The Ornament

Our Christmas tree has always been very eclectic. I've got a bunch of ornaments that don't match and I like it that way. 😇

They have been given to me over the years as gifts from friends, relatives and co-workers. They have come on top of presents as part of the gift wrap. I've won them in games played at work or family gatherings. I've collected them over a period of twenty eight years or so.

I still have a bird's nest that my husband and I found in our very first Christmas tree that we cut down ourselves in 1989!

What I love most about decorating the tree each year is opening the container of ornaments and being reminded of different people or times in my life when I received a particular ornament.

As I decorated the tree this year, my little sister was on my mind. It will be the first Christmas since she lost her son, Brandon, earlier this year.

My husband was helping me get all the Christmas stuff set out and I said, "I'd really like to get Janet something special but I don't even know what to get her."

She's been blessed with many wonderful gifts since Brandon's death. She's received jewelry, blankets, benches, plants, flowers, and some co-workers even bought her a pair of leggings to remind her of Brandon. I just couldn't imagine what I could get her that would be special and give her comfort this holiday season.

All the while I was pulling out ornaments and hanging them on the tree remembering where they came from and who gave them to me. Then I gasped as I pulled out my KU ornament Janet had given me a few years ago. I'd completely forgotten I had it.

She'd written his name on the back of it along with his football jersey number. I held it up and sighed. What a little treasure I held in my hand! Forgotten treasure.

My little sister had been the one to give me the gift...not the other way around. 

My heart was full and tears welled up as I hung it on the tree and remembered him.

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

Jestin & Sydney

On June 28, 2016 Jestin asked Sydney to marry him. 

They were on vacation in Florida with her family when he finally popped the question and we were all thrilled when she said yes! They set the wedding date for March 25, 2017.

As the date draws closer, things are flowing into motion preparing for the big day.

Being the mother of three boys, I don't get to do girl-things often, so when Sydney asked me to go to the dress shop with some of her family to pick out a wedding dress, I was excited to go and have some fun!

The "She said YES to the dress!" day was this past Sunday at 3 pm. I went to church that morning then looked forward to a fun afternoon doing girly things with Sydney, her mom, her step-mom and the famous "Gandy" - Sydney's grandmother. We planned to eat dinner at Chili's afterwards, too. So, I stopped by Starbucks on my way to the dress shop and grabbed my favorite drink to start things off on the right foot! 😉

When I stepped into the bridal shop and saw Sydney in a beautiful wedding dress...I was stunned. Somehow, I've forgotten just how beautiful she is. Then as she tried on another, then another, something happened that I did not expect.

Not only did I see a beautiful bride in a gorgeous dress standing in front of me but I also saw my middle son, Jestin, as a baby in his crib smacking his legs on the mattress with a big grin on his face. (He got the nickname Thumper from one of our friends for doing this as a baby!)

Then he was a toddler escaping his bedroom in the middle of the night, getting into the kitchen cabinets, slamming their doors and waking up everyone in the house.

I flashed to him as Student of the Month making us proud, among many other achievements in school. Before I knew it, he was graduating high school.

Where on earth did all the time go?

Tears welled up and I was overcome with emotion. I did not expect that. I planned on a fun time not an emotional time.

When Sydney found the perfect dress, they asked her to ring a bell and make a wish. More tears! Sydney's mom had them rolling down her cheeks.

It was an emotional relief when the sales lady bagged the dress and we snapped a few pictures of Sydney holding it up.

After dinner, I drove home alone with my thoughts.

How did my little child grow into a man so quickly?

How am I going to get through this wedding without bawling my eyes out?

How did I get so blessed?

The Tangle...

When I was very young, probably around four or five years old, I took a piece of chewing gum out of my mouth and placed it into my cousin's hair.  

We were laying down trying to take a nap in the back bedroom at our grandparent's house. I remember thinking about doing it and then I followed through, with no thought to the problem it might cause my cousin. I don't know why I did that. I guess I wanted to find out what would happen. (lol)

I regretted it right away and asked her not to tell anyone how the gum got into her hair but she immediately went to her mother and told on me. 

Looking back, I can't believe nobody gave me a spanking!  The severe look of disappointment I received from my aunt and grandmother were punishment enough. They were completely disgusted with me. 

The sticky gum set in causing a terrible tangle and they couldn't get it out of her hair. They ended up having to cut it out, leaving my beautiful cousin looking a bit unkempt. 

It's a strange thing to have on my mind but a scripture made me remember the tangle and the trouble of it all. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Nobody likes having tangles combed out of their hair. It hurts. It's easier to go around with a rat's nest on our heads than to make the effort needed to completely remove the tangles. 

It's the same with sin. It easily entangles us and once it sets in, it's hard to remove. 

***So keep the tangles combed out and whatever you do, stay away from ornery, impulsive cousins with sticky pieces of gum.