12/25/06
Christmas Day Musings
Brannon moved his bedroom today. The room sure looks empty. He’s the last one at home. Where did all the time go?
First there was Joleen, so loving and full of energy. She would run one spot to look at the flower and then dart off again when a butterfly caught her eye. When we lost her I knew she would come back into our lives to bless us again. The years were long but she’s grown into such a beautiful, intelligent, loving, strong, capable person.
Then there was Katrina. She was the blessing we waited on for so long. She taught me so much about how to be a good mom. She is so loving, always giving a hug and her beautiful smile to everyone. Her strength of will, her courage, and her beauty inside and out have made her an intelligent, accomplished person.
Brannon was next. He was always so curious. Nothing was safe from being taken apart to see how it ran. Usually I couldn’t put it back together but that was ok. Brannon tries to be the tough guy but he has such a loving heart that the tough guy doesn’t always win out. That is a good thing. It makes him tough but vulnerable. He’ll always be my baby, time can’t change that, but he’s grown into an intelligent, handsome, capable, loving, strong person.
Ken moved into our live and our hearts. He had so much love to give and no one to give it to. We changed all that for him. He changes all that for us. He gave us love, stability, discipline, memories; he put the joy back into our lives.
Along with Ken came his children. Not all of their lives turned out like his parent’s wish for them. There will always be an empty place in our hearts for Kenny and Kimberly who went astray. Angie broke away from her roots long enough to go find herself and then return with a husband, back to her roots.
Naomi has such a big heart. She taught us all to be more tolerant, to speak clearly from the heart so we could be understood, to work through life’s difficult times to see the beauty on the other side. Naomi works so hard to please everyone. She takes such joy in life. Her beauty shines in her eyes and on her radiant face when she smiles. She has grown leaps and bounds beyond our expectations.
Megan came into our lives so full of hatred for the world. She hurt so badly inside. When she chose to let her light shine she was witty, charming and talented, - although some of those skills were better off left alone. Megan could only shake her ghosts for a little while and went to live briefly with her grandma in Washington. But while she was with us there was never a dull day!
As the times have changed, children grown, they now have families of their own. We are blessed with new young adults now – Juan, Chip, and Samantha. I can’t wait to get to know them all better! I know they will enrich our lives since our children chose them to love, cherish, honor, and last a lifetime with.
So many things have changed in our lives. It’s been 33 years for Ken and 27 years for me that children have been the main focus of our lives. It is going to take a little time to figure out what needs to go in to fill that void. Christmas’s aren’t going to be the same but I know Len and I will find some other way to fill the void of grown children.
We are looking forward to this next phase with hope for the future and love in our hearts – and a few elastic apron strings. The memories are there and I’m looking forward to making many, many more.
I love you all!
Mom
