Nagging Traditions

It's quiet.  The house is asleep and I have some time to myself.

The tree is trimmed, gifts wrapped under the tree and cookies decorated.  From the street we look like a normal family enjoying a normal Christmas........and the Emmy goes to...the Newman Family for the nonfiction portrayal of  "A Normal Christmas".

Oh how I miss Joshua ....this time of year just yanks my heart apart again.  Joshua was our tradition man. 



Joshua and Santa - 2008

He was our energy, our passion, and yes....our nag, around the Christmas season.  He made sure all was done in time for a great Christmas.  Mom, we NEEEEEDDDD to get the tree up and decorated.  Mom we NEEEEDDD to go shopping for Christmas, Britt wants...., Stephanie wants......, Mom we NEEEEDDD to make cookies.

After about the 30th time, he wore me down enough to where the tree would go up, we loaded up the car for a shopping trip, and the grocery list included gobs of sugar and butter.

The Newmanettes - 2008

Move forward to 2012 which is our third Christmas without Josh.  All the shopping was done online to avoid crowds especially when every 5 ft stocky boy with short hair that walks by is my Joshie, or the tall one walking with his mom makes me wonder how tall Josh would be.   Ohhhh how I need some chocolate.

This year, we had to wait for Britt to come home from college to buy our tree from the Jones family who sets up shop on the street corner every Christmas season. 

After three days of standing untouched in the garage, Brad threatened to turn our Christmas tree into mulch if it wasn't up and decorated by night's end.  We three girls rolled our eyes, pulled out the stuff and up went the tree.  We even managed to place the angel on top without toppling the entire tree. 

When I suggested the girls bake the cutout cookies while I was at work, you would have thought I told them I hate puppies and kittens.  Oh my gosh...the drama!!!!! Sooo,  I put together the dough, let the girls fight over cookie cutter shapes, and decorate.  Don't tell anyone, but several of the cookies were a bit crunchy this year without Josh impatiently checking on them every 2 minutes.

These traditions don't seem to mean much to me this year.  That has been pretty much my attitude this whole season until I went through the house preparing for bed, and looked up to see the real reason for the season.  Sitting in a softly lit corner of my Dining Room is a small rendition of a stable which protects a baby in a manger. 

Joshua took this photo of our nativity in 2008. 

For a moment as I looked at it, I felt it... Peace

Wishing you a Merry Christmas as we celebrate a mother's joy at the birth of her Son.  And he shall be called Jesus!

Hugs!
Sherri



 

Too many toilets

It's 4 am and I am WIDE AWAKE!!! Yikes!

Britt is almost through her first week of college and seems to be adjusting.  She’s a bit lonely, but time will bring friendships and cafeteria buddies.  Her drop off was only a major ordeal because we were 1 of 4,000 families grabbing the same elevators to get moved into smallish rooms with bad furniture.   Lucky for us, only the polite crowds showed up on our vators.

I would like to have counted all the hefting around and step climbing as a "work out" but I forgot my pedometer so I have no proof or idea how far we walked.  My legs kept telling me it was a lot though.

All the while we were at OU, I kept thinking about how much Josh would love seeing the football players we saw. While we were in the bookstore,  there was a wall of these huge moving mountains getting their books and I could see in them what  he would have likely resembled in a few short years. Those kind of thoughts when they hit just get me riled and ticked off!   

Once we got Britt settled in and unpacked, it was time for our tearful goodbyes.  While I was prepared to totally lose it on her, Brad beat me to it.  By the time it was my turn, it was actually a bit anticlimatic since I was all cried out watching them.  I was like "Bye kid, see ya in October."  

Ok, maybe I've slightly exaggerated, but as I said goodbye I went back to Britt on her first day of kindergarten.  While many moms followed their child's bus with tears streaming, I was thrilled to have her enjoy her first day.  Once I put her safely on the bus, it was like, "Anyone wanna  go to Starbucks to celebrate? My child's on a new adventure today!"  

I always think of these moments like that Disney commercial where the little girl exclaims "I've been waiting my whole life for this!"  We found photos of Brittany's 4th birthday party and in the background on the television was the move "Twister" which inspired her to go to school to be a "storm chaser".  She truly has been waiting her whole life for this!

My friends are concerned.  They have either called or written to help me get through this seemingly traumatic change in my world.  They feel I must really be terribly upset that less than two years after my youngest gained his wings,  my oldest is so far away at college.....honestly, I don't feel it yet.  I know I will hear all about it, and will experience this new chapter through her eyes.  That makes me very happy.  The real trial will be the call with tears on the other end and I can't reach through and pull her to me.  When that happens, look out world, mama Bear is on the rampage!

While I truly appreciate that so many friends are worried about me now that Britt is at college, I was so grateful for the one who caught on to what has really been bothering me.  Stephi  home alone!  

Never mind that she was not supposed to be the last one at home.   Never mind that there were supposed to be four plates at the table, not three.  We don't even outnumber the toilets in our house anymore.  That alone makes me sad...I loved coming home from a road trip and everyone running to a bathroom with one person having to wait for a turn.  Now there is an extra one.    Who would ever think toilets could make you sad?!

I have to admit that Stephi doesn't seem to be bothered as much as I am.  In fact, she seems to be handling it beautifully.  She doesn't have to share the car with her sister, run her brother around, or even put up with either of their aggravations, though I'll bet you, she would happily do as much running as Josh needed and wishes he was here to tattle on.

Brad and I have noticed how big the house suddenly feels and how it's quiet, too quiet here.  So much change does make ya wonder what you're gonna do with your life and how you lived before you had kids.  We have two years of enjoying Stephi and all that she does, though our participation is somewhat limited since she now drives and is truly 16 going on 29!

So, here’s to yet another chapter of life unrevealed, and one I hope is truly uneventful for a bit...  I am happy to turn on my skype and live my life vicariously through my girls for a little while.

Hugs to you all during this busy school season!

Sherri

When a Priest makes a housecall

I received an  interesting call from Brittany while I was at work the other day.  She called to share with me the unexpected surprise following a knock on our front door.  It was 2:00 and still clad in her robe she opened the door to find a Catholic Priest on the stoop prepared to do an exorcism on our home.

Now I will admit, since losing Joshua we have become a tad obsessed with angels, heaven and the hereafter.  The girls have even become drawn to some tv shows that explain exorcisms and various ceremonies involving our connection to the spiritual world, so a man 'of the cloth' at the door didn't completely faze her.

I can't even imagine what went through this poor priest's mind when he was met at the door by a young woman in a robe at a house that supposedly has a spirit issue midday.

So while she's sharing this story I am feeling a moment of failure as I realize this has happened on my watch.  I truly have tried to share words of wisdom such as  "Always wear clean underwear" and "always get dressed in the morning because you just never know"...when a priest with exorcism gear will show up at your door? Hmmm, maybe I didn't use exactly that example.

As to why a priest would be standing at our door prepared to free us of spirits is kinda interesting.   Did the neighbors see or hear something?  Have we been seen floating or performing rituals in the basement?

It soon became obvious that this poor Priest was at the wrong address and with some directions from Brittany he was soon on his way down the street.  Yikes, I don't know if I feel better knowing there is any house near me that requires an exorcism.

Following the end of the story, I asked Brittany if she asked the priest to burn sage or give our home a blessing while he happened to be there? Her response (tongue in cheek) was, I'll do that next time.....

Oh my....life!

Sending Hugs!
Sherri