Holiday time is here!! This year I am beginning to look forward to Christmas. That is a BIG step since last year I really would rather have skipped it all together. They say that with time the pain will get better, I disagree. It doesn't get better, maybe more tolerable, maybe not as intense everyday, but definitly NOT better.
I was sitting here thinking about my extended family this morning. When I was young, our family would gather for the holidays, rotating from one grandparents house to the others from year to year. All of the Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and everyone else who might be in the neighborhood at the time would be there and it was a BIG party! We so looked forward to that! Time went by, I got married and then we had more families to work into the mix. Once the kids were born, we tended to stay home most of the time, it was so much easier than hauling everyones Christmas gifts halfway across the state. We were grown up now and had our own family to celebrate with. Then the kids grew up, moved away, had their own kids and went through the same cycle. The end result was this: My children barely know their cousins, aunts and uncles. They have no memories of the WHOLE family gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas, 30 kids running around like crazy little animals, having the time of their lives! They don't remember Grandad reading the story of the birth of Jesus and what seemed like forever until he prayed for everyone so we could open the gifts we all drew names for. Yes, they have memories of us and that is wonderful! But I wish for them the warm memories I have of my childhood. It is too late now to make the memories for them as children, but my goal is to make the memories for THEIR children. THat is part of why we go to the beach every summer. The WHOLE family is invited and we all get together for a week and just enjoy each other's company. We are making memories that I hope my children and grandchildren will cherish when they have their own grandchildren.
My message to you is this: Don't wait! Plan SOMETHING!! You never know if next year is going to be too late. Don't look back with regret over things you wish you had done, people you wish you had called or written to. They may not be there tomorrow to say "I love you" to.
This holiday season, call that aunt whose house you used to love to go to, or your favorite cousin that you haven't talked to for years. They are probably just as busy as you are living their lives but what a bright spot in the day to hear from someone who used to be such a big part of your life.
Losing Mason has taught me many lessons, some I didn't want to learn, others I am glad I realize now. One of the most important ones......DON'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW! Tomorrow may not come.
To all of my family and friends: I love you all and miss seeing those of you that live far away. Let's try to remedy that!!
I was sitting here thinking about my extended family this morning. When I was young, our family would gather for the holidays, rotating from one grandparents house to the others from year to year. All of the Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and everyone else who might be in the neighborhood at the time would be there and it was a BIG party! We so looked forward to that! Time went by, I got married and then we had more families to work into the mix. Once the kids were born, we tended to stay home most of the time, it was so much easier than hauling everyones Christmas gifts halfway across the state. We were grown up now and had our own family to celebrate with. Then the kids grew up, moved away, had their own kids and went through the same cycle. The end result was this: My children barely know their cousins, aunts and uncles. They have no memories of the WHOLE family gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas, 30 kids running around like crazy little animals, having the time of their lives! They don't remember Grandad reading the story of the birth of Jesus and what seemed like forever until he prayed for everyone so we could open the gifts we all drew names for. Yes, they have memories of us and that is wonderful! But I wish for them the warm memories I have of my childhood. It is too late now to make the memories for them as children, but my goal is to make the memories for THEIR children. THat is part of why we go to the beach every summer. The WHOLE family is invited and we all get together for a week and just enjoy each other's company. We are making memories that I hope my children and grandchildren will cherish when they have their own grandchildren.
My message to you is this: Don't wait! Plan SOMETHING!! You never know if next year is going to be too late. Don't look back with regret over things you wish you had done, people you wish you had called or written to. They may not be there tomorrow to say "I love you" to.
This holiday season, call that aunt whose house you used to love to go to, or your favorite cousin that you haven't talked to for years. They are probably just as busy as you are living their lives but what a bright spot in the day to hear from someone who used to be such a big part of your life.
Losing Mason has taught me many lessons, some I didn't want to learn, others I am glad I realize now. One of the most important ones......DON'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW! Tomorrow may not come.
To all of my family and friends: I love you all and miss seeing those of you that live far away. Let's try to remedy that!!