The Day After

I made it. I got through the first holiday of this season without sadness. Well, almost. I did get sad once. When my daughter called from DC. I got really sad then. It hit me quite hard that she and her family weren't with us. We talked with them via FaceTime on our iPad. When I saw the cute little faces of my 2 oldest grandchildren, I almost started to cry. I didn't want to ruin Thanksgiving dinner, though, so I sucked it up and smiled and kept on going.

It was hard for me to know that that day they'd be going to a restaurant and then to see the Muppet Movie. I wanted them here with me. I wanted to watch them eat turkey and pumpkin pie. I wanted to sit and listen to their silly stories, and I wanted to hear their — I'm thankful for this and that. Yes, I wanted all of my children and grandchildren in the room with me for this Thanksgiving dinner. However, it didn't happen that way. We were only 2/3 full.

It's a new day today, though, and we are off to cut Christmas trees.  Our 2 sons, their wives, and babies, and my daughter-in-law's grandfather--we're all going. I love the place we go to; we've been going there with them for 12 years.  Ever since we moved to Ohio. It's a wonderful little spot south of Cleveland. They've not only got a tree farm, but a restaurant, a huge gift shop--full of wonderful goodies--a hay wagon pulled by horses, and best of all, it's got our memories. So, since we were driving to Cleveland for Thanksgiving, it stood to reason that we'd go with our kids back to our magical place to cut trees.

Once again, we will make more memories. We will get up early, go to Starbucks (we need fortification), and tromp through the woods, picking out trees. We'll walk through the awesome gift shop, then end with a fantastic lunch. After we've seen and done it all, we'll come home and help decorate their tree.  And then, like always, I will sit late into the evening and edit the pictures that I've taken throughout the day.  The pictures capture the wonder of tree cutting with grandma and grandpa, and the laughter of our children as they share memories of coming to this quaint little place.

Yes, I made it through Thanksgiving without everyone coming to my house. I knew I'd be OK I knew I could do it. I made it. And I am so much more grateful and thankful than ever before. Holidays are going to work out. I am assured of that. Whether they are held at my house or one of my children's houses, holidays will work out. They always do. I think that it's not about where they are held, but about who they are held with. Yes, I think I am finally growing up.