Oh Christmas Tree...

...how lovely are thy branches...

Since last I wrote, it has been an exhausting few days. As noted in my last entry, Jared wasn't feeling very well. Saturday night, he spiked a super high fever and Sunday morning we were at the doctors office. His throat was killing him and he was very weak. Turns out he has pneumonia and strep throat. :( Poor kid...I hated seeing him like that...he sounded horrible and looked even worse. This afternoon, he finally started to slowly turn the corner. He's far from 100%, but is definitely on the mend.

Somehow on Sunday, he mustered the energy to join in the annual decorating of the Christmas tree. Given that it was plucked straight from nature, it is a bit "un-groomed" this year. I rather like it like that. The branches are lovely because they are adorned with our beloved ornament collection. Each one is priceless, commemorating a special occasion over the course of the kids lives...or our marriage. I spend a few moments each day enjoying them, reminiscing about the precious memories and the stories they hold.

I so cherish this time of year...with the abundance of traditions to share...and new memories just waiting to be made.

A Little Village by the Sea...

Back from the Tree Lighting, and Malia and Kassia passed out in the car on the way home. Guess the decorating of our own tree will wait until tomorrow evening. We have church in the morning and the Christmas Parade at noon. Jared is supposed to march in it, playing his saxophone. However, his throat has really been bothering him, so we'll see how he feels tomorrow. Then later tomorrow night is Sierra's Field Hockey Awards Banquet. Non-stop...as usual.

As mentioned earlier, we cut down our own tree this year. In the recent years, we've gotten one of those already-cut-1/2 dried-out ones sold in a parking lot. They come from Maine or Canada and the needles fall off not long after we put it up. Our house has forced hot-air heat...which doesn't do any favors to a tree. SO, we found a local tree farm...and searched for "THE" tree...


It was fun for the first 2 minutes...when all of a sudden the owners dog decided to torment us. I didn't want it to startle the kids, so I said, "Dog". I expected Kassia would be frightened, but it was SIERRA who ran like a bat out of hell ... full speed...through the tree farm. She was screaming and heading for Steve. Jared was in hot-pursuit, right behind her. The dog was only a Springer Spaniel...but no amount of me saying, "stop running...don't ever run from a dog" would make her stop. The dog was very annoying...kept jumping and harassing everyone. The kids kept 1/2 an eye on the dog at all times...so what was supposed to be a fun experience, was rather disappointing. They finally accepted the fact that the dog wasn't a ferocious beast...and ignored him. We eventually found a tree that Steve felt was an acceptable height for our house. I like FAT trees with lots of space to hang my ornament collection. I've bought each kid an ornament each Christmas, and it always has something to do with the past year. As you can imagine, the collection is rather large. I digress...back to THE tree (standing in front of it).

Daddy starts chopping it down...

and Shawny insisted on helping...

so Kassia needed to help too...

Jared wasn't feeling so well, so he was content to sit back and take in the atmosphere...

Mission accomplished, we tied it to the roof...

...then we set up a lot of the Christmas decorations at home. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, the snow-globes and music boxes were put on display...and we headed off to the "Village Tree Lighting". There is something very special about our small town. Lots of special somethings really. It has all of the charm one could wish for, friendly people, wonderful atmosphere, a tremendous sense of community and has some of the most remarkable scenery on the East Coast. Speaking of charm...the annual tree lighting is reminiscent of a modern Normal Rockwell painting. There's the countdown to the moment when the lights illuminate the tree in the center of the Village Green --which we nearly missed as we were sprinting from our car listening to 10-9-8-7-6 ...

and residents gather around the tree to sing Christmas Carols together. "Seafaring Santa" is there (he arrives on a boat into the harbor earlier in the day). We had a bit of trouble connecting with Santa at first, but the kids patiently waited for him to make his rounds.

After the caroling was complete, we wandered around the Village Green to see the other items on display. We spent a few moments enjoying the nativity...and seeing baby Jesus. It's important to remember the REAL meaning of Christmas...

Then on our way out, we took the chance for the girls to sit on Santa's lap...Kasi insisted on it. She wasn't very shy around him. Santa gave the girls some squishy tree thing and told them to squeeze it 3 times on Christmas Eve and their wish will come true. THANKS Santa, got a crystal ball for Mom and Dad?!?!

Shawn got a baseball from Santa, which he thought was pretty cool.

Miss Kasi played peek-a-boo with the animated St. Nick in the chimney...

then we headed home. Earlier today, I pulled one of my prized possessions out of the attic. It's my very own Village. It used to be so special to me to set this up every year, but once Shawn was born, I quit doing it. He seemed quite obsessed with touching it when he was a baby, and it would have devastated me to have any of it break...so I put it away. Then I had Malia, then Kassia...just too many curious fingers. This year, I decided it was time to try setting it up again. Kasi, Malia and Shawn loved watching me put the people in their places, and enjoyed listening to me explain what the buildings were. We picked up some "fake snow" and Shawn helped me sprinkle it on the village when we got home tonight. We sang, "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..." as we lit it up.

I'm looking forward to getting the tree decorated tomorrow and hopefully Jared will feel well enough to be in the parade. Today was a special day in our little village by the sea. :)

Full Circle...

This is "Holidays-by-the-Sea" weekend in town.

