Friday, December 26, 2014

Palm Desert Christmas



Merry Christmas!
I am laying on my bed in Palm Desert looking out at the gorgeous mountain view.  I am so grateful to be here.  Having been in Hawaii for the last couple of years the routine of ‘where to go for Christmas’ has gotten a bit thrown off.  Changes in life or situation can do that.  I’m down here visiting my “other parents”… my parents in-love.  They are my former husband’s parents and we have a very special relationship.  They are precious to me and when they asked if I would like to come for Christmas I was overjoyed!  The first year in Hawaii I got to fly home for Christmas which was great because my Mother was here from the Netherlands and we actually had Christmas.  The second year my parents in-love came to Hawaii and flew me over to Oahu for the week.  We had a blast.  But this year I was at a loss… without my Mom at home we wouldn’t actually have a dinner at our house.  My grandparents are all gone so there is nowhere to go in that aspect.   My oldest brother goes to his in-laws, my second brother tends to go to my Dad’s, and I have no idea where my third brother goes but he’s got a woman and probably goes to my Dad’s too…  So, I was thrilled to come to PD.  My ex and I came here for Christmas many of our married years and it definitely feels like Christmas. A warm Christmas, YEAH!!!!!

Yesterday for Christmas Day we drove to L.A. to an Aunt and Uncles.  There were all of the family members of my former husband and I wondered a bit how they would feel with me being there and certainly would never want to offend.  Everyone was so nice.  In all honestly, I could tell they didn’t all know who I was, hahahaha.  After all it’s been at least 3 or 4 years since I’ve seen them and I look totally different now.  (Short hair and glasses)  One cousin completely didn’t recognize me and called me, “Hollywood.”  Umm, no… but thanks!  I said, “Well I certainly don’t have a Hollywood paycheck.”  It was so amazing to connect with them again and had wondered honestly if I would ever even see them again.  It was so great. 

A highlight of the week was the blessing of buying my new 4Runner!! woot woot.  Anyone who knows me well knows that the Tacoma that I drove for 11 years was well loved by me and selling it in HI was something I never thought I would do- but I needed the money for medical bills and God orchestrated the timing so I have been without a car for the last six months.  I had my Mom’s car to drive when needed, but how humbling it is to not have your own vehicle. 
It’s quite a story, but one long enough for its own blog, so I won’t go into details now… I just want to say how grateful I am to have this AWESOME car, fully loaded, and be totally spoiled by God’s favor. 

Today we will relax as it has been a completely full week, my poor body! hehe (when did I get this old?) and tonight we will go to “The Festival of Lights.”  I hope we get one more chance to go to our favorite restaurant, “Don Diego’s in Indian Wells.”  The only thing lacking is me getting a margarita there!  With my health in the last several months I have not been drinking at all.  It’s just not beneficial or worth it. 

I pray everyone had a great Christmas.  It’s such an intense time of year.  I always think of those who are homeless, or cold and don’t know where their next meal is coming from.  Those who have kids and no money for gifts- how I pray they know the true meaning of Christmas.  I see how someone who is loved by so many can still end up alone on Christmas Day and know how easy it is to feel lonely.  I think of those who are infertile but are forced to face all of their little nieces and nephews running around.  It’s just a tough time of year for so many and I pray that they may know comfort.  These are the things I am grateful for as I remember Jesus being born in a manger.  A manger!  Just feet from cow poop!!!  All for me.  All for each of the people I just described.  For ALL of us.  How grateful I am to know it, to have the ability to embrace it, to walk in it every day. 

Merry Christmas, Friends.  Happy New Year- 2015. 

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