Holiday Whirlwind

I’m back in the world of WordPress and playing catch up! At first, I felt a twinge of guilt, a void with my absence here. But that didn’t last long. I’ve been bizzeeee!

After spending five days with my energetic, high spirited, six year old granddaughter, I’m still processing the whirlwind.  She stayed in the room I’ve been fixing up for her for two years (the room that has doubled as my art studio) with plum colored walls, yellow curtains, butterflies, and angels. Earlier this year, due to complicated family matters, I didn’t know if I would ever see her again. So her being able to stay with me was an answer to many prayers.

We had some wonderful times, playing hide and seek in the back yard, making cookies, singing Christmas carols (“Frosty the Snowman” at least 20 times), reading books, and playing make believe as kitty cats, pirates, and characters from the movies, Frozen and Moana. Church went well on Sunday, and later, I got to answer (or attempt to answer) lots of questions about God: Does God live in the sky? How big is God? Does God have parents? Did God make everything? Does God know everything?  How does God know everything? Does God know we are talking right now?

I received an abundance of opportunities to practice setting boundaries, standing my ground, and going with the flow, with many deep breaths and an abundance of hugs. I am extremely thankful for my husband’s support and for help from my daughter (Aunt Ayla) during this whirlwind holiday.

If necessary, I and my support team would be fully capable of taking care of my granddaughter until she is grown. But after five days, I  was happy to return her to the loving care of her father and his partner. There’s a certain wisdom to menopause. God and Mother Nature have been kind to women in not allowing us to have children after a certain age.

There’s always something to be thankful for.

I hope you’ve all been enjoying warm and happy holiday moments and wish you many blessings!

 

The Grinch had an epiphany when he couldn’t stop Christmas from coming by stealing the presents. He realized there must be more to Christmas when her heard the Whos down in Whoville singing without any presents at all. As the Dr. Seuss story goes,  his heart grew three sizes that day!

When I’ve listened to people talk about “getting through the holidays” or that they will be glad when the holidays are over, I’m just a bit saddened. It’s understandable to want the holidays to be over if you are grieving the loss of a loved on, and if that’s the case, my heart goes out to you wishing you peace and healing. My wish for all of us is that we could move beyond the frenzy of  shopping for things we buy from a store (though don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about my new camera) and beyond all the special events and obligations that can be tiring while at the same time joyful.

I admire the traditions of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa with multiple days of celebration based on worthwhile principles. Perhaps we can celebrate these holy days of the season of Christmas: the days leading to the season of Epiphany. The 12th day of Christmas comes on the Eve of Epiphany.  In the church calendar,  The Feast of Epiphany corresponds with the discovery of Jesus by the  three wise men.  It’s when we celebrate the revelation of God as a human being in Jesus Christ.

Let us allow the joy and love of these holy days to fill our hearts with peace. Perhaps the best is yet to come!

Art by Mary Engelbreit