This was the first Christmas where we only had one family come to visit, exchange gifts, and have dinner. It really was quite different. I screw up the meat, of course. Yeah... I put it on too early. I knew they said they'd be over perhaps around 5:30-ish... and I had that time in my mind. So the meat was done then.... and we didn't eat for another hour and a half. Everyone said the meat was fine, but I found it dry - and it was my fault. But, a lot was eaten and the rest was divided and sent home. But let me back up some.
After my quiet time yesterday I baked us eggs ole' for breakfast -and since I hadn't gotten over to see Ms. Diane, I put hers in the oven too. After we had breakfast, I gave her a call and when I told her I had breakfast for her, she said she'd open the garage door for me. It is more of a straight shot for her to use her walker versus going to the front door to unlock it. She said "I'm in my pajamas" and I said "I don't care". So I took over all the goodies I had for her, along with hot eggs ole. Once inside, I talked her into letting me fix her a small plate of it. Took over salsa for it too. I nearly laughed, and wished I had given her a little bit more of it, for she gobbled it down as if she hadn't eaten in weeks. I know she has food in her refrigerator, and her daughter makes sure she eats dinner every night. But that little stinker confessed to me yesterday that she lies to her sons and daughter when they call and ask if she ate breakfast. She always tells them yes. After she gobbled down the eggs ole yesterday, she looks at me and says, "Now I won't have to lie to Cindy and Jeff; they told me to be sure and eat breakfast because they wouldn't be over today until 3:30PM for their Christmas.... I can tell them I did eat breakfast." She cracks me up. I left the pan of eggs ole for her; hopefully she will fix herself some this morning and heat it up. I also gave her some 'garbage' which she loves, as well. She raves about my cooking and I laugh at her because when I take something over and give to her, she gobbles it up. But when her kids bring her food, she just nibbles it. I love Ms. Diane cause she makes me laugh.
About 5:45PM my middle child, my oldest son, and all his family came over. It was so good to see everyone. Everyone got settled down after all the hugs and hubby and our little great-granddaughter started passing out the gifts. I WON!! I ended up with the most again - 2nd year in a row! LOL Not that there is a contest. I understand what my son once told me about it was somewhat uncomfortable a time or two when he and his wife had the most gifts. I think everyone was happy with what they got. I know I was - I got so much and it's all useable! Grateful and loving each one.
After opening gifts most of us headed to the kitchen to get the food to the table. Even the little munchkin was helping! Grateful for the help before and after dinner - it didn't take long for the clean up. I think everyone had enough to eat. The grandchildren seemed to enjoy their surprise gift of the salsa recipe I have made for the past 40 years. We had received the recipe as a wedding gift, along with a chip and dip plate. I felt sad that one grandchild felt he needed to head home before dinner as he was very tired and was concerned he might fall asleep driving if he stayed later. Grateful he let us know he arrived at the apartment safely. Daytime is hard for those who work the nightshift. And it had been a full day of play so I'm sure he and his brother were pretty tired! Once food was divided up and put away and dishes in the dishwasher, they took their leave and hubby turned on the TV to watch his team lose a football game. I sat down and looked through what I had received for sometimes it goes so quick in opening gifts, one doesn't get a good look. I love everything.
I don't know what hubby was thinking when he was shopping for me. He bought me several clothing items ranging in sizes from small up to large plus. I looked at him puzzled, trying to figure out what his thinking was. He had no clue what sizes he picked up. He just saw something and picked it up and bought it. He had to admit he didn't know what he was thinking. His comment to me was "I kept all the receipts so you can take them all back." Uh, no. I do all my shopping online so that I DON'T have to go to the store, and you can imagine how many people will be back at the stores today exchanging items. I will not be one of them. I can go online and order pretty much the same thing he bought... probably pay less for it now.... and put these away to give to someone next year. :-)
But I am grateful for his gifts and the thought he put in purchasing them. He just didn't pay attention this year at all on sizes. The one gift he gave that fits - a $100 visa card. LOL Oh, and a bag of snickers, and Dove, candies. What's really sad is that a couple of the sweaters are really cute and I like them, but this fat body will not fit into a small. Hopefully I can find something similar.
I'm also grateful I don't have to work today. I slept fairly well last night, but, I fell asleep for nearly an hour after I started reading my Bible this morning. Could not keep my eyes open. So now I feel like I am somewhat running behind schedule. I didn't get up until 5-ish, so one would think that would be my extra hour of sleep, but now, I fell into a deep sleep here in my chair. It's comfortable at times, what can I say!
But another reason I'm grateful I don't work today is that my granddaughter and great granddaughter may be over some time today to bake cookies! We will be touching base around 10AM to come up with a time and I'm looking forward to one on one time with them. And all the cookies will go home with them.
Our prodigal granddaughter reached out to me yesterday with a text "I don't know if you were planning on doing Christmas with me or not, but I just want to say I love you and miss you." Do they not know the key to my heart? I responded to her that I loved and missed her too, and if she wanted to come over today with the baby, she could, and I'd give her the gifts, but her boyfriend was not to come over, because of what he and his family have done. And, I told her it was her decision what she did. She didn't respond. I told my youngest son I had heard from her, and he said he had reached out to her as well. I'm hoping these tiny baby steps will soften her stubborn heart and she will quit listening to her boyfriend and his dad, and do what her heart tells her to do.
Jonah 4:6 (NKJV): "And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant."
If you take a moment and look back over your life, do you see the times that God has provided for you and you probably took it for granted? The times when you were so broke you didn't know how you could even buy a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, and yet, you miraculously came up with exactly what you would need. The times when your car was setting on E and you still had to get to work and you didn't get paid until later in the week... and yet, somehow, you were able to get to where you needed to go and back home again. When things happen, and there is really no explanation for it, and yet, it was good.
Those are the times that the Lord God prepared (a plant) for you and caused it to cover you and care for you, to deliver you. Are you thinking of those times?
I can remember praying hard when the gas tank was setting on E and just wanting to get to the nearest gas station to put a couple dollars in it to get to work.... and the engine shut off just as I pulled up next to the gas pump. Or digging in my purse to find change to buy a gallon of milk... and finding a dollar instead. God has always provided just what we need, when we needed it.
And I am grateful for each one of those times that the Lord God prepared a solution for our need, whether it be financial to where we could buy groceries or get gas in the car, to just providing for us in other ways. I am grateful we have a good, good Father.
And you do as well. Take a moment and thank Him for His provision for you and your family. For helping you pass an important test. For getting you through high school or college. For walking with you when you needed comfort. For giving you the peace you need just to get through each day. It's all God, you know. Thank Him. He does for you because He loves you. Just like you do for your children because you love them. Be grateful.
Blessings!
