pull in the driveway together at 3:35.  We both get done at 3:30 and each of us work with in one mile of our jobs.  We have lots of time to spend together and have some time for ourselves too.
So I extend a Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and I hope your lives are as blessed as mine!!

Please click on this if you are interested in doing some holiday shopping and making a donation to some very worthy causes.  One of the receiving organizations is Pearl River Outreach.  This group of caring individuals help find sponsors for children, many who are from Sierra's orphanage.  Through Pearl River Outreach, we sponsor a sweet little boy named Aiden!!!

How great is my love...

During the past month or so I have been thinking about and rejoicing over the wonderful family that God has blessed me with.  The day of Paul and Jenn's wedding was a day I will never forget.  A I watched my sons and my precious daughter...my heart over flowed with love for them all.  Our family also officially grew that day with Jenn becoming our daughter in law...but she had already been included in our hearts.  Many people came to me that day..telling me how special the relationship between my boys is.  And how sweetly they treat their little sister.  The love I feel for them is like nothing else.  The unconditional, no matter what, even though you are all so different, kind of love.  As I look at pictures from that day...I see it...I feel it ...all over again...an amazing love I feel for my family.

I used to wonder about the idea of God sacrificing his child for us.  I thought I wasn't Christian enough because I knew I could never sacrifice any of my children for anything.  I would give my life for them in an instant but I could never send them to die.  Well this 52 year old brain finally had her light bulb moment!!  I was at our church Women's group meeting the other night and we start with a  devotional.  My friend was reading scriptures that told us how  much God loved us.  "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son"   And then..... I ...finally...got...it!  God doesn't want us to sacrifice our children.  What he saying is this'''Hey you parents...you know how much you love your children...you love them so much you would do anything for them???  You put them first ...you protect them, guide them, teach them etc.   Well guess what...I LOVE YOU EVEN MORE THAN THAT!!!!"  All of us...every day...every hour...every minute...every second of our lives  God loves us... more than we can ever imagine.  Wow...and so to my children I say this...you all know how much I love you...how you have blessed me every day of your lives...how parenting all of you has been my greatest joy..how I have been so proud of what you have accomplished..but you know what...God loves you even more!!!!

Check out Leslie's blog.  I have been bloggy friends with her for over three years!!

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