It has been 5 years since we were a family of 5 for Christmas. Five years! Sort of baffles my mind that it has been that long — yet baffles my mind that it’s only been that long. I mean, there’s been a lot happenings since then. My life has found a new norm and we’ve found a way around the holidays, albeit a few days late and many dollars short.
YaYa and I are spending Christmas day away from home and, unlike a couple of years ago, I’m not breaking down in tears. Actually, I’m excited.
We’re spending Christmas with my love’s loving and wonderfully welcoming family. I’ve been seeing many photos of tamales being prepared for the special occasion all over Facebook. A few days later, BoBo flies home and we’ll celebrate our own family Christmas. The morning we’ll do our present exchange, brunch, and family bonding. A bit later in the day, my siblings and parents will join us.
Because it’s been 5 years (or maybe just because it came into my mind), each boy will receive 1 gift in memory of their father. YaYa will get a watch just like the one his dad wore (his father’s watch is broken), BoBo will get 3 meditation CDs that his dad used to force him to listen to (because I was urged to give them to him), and DD will get a memory box with a photo of father & son and a poem his dad wrote about him when he was raising him alone. I hope and pray that each growing boy will gain something positive from the gift I’ve chosen to share with them.
I hope they find it as meaningful as you do-and I’m sure they will. I’m glad you have a “new” family to celebrate with and time to spend with your family, too. 5 years… wow. That’s when I found your blog. I’m glad to see pics of you smiling and hear some holiday cheer, Juls. Merry Christmas and much joy!