We got to my sisters house around sunset, just as they were leaving for church service and made ourselves at home.
It still doesn’t seem possible Christmas Eve was here already with a new year just days away.
It was a fantastic time with all the family, only missing TJ, Stefan and Jamie, who had other obligations with other sets of family members.
We began Christmas celebration around noon with our new tradition of a gift swap/trade/steal. Everyone bought one nice present and we drew numbers. The first person opened a gift and had an option to keep or open another. The next person could steal the first persons' gift and let that person open another or keep what they opened...and so on and so on. It was a blast and laughed ourselves silly(er).
We had a huge dinner, compliments of our hostess with the mostest, my sister.
A couple of years ago she taught us a card game called 'Nerts' and we played it that afternoon. Everyone has their own deck of cards and is basically a group game of solitaire against each other. Our goofy brother chose to use the deck of over sized cards that came in one of his presents.
Being around our family is always a treat, whether you're one of us or just visiting our clan. It was a day and a half of pure love, laughter and merriment. As much as I'm beginning to truly enjoy living in Orlando, always look forward to time back home with the ones we moved away from.
Nonstop laughter is always good for the soul, and sure got plenty... and then some.
I was scrolling through my phone looking at pics I'd taken that afternoon and noticed two pics taken right after each other.
I uploaded them to my FB page with the caption "What's up when your husband looks happier with your sister than you?" #batteredhusband
We all got a kick out of that one!
Tim, not so much...but he did chuckle about it.
Got to spend some time with my Lost Boy as well.
His personality is so very different from mine...actually all of ours. Maybe there was a baby swap with all three of our kids. None of them seem to haven gotten any of my 'Goofball' gene.
We ate, drank and laughed well into the evening hours, two days in a row and was the most fun I've had since the last time we were together, a mere two weeks ago for Massey's graduation.
I just couldn't (and wouldn't want to) imagine being from a family which doesn't remain tightly bound to each other. I know many people who have families like that, estranged, and truly saddens me...for them.
Wasting precious love is a tragic way to spend your lifetime on this earth.
The Leach family love carries far, wide and deep. It was the way we were all (thankfully) brought up.
No matter what I do or where I live or go, the love from these two constantly follow me.
That's a pretty awesome feeling to have...being loved, no matter what the circumstance.
It was traumatic losing my mother that fateful afternoon in 1977. It was equally as hard in 2002 when West Nile Virus took my Diddy. But with these two by my side every step of the way, have made it to the tender (ouch) age of fifty six.
If you have family members you don't speak to or stay in contact with, I urge you to change that. Make it your New Years' resolution.
I started this year as a wimp but think I have ended it as a winner. I’m happy living in Orlando now and even happier when I get to visit my family still living back in JawJa. You can take a girl out of the peach state but you can’t take the peach state out of a girl.
We (Chris, Massey, Tim and I) got up this morning, the day after Christmas and piled into Chris' Mercedes aka the Falcon 9 at six AM and were back in Orlando before noon. Chris is a NASCAR driver behind the wheel.
We've made a lot of great memories the past day and a half, which will last a lifetime and be thought of and laughed about by the ones who will carry them on long after us three sibs are gone. We've raised some good young'uns and feel confident they will remain as close as Cindy, Chris and I have.
Love is truly all you need...and doesn't cost one thin dime.
How great is that?
In less than a week, we all begin another year. I urge you to make 2018 your own. Fill it with love and laughter and tight hugs.
You get what you give in this game called Life.
I've had more hits than misses in life but have struck out a couple of times. Lucky for me, my cheering section aka 'Family' has always been there to urge and sometimes provide the way for me to move on and always up.
I have a fortress of love surrounding me. Family, friends, coworkers, former coworkers, neighbors and mere acquaintances. If you put out positive vibes, they always boomerang back.
Life really is logical if you stop and think about it.
Wishing every one a happy and prosperous New Year!
Till next time...COTTON
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