Christmas part 4

 

Birthday joy

Our Unity is now 8 years old. We've been able to celebrate with a houseful of relatives, which is always fantastic. My mom helped us plan and run the panda-themed birthday party. The kids had fun making panda masks and other fun crafts. She is definitely taller than last year. Always growing, always keeping us on our toes. She's loving and loyal, generous and goofy. Happy birthday to Unity!

With love

My Uncle Bob passed away a few days into the new year. When he was born, my grandparents were told to put him in an institution and forget about him. Thankfully they had better ideas.

He loved sweet treats like Coke and candy bars. He always carried a piece of paper in his pocket with his name and his age written on it. He loved handing out the presents, and giving hugs, and bowling. He loved everything Batman, every single thing.

My mom and her sisters grew up with him, and they all became teachers and social workers, they all continued the helping professions. Loving him, knowing him, being his family, it shaped us all.
He was truly loved his whole life long, and isn't that all any of us can ask for?

Family

So here we are, nine days in to the new year. I've been thinking about family a lot these days. How important it is, how lucky I am. I've really been blessed by knowing such love, and all I can hope for is to pass on some of that Light to my own kids. 

Even when we're far away, even when we only see each other sporadically, that influence is there. The stories about where we came from, the habits and the games, and the ways things become traditions. I'm thankful for it.  

P.S. These beautiful photos were taken by my talented photographer brother. All credit goes to him. 

End of December

                               

     We just returned from the loveliest trip to Chicago. My parents were very generous hosts and we had a week full of relatives and old friends, cousins, dogs, favorite books, wearing heritage outfits, amazing light displays, and just a fantastic Christmas.

I'm so thankful we had this chance to be together and relish this time, of light coming back, of family gathering, of familiar places.

T-shirt time

More Christmas

California Christmas

Santa wrote back!

We had such a lovely California Christmas with a housefull of family and talent shows by the cousins. We cuddled on the couch and watched the Grinch, we baked cookies and a fabulous Christmas feast. We took walks and played in parks and made music and just hung out in the sunny backyards. 

So perfect.