As I'm transitioning from a busy weekend to a busy workweek, I'd like to share five photos and a few quick thoughts with you on the morning after our family's Old Calendar Christmas/Rebekah's thirtieth birthday party celebration from yesterday.
Eighteen people (seven of them children ages twelve and younger and several the ex-spouses and ex-girlfriends with their children) crowded into our townhome for a loud celebratory day where outbursts of temper were extremely minimal and gifts were truly given and wrapped from the heart.
For instance, three of the children gave gifts of homemade slime they wrapped themselves.
Some gifts were wrapped in paper with the recipient's interests/favorite colors/personalities in mind. Others were wrapped in a single theme.
Sarah sent framed pieces of the coordinates where her siblings and I were born.
Nine of the gifts were original framed poems from a WriteOn Joliet member.
Jasmine put together a day filled with games and prizes for the children she set up in the garage. I had games ready for the adults (such as name thirty birthday gifts you'd give Rebekah if money were no object. The winner received thirty dollars).
The food was very traditional to use, and food everyone looks forward to enjoying together year after year after year.
I was on my feet all day and never sat to unwrap any of my gifts until after the cake was cut.
But mostly, if you think of the reason why we celebrate Christmas at all, watching three cousins from my perch in the the kitchen where I was preparing food. All three were around age twelve, and they sat on the couch together playing video games (along with their aunt) before the other guests arrived, summed up the specialness of the day.
Not one of the three boys (nor the aunt) are related by blood.
They are related by love.
Happy Monday!
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