. . . a holiday to remember
"This time last year, would you have ever imagined you’d be waking up with a man in your bed?” Chris inquired as we greeted the day on Christmas morning. The silky Egyptian cotton sheets kept our bodies warm as we snuggled under the covers, and a feeling of gratitude welled up deep inside my heart.
After twenty seven years of “going home” for Christmas, I now have a family of my own to share the holiday season with. Chris exceeds my wildest expectations, and as we exchanged gifts at the foot of the Christmas tree this morning, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have found a man who shares my soul.
It’s funny how quickly life can change. Last December, I was on a cruise ship headed to Mexico trying to convince myself that life as a singleton was sufferable. I never anticipated the blessings that have unfolded, and today I stand in awe of God’s goodness.
Following tradition, Chris and I traveled to the Texas Panhandle over the weekend, and he got his first taste of the Frank’s Family Funk. As usual, Nora kept things sane, and my siblings and I managed to make it through another family gathering without killing each other. Chris blends in beautifully with the Frank’s Clan, and I am thankful he chooses to look beyond their obvious dysfunction and see the loyalty and love that exist within the walls of our chilly, dilapidated home in Lefors.
Spending a quiet, peaceful Christmas Day with the love of my life is a dream come true. We will pick up Hunter and Chandler tomorrow afternoon, and I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they open up the gifts their dad and I bought for them. Words cannot express how lucky I feel to be a part of a healthy family system. As I glance back over Christmas’ past, I can clearly see how God was preparing me for the treasures I hold today. Life is full of unexpected twist and turns, and I can trust that as the years continue to pass, I will always be loved deeply by the man who chose to marry me.
How have the holidays evolved in your life?
"