Holy Snow

I grew up 10 miles from here and remember very few Christmas's that were white. But since we've been back we have them almost every year. 

We had a White Christmas.  Callie really wanted to go on a snow walk. It wasn't icy so we walked to the park. 

I very much enjoyed having my youngest three home.  We had a good time.

Scott played a few songs. I played sleigh bells.

We shared re some good food and they all helped clean up. 

And played games, did puzzles and watched Christmas movies.

Don't ask.

I loved having them here. They lifted my spirits and made me laugh.

The highlight of the holiday was rreceiving a package from the bookstore of Kansas University.  It had a couple of items. It was Todd's way of informing us that they had hired him. 

My reaction was joy. It is so lunch closer. Tears of relief. The best present this year. 

Stress

A couple of years ago, our school district decided to end the semester at Christmas vacation.  It ment that we start earlier and that all testing and report cards are due the last day before the break. The week before the break has always been stressful with crazy, excited kids, Santa letters, and parent gifts.  When this day is over, it takes a day to decompress. 

The kids are with their parents now and so am I.  We are visiting Yuba City. This is probably the last time we will 

Stay in this house. My parents are getting ready to move in with my sister. 

When we moved here in 1977 I was a mess. I missed my friends and I missed Idaho. We stayed in a hotel and we looked for houses.  We found one in town and there was this one. I liked this house. It had my vote. 30 something years later, the neighborhood is still the same, but it is no longer in the country.  

I grew up here, left for my mission from here and brought my kids here to visit grandparents.  It is home. 

It is also in need of some work. I'm not sure which will fall apart first, my parents or this house. Cleaning it out is going to be a pain. The end of an Era.  A fresh start for someone else.  

Perspective

I've probably wrote about this before, but I was touched once again.

 We had a death of a High School's student in our district this week. There was a district wide fund raiser to help the family. I told my littles, who are only 5 and live in very humble circumstances, that some one was hurt and that their family needed money. They could wear a hat and bring a dollar for this family. 

I heard comments like, I only have 1 dollar. However the next day , all but 2 of them handed me a dollar. 

I couldn't help but think of thee 'widows mite'. There willingness to help another family touched my soul. 

There are good people out there.  You just have to find them.