Christmas Reminisce

It's Christmas time. This is probably the poorest I've been for Christmas since my kids were oh so little. My kids grew up not having much. They grew up with a mom who worked nights, weekends, holidays. I remember Crystal's very first Christmas. The most I could afford to get her was one of those pegs you stack the colored rings on. She was five months old, so she didn't know any better; but, I did! The next year, she and I were living with my parents, I had been working at the police department and I could afford a bit more. She was actually quite spoiled. She was kind of a princess in the eyes of all those grownups living there with her. After that, I met George and we were married for the next Christmas. It seems that George and I never had any money at all. The kids got some presents, but I would feel so awful when I would see the Christmas presents that all my relatives would give their children and my kids got so very little. They never complained - they always were so happy on Christmas morning to see what they got.

Christmas of 1999. I don't remember much about it, except that George wanted a keyboard. I found him one that was quite inexpensive. Probably around $100. He woke up that morning with the kids and me. We did a pretty good job of keeping it hidden. He was so excited when he opened it up. After all was said and done, everyone was tired - you know how it is, everyone wakes up so very early and when you're done and have seen it all, you're exhausted. We look over and George has the box in his lap and is laying over the top of the keyboard box and he's asleep. We left him there just like that and went back to bed ourselves. Who knew that five days later, we would lose him to a massive heart attack. That image of him asleep on the box of his keyboard will live with me forever.

That was ten years ago. It's crazy to think it's been that long. Since then my oldest daughter has given me a son-in-law and two absolutely beautiful grandbabies. I've met my husband and added two step-daughters, another son-in-law and three step-grandchildren. Life has changed like crazy. We are feeling the effects of the economic times and hope that things turn around soon.

I love my life. My kids have grown into adults I admire. Crystal is a stay-at-home mom who is probably the best mother I know. KayeLynn wants to give back to those who have helped her so many years ago and wants to become a Child Life Specialist and take care of sick kids at Primary Childrens Hospital. Rodger is an amazing man; he is doing what he loves working in the theatre (I hope that his love of theatre was inspired a little bit by me). They are amazing and I love them so very much.