I had my Christmas after all. Chris, Tisha and Evan were able to come here for our traditional Christmas Eve. Evan was still out of sorts, lethargic. His appetite was poor so he didn't eat much of the meal I had prepared. Later, all he wanted to do was sit in the living room to watch cartoons and play video games. He wasn't up to decorating the sugar cookies I baked yesterday, so Tisha and I did that job instead.
We exchanged gifts. My favorite is always the calendar Tisha prepares for me each year with photos of Evan. This year I showed up, too, hugging Evan in front of the Christmas tree, showing him my keyboard, sitting with him on the platform at the Shiocton marsh, watching him collect Easter eggs, decorating Christmas eggs. It is a reminder of what a good year we had. And always pictures of that dear, dear little face.
Chris drove us to the cemetery where once again, Tisha charged over snowbanks to place our Christmas candle on my parents' grave. Two days ago I had been there and thought no one could accomplish that but nothing stops my excellent daughter-in-law.
We did a little shopping: fever medication for Evan, dish detergent for me, mending tape for the badges on Evan's Cub Scout shirt. The stores will be closed tomorrow so we needed to do our shopping today.
Next we went to the children's Christmas service at the United Methodist Church. Evan was not feeling well enough to sit with the other children at the front of the church but when the pastor quizzed them about the Christmas story, there was one little voice at the back of the church who called out the answers when no one else could.
Afterwards we drove around looking at the Christmas lights, especially the many at the museum on Depot Street, then we drove past the cemetery to make sure that candle was lit. Then I sent my little family home. Tomorrow is a big day for that little boy.
And that was my Christmas. Tonight, I am watching the old Alistair Sims portrayal of Scrooge and planning my journey to meet Gary in Illinois tomorrow. The Christmas lights are glowing. I drink herbal tea and think about the year to come.
We exchanged gifts. My favorite is always the calendar Tisha prepares for me each year with photos of Evan. This year I showed up, too, hugging Evan in front of the Christmas tree, showing him my keyboard, sitting with him on the platform at the Shiocton marsh, watching him collect Easter eggs, decorating Christmas eggs. It is a reminder of what a good year we had. And always pictures of that dear, dear little face.
Chris drove us to the cemetery where once again, Tisha charged over snowbanks to place our Christmas candle on my parents' grave. Two days ago I had been there and thought no one could accomplish that but nothing stops my excellent daughter-in-law.
We did a little shopping: fever medication for Evan, dish detergent for me, mending tape for the badges on Evan's Cub Scout shirt. The stores will be closed tomorrow so we needed to do our shopping today.
Next we went to the children's Christmas service at the United Methodist Church. Evan was not feeling well enough to sit with the other children at the front of the church but when the pastor quizzed them about the Christmas story, there was one little voice at the back of the church who called out the answers when no one else could.
Afterwards we drove around looking at the Christmas lights, especially the many at the museum on Depot Street, then we drove past the cemetery to make sure that candle was lit. Then I sent my little family home. Tomorrow is a big day for that little boy.
And that was my Christmas. Tonight, I am watching the old Alistair Sims portrayal of Scrooge and planning my journey to meet Gary in Illinois tomorrow. The Christmas lights are glowing. I drink herbal tea and think about the year to come.
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