my idea of a happy thanksgiving, unfortunately does not coincide with my husbands. these are the things you compromise on as husband and wife, but this thanksgiving is proving itself more difficult for me. i cherish every thanksgiving and every christmas as a day that we are given by the government to truly show we are thankful for what we have, to give praise to Our Lord openly with no hindrances and being able to show our thanks willingly. i know the cliche argument that people have for not celebrating these occasions: "you should be thankful everyday" or "Jesus was born in the spring" and "christmas is heretical if you do the research." but to me, those reasons are not important. yes we are to be thankful everyday and yes i realize that Christmas has turned from a celebration of Christ's birth (yes i know that He was born in the spring) to a greedy and needy time of give and take and another reason for people to party needlessly. but to me, these holidays are so much more. they have true value and hold a huge amount of gratification in my life. i grew up really enjoying christmas and thanksgiving "vacation", i grew up truly admiring the people in my life on these days. granted, there were a few years where things were ridiculous, but those were also the years where i was pretty nonsensical myself.
for the past 4 years, i have spent thanksgiving with my husbands family. it was very special to be able to spend time and see how they celebrate. with the exception of last thanksgiving, we have spent the rest of the time in the desert with his grandpa, in good old borego springs, california. it was nice because we'd ride dune buggies, hang out by the fire pit and just talk and have fun. then after thanksgiving dinner the "kids" - me, bud, steven and julie would watch tv. usually they'd fall asleep in their chairs and i'd end up watching the christmas movies that habitually show on thanksgiving. then we'd take the 2 hour (sometimes longer due to the amazing holiday traffic) trip back down to san marcos, california. that would be our thanksgiving. even though its different from what i'm used to - it was still special to me. different, but still special. my thanksgiving's, back in maryland would be as follows: the day before my mom and i would put together things that could be cooked early (i.e. pumpkin/pecan pie, any kind of casserole that just needs to be heated through the next day, etc.) the next day would be thanksgiving. i'd wake up to the smell of the turkey already in the oven, my mom would be baking from 6am or earlier. once i was fully awake, i'd help with the food and then watch football with my family.
then more of my family would come over. bob,donna and the kids would come over from the eastern shore. (usually matt is in georgia, so we'd just expect a phone call from him bright and early), and dan and sarah would come. they'd bring rolls and green been casserole. my dad would make the fruit salad and deviled eggs. once everything is cooked we'd sit down and pray, thanking the Lord for his bountiful blessings in each of our lives and his love and protection over our family. we'd then stuff our faces! then we sit on the couch, watch some tv or again, watch those famous christmas movies that come on tv. my favorites start being played about this time of year - "christmas story", "white christmas", "rudolph the red nose reindeer", "frosty the snowman", "mickey's christmas carol". all of the classic movies, i love! even the newer ones that are classics, such as "home alone 1&2". all these movies put me more and more into the holiday feel and cheer. i know, how cheesy right? irregardless, they make me feel right at home. after dinner and letting food digest we'd have pie. and after that digested, we'd slap some turkey on some rolls with mayo and have mini turkey sandwiches. everyone would go home to their respective houses and i'd stay home with my parents and mom and i would either watch another movie or they'd pass out and i'd call people on the phone or get on the internet. that is basically how christmas goes too - although you throw in the mix of opening some presents and stockings and such. just the little added silly fun.
holidays are important to me. its not the food that makes me happy, its not the "reason of the season". what it is, is the fact that i'm around everyone i love, stresses are left at the door or at least feel minimized for the time being and we just enjoy. we are truly thankful for life, for family, for love and mostly for the Lord God who gave us air to breathe and food to eat. he gave us family and friends to love and care for. he gave us security and shelter in His arms. hopefully, when i am blessed with the joys of children, i will be able to help mold and instill the same wonders of these holidays that my parents have for me. a time of pure enjoyment and love and fun with your family and close ones. a time where you can let your stomach out and noone cares if you weigh a few extra pounds. a time where you truly can "eat and be merry!" unfortunately, my husband does not share these values but i hope that he sees what these holidays mean to me and why they are so important. i can tell he probably knows i'm feeling more homesick at the moment because i'm not at home with my friends and family. truth is, i want to be home. i want to be back in california celebrating thanksgiving with bud's family in the desert. and for christmas, i want to be back in maryland celebrating with my family. but this year - its just me and bud.
