Holiday Blessings
December 25, 2011
This year our traveling family is home for the holidays for the first time in six years, and sadly, I have been very sick most of the 3 months that we have been here. Today, on Christmas Day, my sister has been hospitalized with pnuemonia. Nevertheless, we are cherishing all the little moments and full of gratitude for the Grace that is in our lives.
A year ago, my mother lost her beloved husband, but this holiday season she got to spend the most time she ever has with her granddaughter and they both have been so enriched by this time together. At almost 84 ( in a few days) and just turned 11, these precious,fleeting moments are priceless.
Yes , Grandma spent 6 weeks with us in Asia, most of Mozart's first 5 years living nearby, regular skype webcam calls from where ever we are on the planet..but nothing can compare to this one-on-one time and 3 months of sleeping together nightly like two school girls on an extended pajama party at our home base in California. Unlike our country home, my Mom's house is within walking distance to the beach, parks, stores and library which makes it very convenient.
Yes, we celebrate Christmas in special ways abroad, but for a kid, there is nothing quite like doing it at home and with Grandma. Here she makes a gingerbread house and she put up a tree at Grandma's house..something that has not been in this house for years.
Yum! And then there is the food. My Mom is famous for her holiday meals and even I (with my severe digestion problems) have managed to at least get a bite of them and savored every crumb and the happy memories that come with that.
No one does Christmas lights like they do in America, so that's been a treat for Mozart while she is still young enough to be totally dazzled by it. This Christmas Tree Lane was in Fresno area where DaVinci's family lives. Just as DaVinci has had his work cut out for him due to my debilitating condition, non-stop doctor visits and special needs, his sister is challenged by a beloved husband dealing with Alziemers. DaVinci's beloved father also passed away last year, so these tender times prompted us to return for the holidays and spend a bit longer here.
But even as we deal with our many challenges, we find time and ways to share the sweet, little joys of the season. Sometimes that is just cooking together and being together. Here Mozart makes her organic kale smoothie she learned through her Dirt to Dinner science lab job in San Jose with her aunt in Fresno.
Friends and music are blessings of this season. We haven't been able to spend as much time with friends as we would have liked to, but loved this Christmas Eve duet between Mozart and a friend she has known since they were both in the womb.
We got to share in our Christmas Eve church service online together and share a lovely dinner. I had an amazing experience doing the Living in Grace training online which connected me to friends in a way I could handle ( from my bed). Skype webcams allowed me to have intimate conversations with friends in Bulgaria, UK, Colorado and LA.
We are not Jewish, but enjoyed the Hebrew songs and lighting the candles of Hanukkah with dear friends that kidlet calls her "God cousins" because their Grandfather is her Godfather.
We even managed to get up to San Francisco on a beautiful weekend where we connected with friends and Mozart sang confidently for a large crowd. ( Video coming soon).
It's been a wild ride this holiday sesaon for us, where I have frequently been in pain that is at a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 ( and often at night), so I seem to live now on the edge of never knowing if I will need to rush to the emergency room or sometimes even if I will live. All of this without a clear diagnosis and interspersed with times where I feel like I am getting better. I hope I have found something on my own, that seems to be working, but time will tell. Mastic Gum has worked better than anything so far.
Yet, all I can think of today really is how blessed I am and what a blessed life we live. Since I have been home, I have found out that 3 dear friends have cancer and celebrate several who have beat cancer. I know many who face many challenges at this time from debt to disease. My heart goes out to all and still I remain an optimist.
In this season of light, I know we are all blessed and more blessings are pouring down upon us. Somehow we will meet the challenges and I think it begins by being grateful for all the little blessings. May blessings of love, healing, joy, freedom and abundance surround you this holiday season and always!
This year our traveling family is home for the holidays for the first time in six years, and sadly, I have been very sick most of the 3 months that we have been here. Today, on Christmas Day, my sister has been hospitalized with pnuemonia. Nevertheless, we are cherishing all the little moments and full of gratitude for the Grace that is in our lives.
A year ago, my mother lost her beloved husband, but this holiday season she got to spend the most time she ever has with her granddaughter and they both have been so enriched by this time together. At almost 84 ( in a few days) and just turned 11, these precious,fleeting moments are priceless.
Yes , Grandma spent 6 weeks with us in Asia, most of Mozart's first 5 years living nearby, regular skype webcam calls from where ever we are on the planet..but nothing can compare to this one-on-one time and 3 months of sleeping together nightly like two school girls on an extended pajama party at our home base in California. Unlike our country home, my Mom's house is within walking distance to the beach, parks, stores and library which makes it very convenient.
Yes, we celebrate Christmas in special ways abroad, but for a kid, there is nothing quite like doing it at home and with Grandma. Here she makes a gingerbread house and she put up a tree at Grandma's house..something that has not been in this house for years.
