Birthday Blog!

It's the time of year! It's my birthday Blog.

I have been good and continued to write a blog every year for my birthday. Why? Because it's a time when I can stop and assess my life. If I do it every year it will be much easier on me when I hit my mid-life crisis, right?

Last year this time I was working on my associates degree. That is done. Accomplished. Another tick marked off. I am knee deep in working on my bachelors and that is another reason my poor blog has suffered. It won't be long though, in two birthdays I will be done with my bachelors. Or at least that is the plan.

My current class is one that makes me think. One of the thoughts posed was Socrates, "An unexamined life is not worth living." When I heard that I thought of my birthday blog. This is me, examining my life.

Every day I write in my journal. I know, not the blog, but not everything belongs on a public forum, and it's a good way to keep me writing. For the past year or so I have been writing down my goals and what I would like to accomplish. I have been able to whittle down the list.

The problem with whittling down the list is that I have to find new things to go on it. I have to keep finding things to check off my list. So here goes, travel more. Explore everywhere that I can. Show my family I love them, each and every day. Write. Keep writing and don't stop. 

One year older, one day wiser than yesterday. Life keeps moving forward. So ends my birthday blog for 2016. 

Missing Christmas

I can't tell you what I did two weeks ago, I barely remember that I had days off around that time. The hustle and bustle of Christmas overtook my life, not to mention all the other life events. Today was the first day in weeks that I was able to stop, take a breath, and look around. In all my effort preparing for the holidays I got so lost in it. It probably didn't help that my days were cut short by having to work the entire Christmas weekend (a known, yet hard part of my job).  When I was finally able to breathe, I was heartbroken over what I missed.

I spent so much time preparing for Christmas, shopping, doing Christmas crafts, cooking. In the end I felt like I missed Christmas. My family was amazing and did their best to spend the time they had with me. My children were upset at first, but they were easily distracted by cousins and presents. This was the first time I've been away from my family on Christmas and it was harder than I anticipated. We have done things similarly for years, so I can picture it in my head. The Christmas dinner, everyone gathered around the table, talking long after the food is done, the children begging to open presents. Finally, as it seems like ages to the children, the adults get up and make their way to the living room. The kids are ready to bust open the presents but must wait, for the reading of the story, to remember why everyone is gathered in the first place. Dad reads the story as the kids wait in relentless anticipation for him to be done. The story finished the prayer is said, the kids rush to the tree, hoping to hand out the presents. The older ones who can read get the job, and they try not to confuse the Grandparents with the Greats. Once the presents are past out the kids run to their piles, excited to see what's inside. They rush through with ooh's and ah's over the gifts they have been given. The adults take their time and are still going long after the kids are done. 

The presents open the kids rush off to play with their new toys and their cousins. They disappear, only to reemerge when something is wrong or it's getting dark. As the dark settles early, the games come out. Kids on the floor with one game and an aunt or uncle, others at the table with cards. The laughter can be heard throughout the house as Grandpa and Grandma look on with smiles. The fireplace gives the room a warm glow, making even the trashed wrapping remains look beautiful. 

The real truth is I didn't miss Christmas, I missed my family, I missed the atmosphere of the day. We've done Christmas other places, other ways, but the one thing that has always been the same is the love. I've never had a bad Christmas with my family, I've never dreaded seeing them. It's always a joy and a pleasure when I get to be around them. I am forever grateful for my family, for those who love me enough to be there, year after year, through thick and thin, even when times are hard. While I didn't get to share the magic of this Christmas, I am blessed with other wonderful memories I have made through the years.

Lifetime of Service

My Grandparents will be married for 54 years this December. They have 4 children, 10 grandchildren and in December will have 10 great grandchildren. They met and married all in the same year, times have not always been easy as both of them admit. When asked what their secret to a long marriage was they said they were just right for each other. After spending a couple of days with them and watching how they interact with each other I am convinced they are correct.
The differences they have are what make them unique, Grandma quilts and is a football fan, Grandpa is a techie and a can fix anything. Their roles are what most would call traditional, and even some may call outdated. What I saw was a couple who after many years were together and content. The thing that spoke volumes to me is that I never heard either one of them complain. They did things for each other without hesitation. Their lives are so integrated that from the outside the way they work together flows. It has been a lifetime of compromise, of learning and doing what is best for the family, not just themselves.
While I know from personal experience that marriage is not easy I have a beautiful example of what it can be when it's right. The inspiration from my grandparents and parents show that it is possible if you are willing to work for it.