Jeremy's family is a lot different than mine...there are lots of siblings and aunts and cousins and most everyone is quite opinionated and it can be very noisy. Jeremy's grandparents met in November 1948 at a pie sale in Appleton, MO where Jeremy's grandma was the teacher of 8 grades in a one-room schoolhouse. They were married on Christmas Eve, just one month later. They had 5 daughters--Glenda, Rhonda, Sondra, Brinda, and Janda (I think I heard they were called the "Da Sisters" in high school). Jeremy's family has 5 children as well--Tommy, Jack, Jeremy, Kyle, and Stacey, and his cousin Janelle seems like a sister to me because she lived with them in high school. So even though much of the family were in other places for Christmas, it still was full and lively.
Christmas with family is always interesting, no matter how big or small the family is...Jeremy's family has its share of strengths and weaknesses, blessings and hurts, like any family. And like any family, they not only share genes but a common history and have been shaped by common events. Jeremy's family, despite its ups and downs, is fiercely loyal and everyone (including me) cherishes his grandparents (one of Jeremy's cousins even gave her kidney to Papa so that he could live more years with us!). It was wonderful to be with them on Christmas Eve, their 63rd anniversary, and to hear Grandma tell me again about how they met and how they care for each of their offspring. I wish I could have video-ed her talking, but it would have ruined the moment!
Dogs and cats are an important part of the family--I loved watching Annie get to know Grandma and Papa and Jigger and Allie.
Family holidays always cause me to ponder family relations...how there is so often so much unsaid beneath the surface. We struggle to love our family members sometimes, yet there is no one we would rather sit around stuffing our faces with on any given holiday but them. It's like everyone gets together and wants the best for each other but doesn't always know how to show it. With Jeremy's family, I was so thankful for their hospitality and for hosting us and our rascally kids...and I wanted so much to be a blessing and show love to them. I guess I showed it by trying to work hard in the kitchen.
"X-Boxing" at Uncle Bryan and Aunt Janelle's house--with more
dogs, Ajax and Isis
Though most of Christmas was spent wrapping/opening presents and preparing/eating food, Jeremy's simple prayer before dinner was what kept going through my mind the whole day, "Thank you for sending Jesus to rescue us from ourselves." We sure need rescuing, no matter how functional or dysfunctional our family gatherings are, no matter how much food is on the table, whether we got what we wanted or not. None of those things really bring the sense of satisfaction that we think they are going to...I know for me that laying my head on my pillow at night knowing the world isn't on my shoulders, it's in the hands of One far greater than me, that brings me peace.dogs, Ajax and Isis
Grandma and Papa's on Christmas Eve--a Christmas tree full of Christmas
memories and a family room full of...family!
memories and a family room full of...family!
Here are some of the highlights of sweet moments:
...Watching Grandma show Evan and Annie her special Christmas decorations and explain their meaning or how/why she got them.
...I got to make Grandma's famous fudge with her but didn't get a picture of it--it was difficult! She was stronger than me at stirring and holding the hot pan!
...the kids helping to bring people together and give us something to watch instead of t.v.!
...orange slices on the table, just like my grandpa always had at Christmas.
...watching my kids' expressions of wonder and excitement while driving around looking at lights at the Plaza.
...how Samuel got so into giving special gifts--he made homemade things for all of us...
...painted a special picture of a fish for Papa...
...and saw how much his brother loved the handcuffs he got as a birthday present that he put them back in the box, wrapped them himself, and put them under the tree for Evan. Priceless!
...watching people play so sweetly with Annie. Thank you for entertaining her!
...getting to connect with loved ones who were far away through technology. Here is Sam talking to his Gamma (Jeremy's mom) on my cell phone...they were talking about fudge and what dishes we used and who was there at Christmas eve. 
...here's Papa talking with so much love and care to Janda, his youngest daughter who recently lost her husband to cancer and would be staying in Seattle for Christmas.
...and here's Annie opening presents with her other grandparents (my parents) via Skype. Fun!
...Seeing Jeremy's brother Tommy for a short time at his restaurant. Bittersweet.
I made a slideshow of our family time in Kansas City...I kept thinking about the lyrics to the song (it's by Sara Groves, of course), while we were with the family. I'll include them below if you want to see them. Kansas City family and family scattered around the country, we love you and wish we could have spent Christmas with all of you! (If you want to watch the slideshow in fullscreen mode, click this link: http://youtu.be/OQvT_NHb0mE otherwise, just watch it below. Stay tuned at the end for a surprise from Sam and Evan).
To Be With You
By Sara Groves, Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn | Back to Album Back to Lyrics Menu |
We come in from our travels to be with you I fall in with my sisters to be with you Praise God from whom all blessings flow We set our milk and cookies to be with you | |
Thank you for sharing this. Absolutly beautiful. It brought me to tears because I miss having family. Grandma and papa are such a blessing to me. I wish we lived closer to spend more time with them.
ReplyDelete