December 27, 2007 4:43 PM
Life at our house
Wow. It's been one of those times when my kids are being just perfect. Everyone is pulling their weight at home and the girls are getting along. Lots of laughter and quiet good times. Since it's not always like this - my family isn't perfect by a long shot and we definitely have our angsty moments - I'm just floating along enjoying it minute by minute.
On Christmas Eve we went to Blue Ridge Bible Church - where Ben sang a solo of O Holy Night - early in the evening. It was lovely. Then home for a few hours and back out in the cold to go to Midnight Mass at St. Francis deSales in Purcellville. Yes, we took the whole family - which took up an entire pew. Only Justin fell asleep. It was wonderful and we didn't get to bed until 2:30.
So the kids were still asleep at 9 the next morning, the latest ever. It was one of those Christmas mornings you dream about, too. Not many gifts and everyone really happy and glad to be together. We had our traditional formal breakfast. Josh (#3 child, #1 son) and Hattie came over (their second married Christmas). Matt (#4 child, #2 son) and Missy came for dinner - we jettisoned our usual custom of Chinese food this year and Tripp made prime rib for the first time. Samantha and her family were in Ohio visiting her dad - a first at Christmas, but I was really glad he had the chance to enjoy them this year.
Yesterday, Tripp had to go back to work :( always so hard after a holiday. At 9 the doorbell rang and there was the guy who delivers our firewood. Most of my kids were still asleep and I was in my pj's. Thinking of all the working dads and moms who had to go back to work early in the morning I felt pretty blessed to be home with my kids.
Of course we had our work cut out for us too. My bedroom, which had been off-limits for the last couple weeks was a veritable wonderland of paper scraps and gift bags and stuff to be returned. While I didn't get a lot of stuff for my kids, since there are a lot of kids it all adds up. And then there was the rest of the house which had been put on hold.
My kids were great, worked together, no arguing - I felt like I was in the middle of some kind of miracle. Then we plopped down to rest. I ended up watching What Not to Wear with Ben. Ben's my #5 child, #3 son. He's 21 and a really gifted right brain person who had to decide whether to pursue art or music. He chose music because art is more solitary and he wanted the social aspect of music. He is studying opera and plans to make a career of it. But he still has a fine eye aesthetically and a keen interest in human nature - hence the interest in What Not to Wear. Still, he'd rather watch UFC - I think that's what you call all those wrestling shows on TV - or play rugby, injuries and all.
This morning I saw Zachary (#4 son, almost 20) briefly. He was up early to go to work with his dad. I gave him a hug and thanked him for all his work yesterday - including the yucky task of cleaning the birdcage. He said, in his deep base voice, very droll, "I regret that I have but two hands to serve my mother." That cracked me up.
As I was making our coffee, I picked up a chai container on the counter that had been in Sophia's Christmas stocking. As a writer, I'm always fascinated by copy on containers - imagine, people get paid to write this stuff! - and so I was reading aloud about entering the divine experience of drinking chai tea. Zach said, "I don't want a religious experience - just let me drink some tea." I don't know - maybe you have to hear how he says this stuff in his Eeyore-type voice. Or maybe it's because he's an ENTJ like me. Or maybe it's just because he likes to talk in the morning and so do I (acknowledging that there are members in our family who don't talk for a while after waking).
Ben and I gathered up the stuff I needed to take back to stores and left early, stopping at St. John the Apostle in Leesburg first for Mass. It was my first time there. I love it. Very beautiful, very meaningful, very spiritual. I love starting my day this way.
So off to do returns - which all went smoothly - and buy Ben some new clothes. Both Ben and Zach have been running/working out like crazy and are in great shape, so they've lost a couple inches around the middle. I'm going to be really happy to see their clothes fitting them. And the sales were great. And it doesn't take much to make them happy.
What does it take to make me happy? Probably this - my children at their best. My children at peace within themselves. Kindness running like a river through our home. All is calm. All is bright.
These are the moments I want to remember.
Posted in Family, My life | Permalink
Comments
What a wonderful chance to "see" you with your family. It's really a blessing when a family is in sync. All those angels working together! And you were so blest to go to Mass at St John the Apostle on his very feast day. It was a special day for our John too. We always have a little celebration on our Saints days.
Hope you have a very Blessed New Year with many, many more special family moments.
Posted by: Jennifer | December 28, 2007 8:38 AM
Wonderful memories!
thank you for sharing them with us.
LOL, I love reading what's on packages too. You can find out the most interesting stuff. though sometimes you feel pretty dumb for what you just read b/c they're trying too hard. Herbal Essence's bottles are funny.
as for talking in the AM, I would fall in the category of those who don't talk till after lunch!
Posted by: Allena | December 28, 2007 1:49 PM
