December 26 has come. We had a slow and easy Christmas yesterday full of delicious food, some sweet surprises, and the joy of being together, just the six of us.
Now it’s time to begin the slow descent out of the holiday and into life as we know it. Why is it so hard to leave precious, special days behind?
We sat all cozy in my bedroom and watched old videos of our family today.
In the first video we brought the Baby Lady home from the hospital. The boys delighted over her, with squeaky little voices whose toddler sweetness I had forgotten.
Boy 1 wore a Flash costume in another video and swung a baseball bat that was entirely too big for him.
I followed Boy 3 around unsuccessfully trying to get an eighteen month old to perform for the camera.
Boy 2 played football in our Nashville backyard, a grinning three year old gleefully running the wrong way into his own end zone.
Where do the years go?
Later I dished dinner for these great big children of mine, and I thought of the moments we had shared earlier in the day.
There were jokes between Boy 1 and me about silly games (gah, I just love to make him laugh!). The Lady danced ballet for us while the boys played piano. Boy 3 read The First Noel to us before we opened presents. Boy 2 prayed for our Christmas dinner in a soft, bold voice that is so “him”.
I thought of all that as I looked at the faces I love more than my own life. Then I said, “Watching those videos of you guys when you were little makes me miss your baby faces. But, I love who you are and who you are becoming. I’m so glad I’m your mom.”
They shrugged off my love; it’s a common thing around here for mama to wax eloquent. But someday, I know they will understand better.
I may not know where the years go, but I do know that Christmas was one day among many that we have together, and that tomorrow is a better gift than any of the things we found under the tree yesterday.
So long, Christmastime. Thanks for the memories.
