Sheer Fortitude

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.


Christmas this year was poignant, softly, quietly the most beautiful Christmas i can recall. We had a house full of eight, then eleven, then seventeen. Amazing that such a small house turned into a home full of shining, beautiful love with new memories of stockings decorated at the kitchen table, five and one jumping on the trampoline, laughter spilling through the house in tandem and fantastic grilled burgers for Christmas Eve dinner.


Equally amazing was the perfectly timed adjustment in medication for Blue that made his entire holiday his shining moment...the entire day before the Eve of Christmas, Christmas Eve as well as Christmas day, the holiday began and ended perfectly with him declaring...I'm getting a hold on this holiday thing, Mom. :)
I celebrated this special Christmas with the most wonderful man on earth, my husband of three months and three weeks, our six healthy, beautiful children, my parents, my sister andr fiancee and thier beautiful almost year old beautiful baby girl as well as my husbands' parents, a fantastic pair of inlaws.


As I prayed throughout each moment for healing for my dad, I appreciated each small thing I was blessed with...our combined family, the sideways laughter, the excitement in thier voices as they asked from 7 am on Christmas Eve morning, can we open just one now? I gave thanks then as I do now, smiling, remembering that we are *not* alone, whether near or far, in heart. Miles calibrate distance, never taking into account the strength of love, the sheer fortitude of those that love truly and deeply.


We were blessed with two of the greatest friends on earth, both sacrificing a portion of thier Christmas Eve morning to take a myraid of family pictures for us. They braved elements of freezing temperatures and freezing snow around thier own Christmas preparations to indelibly etch in time pure love, unseen strength and raw courage tightly corded together by family.


Christmas Eve night, we went to "the house", my parents' home that will ever be Christmas Eve's home in both my sister's and my heart. We enjoyed perfectly grilled burgers, banana pudding and love overflowing. As presents were opened, laughter flew from corner to corner as orbs oversaw the proceedings, gently through the night. There were times when I could almost feel both Grans (D & G) watching over thier babies (my dad & mom), us, Uncle Bob nearby laughing with us, watching over his Wooligan, my mother.


Every day should be as radiant as was Christmas Eve this year. The quiet peace, the thankfulness that we, a family unit, made wonderful Christmas memories although not mentioned, yet not overlooked at any given moment.


The last few days, my eyes, my heart & my soul have been lifting my dad and mom in prayer, asking for healing, asking for no pain, asking for everything to be perfect for him tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning, we gather at the hospital as many people across our family and friendship lines gather in heart and soul to pray unceasing for his doctor to find no more cancer and that if he does, it will be taken care of quickly...painlessly, praising and glorfying His name.


As time draws nigh, I pray for the healing, peace, laughter and love that have brought us this far to take us into a new year together, family in our hearts, friends by our sides, healthy, happy and one.