Let me begin this blog by saying Merry Christmas to all. This is going to be a blog about mine and my wife Kathy's Christmas together this year. This Christmas has been a tough one for Kathy and for me. Kathy's mom Nancy or as I call her Mutti is not with us this Christmas. No she has not died but her Alzheimer's has caused her to be more distant in mind and body. When we go to visit her she doesn't recognize either one of us and she doesn't even call us by name anymore.
My Mom and I have been estranged for 3 years now. It is tough for me because I am not really sure why and I feel as though I need some type of closure. Christmas has always been my Mom's favorite holiday and it just isn't the same for me without her in it to celebrate it with her.
These past Christmases with Kathy have been great! Her family has some really cool traditions that they have carried on since they were kids. One of them is reading A Christmas Carol. The book is broken down into Staves. The first Stave begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving and continues until every Sunday until Christmas Eve. They set up a big Christmas wreath on a table that has four candles in the middle with a candle in the center of the candles. They light one candle for each stave. The middle one is lit on Christmas Eve which has been at our house. We get together here for Chili and Tapioca Pudding and then we stuff the stockings after reading the last stave in which Scrooge becomes transformed into a better human being.
Christmas morning we meet at Barbs where we open our gifts and eat ham and other trimmings. Then we sit and talk and visit sometimes play board games. It really is a nice and quiet Christmas time with the family.
I would like to take the opportunity to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year!
These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville
It has been a year of growth and pain, joy, understanding, and more growth. We are lucky to be able to spend these years together.
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