Christmas 2013

I am happy here in Idaho.  But the thought of spending the Christmas season away from family made me a little sad.  All of our group traditions are out of reach now.  Why is it, I wonder, that I am so resistant to change?  It seems to be a human pattern to fight it.  Yet it often brings unexpected joys. Well, trials too I suppose.  My Christmas thoughts usually centered around family; especially grandchildren.  My plans always revolved around how to celebrate it for them.  So decorating for Christmas here seemed somehow less interesting.  I told my sister Maryanne this early in December. She and her hub Bob have decorated their new home in Draper, Utah with a flourish.  "You should decorate for you and Layne," she said.  "Decorate!"  she said.  So I did.  Though I admit not so completely as in former years.  Still, I have enjoyed my house full of Christmas even without extended family to share it with.

Our special Christmas in our living room.

Layne and I had a small Christmas celebration on Sunday the 22nd.  We agreed not to buy each other gifts, for the first time ever.  But he bought me one anyhow.  And I love it.  We had a sweet time in front of the fire, surrounded by Christmas lights and trees.  On Monday we headed for Seattle, to spend Christmas with daughter Jessica and her family.  It is the first time ever that we have been to their house for this holiday.  Of course it was different, but also very enjoyable.  I love my family!  Being with our Gendreau kids was one of the hidden blessings of our move here.  It is 8 hours to their house; an easy day drive.  We spent Christmas Eve and Day with them, then headed back for home, with their three kids for a week or so while Chris and Jes take a trip together.

Christmas morning at the Gendreau home with
daughter Jessica, husband Chris, Gemma, Miles and Peyton.

Peyton, Gemma and Miles beginning their Christmas unwrapping.

The drive through "the Blues" on our way home from Seattle.
We were blessed with clear roads!

Our first white Christmas!  The trees on the drive to Idaho
sparkled with ice.  It was so beautiful!

Grandchildren.  Three of them.  When they are with us, my life centers around them.  I live for them.  I cook what they like and play endless board games with them.  I read to them and we talk and laugh together.  It is such fun.  I always worry that I won't have the insight to meet their needs; that they will be bored; that they won't have a good time.  But I forget how easy it is to love them and enjoy them.  These particular children are not members of the Church so I feel a need to share my faith with them; to give them a hope of faith in God and the pleasure of prayer.  So each day I try to share something of God with them.  I worry that without that faith the world will eat them up.  Each day I pray that I will share the right things with them.  I hope it is enough.

A lengthy game of Risk with Miles and Gemma.  It would have
gone on for days, I sure, if they hadn't decided to bag it after
a day's effort at determining a winner.

Gemma wasn't up for Risk.  Here is how she spent
her time during our never-ending game battle.

Although it has not stormed for quite awhile, there is still snow everywhere here.  It is colder than normal (so we are told), so the snow hasn't melted much.  The kids like it and ran through it for most of their first day here.  But it is cold.  So most of the time we are inside.  Tonight we plan to stay up to welcome the new year in.  The kids will be up for it.  I hope we will!