i am truly thankful for so many things in my life. i am so thankful that i get to spend my thanksgiving and christmas with no one else but bud. i do wish we were at home, but since that is not an option this year - the Lord saw fit to let me and bud experience so many firsts, to start some of our own "family traditions", to learn to let our different views and desires for the holidays coincide, to compromise and learn from each others upbringings to form an amazing bud & christin newman thanksgiving and christmas. *sigh* so maybe i dont have my turkey dinner and my pie - but i have life, i have my husband, i have my dog and cat, and i have friends and family back in america who i know will be thinking of us. so regardless of my homesickness and my unyielding desire to be back in america, i am truly thankful for the place i'm in now and for the amazing love i have in my husband and even greater love in my Lord. thank you Jesus for another year, another day, another breath. thank you for my family. for my friends. for those i do not know. for all your children, for your creation. thank you for your love and guidance. please continue to shine your light in our lives. amen. agape.
for the past 4 years, i have spent thanksgiving with my husbands family. it was very special to be able to spend time and see how they celebrate. with the exception of last thanksgiving, we have spent the rest of the time in the desert with his grandpa, in good old borego springs, california. it was nice because we'd ride dune buggies, hang out by the fire pit and just talk and have fun. then after thanksgiving dinner the "kids" - me, bud, steven and julie would watch tv. usually they'd fall asleep in their chairs and i'd end up watching the christmas movies that habitually show on thanksgiving. then we'd take the 2 hour (sometimes longer due to the amazing holiday traffic) trip back down to san marcos, california. that would be our thanksgiving. even though its different from what i'm used to - it was still special to me. different, but still special. my thanksgiving's, back in maryland would be as follows: the day before my mom and i would put together things that could be cooked early (i.e. pumpkin/pecan pie, any kind of casserole that just needs to be heated through the next day, etc.) the next day would be thanksgiving. i'd wake up to the smell of the turkey already in the oven, my mom would be baking from 6am or earlier. once i was fully awake, i'd help with the food and then watch football with my family.
then more of my family would come over. bob,donna and the kids would come over from the eastern shore. (usually matt is in georgia, so we'd just expect a phone call from him bright and early), and dan and sarah would come. they'd bring rolls and green been casserole. my dad would make the fruit salad and deviled eggs. once everything is cooked we'd sit down and pray, thanking the Lord for his bountiful blessings in each of our lives and his love and protection over our family. we'd then stuff our faces! then we sit on the couch, watch some tv or again, watch those famous christmas movies that come on tv. my favorites start being played about this time of year - "christmas story", "white christmas", "rudolph the red nose reindeer", "frosty the snowman", "mickey's christmas carol". all of the classic movies, i love! even the newer ones that are classics, such as "home alone 1&2". all these movies put me more and more into the holiday feel and cheer. i know, how cheesy right? irregardless, they make me feel right at home. after dinner and letting food digest we'd have pie. and after that digested, we'd slap some turkey on some rolls with mayo and have mini turkey sandwiches. everyone would go home to their respective houses and i'd stay home with my parents and mom and i would either watch another movie or they'd pass out and i'd call people on the phone or get on the internet. that is basically how christmas goes too - although you throw in the mix of opening some presents and stockings and such. just the little added silly fun.
holidays are important to me. its not the food that makes me happy, its not the "reason of the season". what it is, is the fact that i'm around everyone i love, stresses are left at the door or at least feel minimized for the time being and we just enjoy. we are truly thankful for life, for family, for love and mostly for the Lord God who gave us air to breathe and food to eat. he gave us family and friends to love and care for. he gave us security and shelter in His arms. hopefully, when i am blessed with the joys of children, i will be able to help mold and instill the same wonders of these holidays that my parents have for me. a time of pure enjoyment and love and fun with your family and close ones. a time where you can let your stomach out and noone cares if you weigh a few extra pounds. a time where you truly can "eat and be merry!" unfortunately, my husband does not share these values but i hope that he sees what these holidays mean to me and why they are so important. i can tell he probably knows i'm feeling more homesick at the moment because i'm not at home with my friends and family. truth is, i want to be home. i want to be back in california celebrating thanksgiving with bud's family in the desert. and for christmas, i want to be back in maryland celebrating with my family. but this year - its just me and bud.
i am truly thankful for so many things in my life. i am so thankful that i get to spend my thanksgiving and christmas with no one else but bud. i do wish we were at home, but since that is not an option this year - the Lord saw fit to let me and bud experience so many firsts, to start some of our own "family traditions", to learn to let our different views and desires for the holidays coincide, to compromise and learn from each others upbringings to form an amazing bud & christin newman thanksgiving and christmas. *sigh* so maybe i dont have my turkey dinner and my pie - but i have life, i have my husband, i have my dog and cat, and i have friends and family back in america who i know will be thinking of us. so regardless of my homesickness and my unyielding desire to be back in america, i am truly thankful for the place i'm in now and for the amazing love i have in my husband and even greater love in my Lord. thank you Jesus for another year, another day, another breath. thank you for my family. for my friends. for those i do not know. for all your children, for your creation. thank you for your love and guidance. please continue to shine your light in our lives. amen. agape.
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