Have you ever really had a silent night? Last night about 5am we woke up and realized we had no electricity. It is amazing how quiet the night can be when the normal night sounds cease. No refrigerator running, no furnace running, no heater in Kayla's room running...just complete and total silence other than the tick tock of the battery operated clock. There was enough of a moon and lots of white snow to reflect it so that we could see outside and it was beautiful...pristine and white. Granted, by the time the electricity had been off for a few hours the silence was rather overwhelming and the cold was starting to set in, but for a few hours, while the house was still warm and all was quiet it was indeed a silent night...and it was beautiful.
December 24, 2009
of all the goodies we have made this Christmas. Sour cream cookies (twice), fruit chews, almond tassies, caramel tassies, seasoned crackers (twice), fruit loop bars, dipped pretzels, dutch almond bars. Gee, no wonder my pants seem a little tight this time of year :)
Many years ago, I was 6 years old I believe, my Sunday School teacher gave me this little plastic Nativity scene. It was given to me when we still lived in Ireton and it was always displayed in our house at Christmas. When I grew up and got married it came to my house and has been displayed every year in my house. It has been broken several times over the years, one side is missing and it currently needs to be glued back together now. But the funny thing is, this cheap little plastice Nativity is my favorite of all the Nativity scenes I have (six total) simply because it is so old and something from my childhood. A small connection to where I spent the first six years of my life? Maybe, but I couldn't tell you the name of the person who gave it to me. I think it is mostly my favorite because it tells the story and meaning of Christmas so simply and completely. Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus...the story is there in cheap plastic that has lasted 37 years. Sometimes the simple things are the best.
I look at this picture and it amazes me...I have three grown children! When did that happen? As I sit here typing this the house is empty except for me and my honey. Brian is in Lawrence and Becky is in Vermillion and Kayla is in Laurens. When we first moved to this house it was the perfect place for us...big enough for three kids to run around, a big yard to play in and room to grow. Now when it is just the two of us at home it seems empty and too big. Wow, I never thought that would be the case, especially when all three were home and fighting with each other!
I know my kids are grown or almost grown but it doesn't really hit you until you see it in living color right in front of you. Time flies when you are having fun I guess and time did fly. I could say I wish they were little again or that I could go back in time and raise them again, but I don't wish those things. I loved raising them, and that job is not done. I do miss the babies they were, the first smiles and first steps, but just think of all the firsts I still have to look forward to! The high school and college graduations,the weddings, the grandchildren, the houses they will live in where I can visit, the holidays with their spouses and kids all gathered around. So many things and events I have enjoyed over the last 21 years and so many things and events I still have to look forward to. Yes, it surprises me that they all look so adult in the picture, after all, you don't notice that when you see them all the time, but it is so worth what we have been through and what we have yet to come. Life is good in the Josephson household :)