Yum! And then there is the food. My Mom is famous for her holiday meals and even I (with my severe digestion problems) have managed to at least get a bite of them and savored every crumb and the happy memories that come with that.
No one does Christmas lights like they do in America, so that's been a treat for Mozart while she is still young enough to be totally dazzled by it. This Christmas Tree Lane was in Fresno area where DaVinci's family lives. Just as DaVinci has had his work cut out for him due to my debilitating condition, non-stop doctor visits and special needs, his sister is challenged by a beloved husband dealing with Alziemers. DaVinci's beloved father also passed away last year, so these tender times prompted us to return for the holidays and spend a bit longer here.
But even as we deal with our many challenges, we find time and ways to share the sweet, little joys of the season. Sometimes that is just cooking together and being together. Here Mozart makes her organic kale smoothie she learned through her Dirt to Dinner science lab job in San Jose with her aunt in Fresno.
Friends and music are blessings of this season. We haven't been able to spend as much time with friends as we would have liked to, but loved this Christmas Eve duet between Mozart and a friend she has known since they were both in the womb.
We got to share in our Christmas Eve church service online together and share a lovely dinner. I had an amazing experience doing the Living in Grace training online which connected me to friends in a way I could handle ( from my bed). Skype webcams allowed me to have intimate conversations with friends in Bulgaria, UK, Colorado and LA.
We are not Jewish, but enjoyed the Hebrew songs and lighting the candles of Hanukkah with dear friends that kidlet calls her "God cousins" because their Grandfather is her Godfather.
We even managed to get up to San Francisco on a beautiful weekend where we connected with friends and Mozart sang confidently for a large crowd. ( Video coming soon).
It's been a wild ride this holiday sesaon for us, where I have frequently been in pain that is at a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 ( and often at night), so I seem to live now on the edge of never knowing if I will need to rush to the emergency room or sometimes even if I will live. All of this without a clear diagnosis and interspersed with times where I feel like I am getting better. I hope I have found something on my own, that seems to be working, but time will tell. Mastic Gum has worked better than anything so far.
Yet, all I can think of today really is how blessed I am and what a blessed life we live. Since I have been home, I have found out that 3 dear friends have cancer and celebrate several who have beat cancer. I know many who face many challenges at this time from debt to disease. My heart goes out to all and still I remain an optimist.
In this season of light, I know we are all blessed and more blessings are pouring down upon us. Somehow we will meet the challenges and I think it begins by being grateful for all the little blessings. May blessings of love, healing, joy, freedom and abundance surround you this holiday season and always!
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I love that you can still see and appreciate your many blessings despite your severe health challenges, I think that's what makes the difference between living your life vs just surviving. I hope this year will bring good health to your whole family- the blessings of Christmas to you and yours!
Posted by: Melissa Read (readontheroad | December 25, 2011 at 07:17 PM
What a wonderful Christmas posting. We haven't met but your family is so dear to me as it has been my guide in planning my own family's adventures. Best wishes to you for the coming year. I hope for a complete speedy recovery, health and happiness in 2012!
Posted by: Jen Silver | December 25, 2011 at 09:22 PM
I love your Christmas post!
My sister and her two daughters live at the beach where you are now. It looks like you had gorgeous weather for Christmas.
I know you have had a tough year, and I hope and pray that 2012 will finally bring you good health.
Posted by: nancyhol | December 27, 2011 at 10:23 AM
So true Melissa and Christmas blessings right back to you!!
Posted by: Jeanne soultravelers3 | December 27, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Thanks Jen, so appreciate that! Happy that we could help and wish you a wonderful holiday season and family adventure coming up!
Posted by: Jeanne soultravelers3 | December 27, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Thanks Nancy! We did have gorgeous weather and that was indeed another blessing! ;)
Wishing you a great holiday season and fab year ahead too! Maybe we will finally even get to meet in person this year. ;)
Posted by: Jeanne soultravelers3 | December 27, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Hola Jean hemos leído tu carta y nos ha dejado un poco preocupados, deseamos de todo corazón que te recuperes lo más pronto posible, igual que tu hermana. Un fuerte abrazo desde nuestro hogar.
Posted by: Javier, Pilar y María | December 28, 2011 at 11:37 AM
I am so sorry to hear that you lost your father. My dad passed away about 10 years ago, and my jet setting mom really misses him. Lovely to see your Christmas pics!!!
Posted by: Elizabeth | December 29, 2011 at 02:23 AM
Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday.
Posted by: Melissa | December 29, 2011 at 04:51 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/29/health/medical-mystery-strange-symptoms/index.html?hpt=hp_bn10
Posted by: kit | December 30, 2011 at 11:03 AM