All is right with the world

Well, the gifts are all opened (Christmas evening after Daddy got home from work) and all is right with the world. I'm left with reflections of the season; what we did, how we celebrated, whom we celebrated. One of the special things our family got to do was to head home to Ohio for five days, returning here just a few days before Christmas eve.

We originally planned to make the 6 hour drive on Sunday the 16Th, but a big nor'easter was due in the night before. Enter plan B.

Carl was scheduled for root canal on Saturday after work (I know, a Saturday evening root canal seems a tad, what, bizarre). He finally called me at 8:20 pm, telling me he was done. We had been toying with the idea of leaving after his dental work. However, it took much longer than I had anticipated and so I suggested we wait until Sunday as originally planned.

Uh, that was before weatherman Waldo threatened 5 more inches of snow that night, also stating freezing rain would begin in about 3 hours. Given that I had shoveled the drive twice that day and packed lickety split in case we had to leave earlier than planned, I again concluded that we needed to leave at 9pm when Carl got home.

And so we did. It was raining hard when we left and the roads, while not yet icy, were "slushy". They cleared about an hour east of the city and we never saw another rain drop or snowflake the rest of the way. Carl tired out around Columbus (it was after midnight by then), so I drove the rest of the way home (2½ more hours). We didn't climb into bed at my parents' house until 3:15am, but we made it safely. All is right with the world.

The next four days were a dizzying pace of wonderful holiday memories in the making with family. On Sunday, we were quite tired from our drive, so we just hung out with my parents, drinking coffee, cappuccinos, etc. The kids were ecstatic to be at their Nana and Papa's house and ventured out into the snow for some "back home" winter fun.

Monday, we ran some errands and did a bit of shopping too. Scrappers, I found 12x12 solid scrapbooking cardstock, 18 to 25 sheets per $1.00, acid free. WOO HOO! Olivia helped her Papa deliver flowers for the florist he works for. They're two peas in a pod, I tell you. In the evening, we met my brother Scot and sis-in-law Lori at the county nature center where the grounds and woods are transformed into a winter wonderland. There is a train ride through the woods, hot cocoa and cookies in the fireside room, and of course the 20 minute walk through the woods to see all the sponsored light displays. It was so very nice to spend that time with my brother and sister-in-law. The kids loved that they didn't have to share Uncle Scot and Aunt Lori with anyone. And sure, we all froze (it was bitter cold) but we had too much fun to take serious notice.

Olivia, Cierah, Carl, Brandon and Reece on the train. You were expecting something bigger? Well, this baby has been known to fall off the tracks if anyone leans over, tumbling riders into the snow.

The kids in the woods (see Brandon in the stroller?)

Tuesday we had a matching meeting with CPS, where we were placed on adoptive status with Brandon. This *IS* a big and important step, as it means he is now in his adoptive home and waiting for a court date to finalize. All is right with the world. We then rushed over to the health department for TB tests (Carl hacked up a lung as he checked in; I can only imagine what the secretary must have thought, lol), then went out to eat with family before heading to a local holiday event to meet up with Reece's birth sister and her family. The English Tudor home where the event was held, is gorgeous. A former judge in our hometown donated it to the city when he died many years ago. In fact, Carl and I had our wedding photos taken there. The kids all got their picture with Santa, then had hot chocolate together before we parted ways. In all, there were 7 children, ages 8 to 1. Yep, that's one mighty big chocolate sugar buzz.

The tudor home where we met Reece's birth sister.


Wednesday we celebrated Brandon's first birthday and, to a lesser degree, mine. The kids baked cookies with Uncle Scot, Aunt Lori, Nana and Papa. They had SUCH a great time doing this. Cierah literally put her whole hand in the sprinkles and would put mounds on top of each cookie, which someone would inevitably have to fix "finish" for her. And the bell shaped cookies came with a potential side of Pango Pango, as Reece sneezed right onto one while decorating it. Which one? Nobody was sure.Lori, Cierah, Scot, Reece, Mom, Dad, Olivia and Brandon decorating Christmas cookies together.

The kids also opened some gifts after dinner. I had visions of holes in the drywall when Olivia and Cierah rode new scooters down the hall. And Reece was thrilled with the beautiful new bike his Uncle Scot and Aunt Lori got him. And both girls put Aunt Jackie right to work with their new craft kits. Little Brando got the cutest outfits, pjs and a few new toys from family. Uncle Todd gave a generous gift of his own. It took Carl and I over an hour to pack our van as much as possible for the drive home the next day, lol. It was organized chaos, sure. But it was the kind of life moment that is earthly perfect in every way; family together, health intact, no crisis pressing down, holiday spirit flowing, and did I mention family together? All is right with the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I don't wanna be 1." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


...Really, boxes make the best birthday gifts of all when you're one.

Thursday, Carl and I had to get our TB tests read before making our trip home. Olivia was doing her best to wear a brave goodbye face (she hates to leave and gets quite emotional about it). I'll add that she had about 7 band aids on her hand and one on her chest because she had insisted on chasing and holding my parents' Persian kitten the entire time. The kitten really is quite sweet. However, Olivia ignored our requests to stop chasing after it and, as she often does, she learned a lesson via natural consequence. I wish I'd taken a picture of the band aids because it was quite funny to see her covered in them.

Our time passed too soon (as it always does), so we said our goodbyes and made our way down the road. I was feeling nostalgic as we left, passing homes of childhood friends who are grown and gone like us. Reflecting on memories with my family and leisurely days with my childhood friends made it all the harder to leave, and yet all the sweeter to take in. And as I posted recently, we made our way past our old home in the country. It was the nostalgic icing on the cake. My cup was indeed full (not just half full either; it runneth over) but it was time to go back to the place God has identified as "home" for this season of our lives.

A boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do to fight off boredom for the long drive home (even if it means playing with a girl's pink Barbie computer).


As I now reflect, I'm reminded that God is so very able to meet our needs. For, even though we really miss so many people, places and things back home, we also have new and dear friends here in Indiana, a wonderful new church family, a nice home and new favorite places to make new memories. Life moves forward and there's an element of yearning and sadness that comes with it sometimes. But when I look at it through heaven fixed eyes? My glass truly is half full. And that's a Christmas gift I can treasure for all time.

Matthew 6:19-20
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Toni