Making memories.

It is that time again.  Christmas has come and gone.

Have you ever planned for something, and wished so hard for it to "hurry" and arrive, yet once the time is here...it goes by so quickly?  You try and make the most of every moment.....soaking up every conversation, every smile, every day shared with your loved ones.  Then all too soon, it has come to an end and it is time for your visiting family to go back to their own homes.  It is time to put away the decorations, and the boxes are once again stacked outside in the garage for another year.  Putting up and taking down Christmas in my home is quite a task!  I took down the tree and decorations New Years Day this year.  As my daughter in law watched me put stuff away,  she made the statement, "If I ever get collect that much Christmas stuff, please slap me." That made me smile.  :)   It has taken me 15 years of collecting.  LOL  I love Christmas.  I love that time of year when you haul out all those boxes and go through all the things you haven't seen since last year, on the day of Thanksgiving.  That is the tradition in our house.  We put up our decorations the evening of Thanksgiving day.  .  I love the taking down as well.  My house always feels so much bigger, and clean, somehow.  I always feel like I have re-decorated, and I guess, I have!!  Those decorations always bring back memories from times past....some good and perhaps some not so pleasant.

Sometimes, they are memories that we would rather not think about.  My husband has a hard time during the Christmas season.  His father passed away in the month of December, and every year around that same date, he gets quiet, and I know he is reflecting on his father and his memories. I give him the space he needs....and allow that quiet time for him.  I understand.  Some of my memories of Christmas bring saddness as well.

This year we have made some wonderful memories to cherish!  I will remember having all of my children home! Our youngest moved out this year, and is on her own.  That makes my husband and I empty nesters.  So you can imagine my joy at having my house full of laughter and conversations after so many quiet days spent alone.  I will cherish those times spent with each one of them!   But I will also remember that my husband spent yet another Christmas in a foreign country, away from us.  It has been 6 years now that he has missed being here.  We have vowed that next year will be different.  Next year we will make memories with ALL of us together, Lord willing!

As I reflect on this Christmas,  I will also remember the time spent with the youngest member of our family....little Benjamin.  For now, he is our only grandchild, and no doubt about it, he is the sweetest little boy you could ever ask for.  He is a little charmer!  He makes you laugh with his antics, and melts your heart!  He fell in love with our dog, Toby.  Never having been around dogs, it surprised us that he took to him right away!  Course, we had to train Toby (who has never been around little ones) to be "patient" with this little guy who wanted to hug on him like he does his stuffed teddy bear! LOL    He and I got to spend alot of time together.  I got to know him a little better, and I hope and pray that he will remember me as he spends his days in Texas with his mom and dad.    I will cherish each of those moments in my memories.

Do you ever wonder if God has memories of us?  I know that the word tells us that when we ask forgiveness for something, that He remembers it no more.  He throws it as far as the east is from the west into a sea of forgetfulness.  I know that He is omnipotent, and all knowing.  His word says so.   I am sure that God "remembers" things about me...... times I have spent with Him in prayer, and praises I have offered to Him.  I am sure He remembers the day I gave my heart to Him.  I am also sure that he remembers promises I have made to Him.    I am sure that He knows me better than I know myself.  My prayer this year, is to make as many wonderful memories as possible.  To love a little deeper, to forgive more often, to pray a little longer each day, to give a little more.  And in the process... I hope that something I do will bring a smile to someones heart..and create another memory for me to cherish.