Like many others I am exhausted by the time the semester ends and the holiday break begins. Between reading the last set of research writing, finals, closing out the grades, planning for next semester and of course all things family and Feeding Tube replacements there is a full cart waiting and low fuel lights for energy and time. Amongst all of this are the ever annoying bills and adult responsibilities. Then add the commercial drive that makes this time of year even more stressful. We need to go and go and go. Amongst all of this I have felt that I’ve lost the beauty that is. Christmas.
Sea World was beautiful.
The Holidays have visited and left a wake of happiness in me. We have changed our focus in the last few years of trying to gift our beloved family members with time together and experiences. For the most part we don’t need more stuff. For us, if there is something we want we either get it, or save up and get it. If there’s something we need, we get it as soon as it is fiscally possible.
Just wanted to hug them big ol bears!
I don’t need more things. There are a few things I pray for, but they can’t be bought What I need is time with the people I love. Time to watch a movie, eat, laugh, create, and explore. Simply time. Living with Liberty and her ever progressing diseases: Parkinson’s and Dystonia being the most vicious, have proven to me that our time together is precious. So very precious. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Symptoms/Movement-Symptoms/Dystonia.
When Rachael and I started talking about the special opportunity we had to take Liberty on a trip, we couldn’t wrap our minds around not having the kids, Jasmin and Xavier, with us.
So the idea of taking the family away over the holiday break was born. Mentioned several times that this was our Christmas gifts which meant that I didn’t buy anything to really give. (Little failure on my part since that included no little gifts for Liberty. If we decide in something similar next year I’ll make sure Libby gets a couple of gifts, and hopefully get to include Mariah.)
On the trip we went and did a lot. We visited. We laughed. We ate great food and had great fun. It was Exactly what we needed to reconnect and rejuvenate. Missed Mariah terribly, but we did get to share a meal Christmas Day in our local hospital’s cafeteria. Food was good, but the company was awesome.
Waiting to ride a roller coaster.
Who knows what next year holds. Except I hope and pray for more time together. Grateful that I was able to let Christmas go so that I could see the joy in it that I needed.
**Soon I’ll share my version of our brief time at the River Walk. ;)
Share your light.
Ileana
Don’t agree with everything from these links, but there are some great ideas here to share.
