Thought's on Christmas 2011

Dec. 18th, seven days before Christmas Day, Cally, Jav and Baby Elijah depart for the adventure of their lifetime. They return to Javier's homeland in Honduras, where they will begin their journey of faith. 

Mixed emotions stir during this time between these two dates given. Emotions of great sadness and overwhelming grief strikes deep within the souls left behind and the ones going beyond. Happy feelings for Jav to finally be united with his family for the first time in eight long years. Excitement for Cally to see her husband's joy as he embraces his loved ones. Happiness for her new family to embrace she and her husband as one and to love on their new baby Elijah. Feelings of confusion flood each of us, both this side of the U.S. and in Honduras; not knowing exactly how to feel about moving forward in life when the ones you so closely hold to your heart, the ones you can touch, feel, smell, hear are now far away from you.

Emotions can make or break you, at times we want to give into them and allow them to break us and have their way with us because we want to give up and not move on in life. But, thankfully, we are strong by the grace of God and we always seem to find our way standing back up on the feet of our emotions and trudge onward. First slowly and then a little faster. I would have normally written, a little faster and faster, but we're not quite there yet....

So a lot has happen between 12/18-12/25.....and then Christmas Eve comes..Cally, Jav and Baby Elijah are in their new land away from our traditions this year. They are now establishing their own..

I am very thankful to have a deeply committed family. I have always known that we were, but for some reason without even knowing that it needed to be proven, it was proven again. There was an underlying feeling of everyone having to take care of everyones feelings. Just making sure we were o.k.

 Now that Cally wasn't here with us this year.  As obvious as it was that they were physically not present, they were as present as they could have ever been in our hearts. All throughout the day someone was always talking about them. "How we missed the traditional Honduran mix in food that Cally would always bring." "The departure at the airport that had just taken place." " Dad and I receiving our baby picture of Elijah." "Tears."

Breakfast as usual at Dustin and Mikal's house Christmas Eve morning.  Hunter and Amy, Dad and I joined them. It was a relaxed morning, after dad and I arrived 30 min. late. We ate and talked and talked and the poor kids had to interrupt us 50 times to tell us it was time to open their gifts from everyone.  We loved watching the kids faces as they opened each and every gift.  Later in the early afternoon Dad and I departed to hurry and get out to the beach where we we going to welcome Hunter and Amy for a nights stay at the beach.

Everyone pitched their tents and hurried to sit around the fire. The fire that lasted and lasted thanks to David, Hunter and Amy always tending it. There is something mesmerizing about a fire. Something that pulls you towards it and when it does it grabs ahold of your gaze and doesn't let go.  I think it disposes of  all your stress. It's as good as a massage or hot bath. 

The first night the wind was fierce and chilly. Thankfully our two guys rigged a picnic table to block the wind, which made our evening more pleasant. After our cooked rib-eyes topped with onions and mushrooms, broccoli and cheese and a caesar salad, we continued to talk and stare at the fire, our evening delivered what we came for, we were all rejuvenated, from the inside out.

Sunday morning, we awoke to a beautiful morning, with a quick walk on the beach. The clouds slowly moved in and the air became a little chillier moment by moment.

David, Hunter and Amy made an awesome breakfast. There's nothing like campfire food and I must brag on us all, that we have a very sophisticated way of cooking it. Somehow, it came out extra, extra good. There were scrambled eggs, Applewood Bacon, pancakes, hash browns with stir fried onions, coffee , hot chocolate. Did I miss anything? It was great.....

Can't wait to go back to the beach, hopefully before next Christmas...

Thank you Cally, Jav and Baby Elijah for loving us all. Thank you Mikal, Dustin, Miss Olivia, Deac and Levi for having us over your house. And thank you Hunter and Amy for spending time at the beach with us this year. 

We love all of you..

Mom and dad.....