The official kick-off of my favorite time of year. This morning my mother and I went to church for a "Ladies Wreath Making" event. I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed it. Somewhere along the bumpy road of the past 24 years, my Mom lost her Holiday spirit. I won't get into the details, since it isn't productive to look backwards. Suffice to say, it is magically holly-jolly to see it emerging again. Making wreaths is quite the task, I had no idea how involved it was. Here's Mom getting starting on selecting her balsam and boxberry...

We enjoyed 2.5 hours of fun together. Then headed out with our works of art...

After I got home, Steve, the kids and I headed out to cut down the perfect Christmas tree. We plan to decorate that tonight. Right now, however, I must go ... we are heading to the official Lighting of the Tree in town. Bells will be ringing, carolers will be singing...Mom will be there.

Like the shape of a wreath, she's coming full circle.

Yeah, we'll keep looking forward...it's much more exciting. :)

December already?!?!...

Christmas is always my favorite time of the year. It is packed full of memory making opportunities. Somehow though, December really snuck up on me this year. Perhaps it's the tight financial situation most of us are in, or the fact that Thanksgiving was so late this year...whatever it is, I'm just not ready for it yet. I've done next to nothing for shopping and don't even know what I'm buying the kids this year. We decided to essentially nix the toys and senseless gifts and try to find items that can either be used by the family (DVDs, etc) or to DO something instead.

The annual Christmas parade is this coming weekend and Jared will be marching it in with his saxophone. That parade always seems to kick off the season nicely, and we will get our tree this weekend as well.

I needed a family photo for Disney...they are featuring me in their next newsletter. They wanted one of all 7 of us, and those are few and far between (I'm usually behind the camera). Since we were in need of that photo...and in preparation for the Holiday, we tried to get a decent family photo today. I thought we might try having all 7 of us on the card this year (as opposed to just the kids). I am NOT fond of how I look at ALL...so will likely be attempting a different shot of the kids for the card. Maybe Santa will bring me a new figure this year.

I don't know what I'm doing for Christmas gifts or how I'm going to pull all of this off in 3 weeks or so. I love a challenge though, so I'm sure I'll figure something out. I do know one thing...when I look at this photo...I am reminded that I truly am five times blessed. Just look at those adorable faces...and that's one handsome guy in the middle too! What did I ever do to deserve this wonderful family?!

Bittersweet Homecoming...

Sierra and Jared came home tonight. My heart is once again complete...but at what expense? :(

Sierra seems happy to be home, content to model her newly acquired clothing and share stories of her visit. She tried on several outfits before finally choosing which one she will wear to school tomorrow. It's nearly 11 and I'm still waiting for her to head to bed. Predictable and comforting in some odd way.

Jared, on the other hand, is broken hearted. As mentioned below, he is an emotional being...much like his Mom. He was fine at the airport and in the car. It wasn't until we began unpacking his suitcase that he started to cry...heart-wrenching, body-wracking sobs. It brought me to tears. We sat on his bed while he described his goodbye from his Dad. Darin couldn't go through security with them, and the line was barely moving. Jared said he kept looking back at Darin, who had tears in his eyes...and it was "like a slow death...the line wouldn't move and we just had to stand there and watch Dad cry." Jared described his life..."half of my heart is always on the other side of the country. I have my Mom and family here and my Dad and family there....and I can never have them both in the same place." He said some kids say, "My life sucks, my Dad yelled at me last night and blah blah blah. So, I tell them, 'at least you can see your Dad.' I know I will always miss someone. I will go out there again and have to say goodbye to you again, then I will have fun there and have to say goodbye to them again and I will come home to my family again and get comfortable with my life and have to say goodbye again. It will never, ever end." While in the airport, Jared told me that Darin "is growing up, Mom...he has really gotten a handle on his anger and didn't flip out on me once this time". Of course, Sierra tells a different story of a few times he went "bi-polar" on her...but she seems to get the brunt of his frustration anyway. So, I sat there, rubbing my sons back, hearing his pain and knowing that in some way, I am responsible for part of it. I told Jared (again) how hard I tried to make things work with Darin, and that I am so sorry for his pain. Truth is, I followed that guy back and forth on the West coast several times trying to make him take responsibility for his children. I reached a point that I realized it wasn't meant to be...not long after that, Steve came into my life.

While Jared truly appreciates Steve (his self-proclaimed "Hero")...he naturally feels a sense of emptiness. I know without a doubt that the life Steve and I were able to provide for Sierra and Jared ... the normalcy, the stability... those things they would not have had in Tahoe. I know this with every inch of my being. However, try explaining that to a 12 year old boy who just wants his whole family in one place. He cried for a while, and then spoke with Darin who promised him that the next time they see each other it will be in Cape Cod. He wants Jared to be able to have his parents all in one place for a few days...which hasn't happened since Sierra's 13th (nearly 4 years ago). Maybe he really is growing up...it warmed my heart to know he was trying to comfort our son. He also knows he can not go a year without seeing him again. That was just uncalled for and weighed heavily on Jared's heart.

Later in the evening, Jared came to talk with me in my room. "You and Dad are very different kinds of parents." "In what ways?" I asked...eager to hear his response. "The way you do things, the things you do...you do them to make us better people. You aren't trying to be our friend, you are being our parent. Dad just likes to laugh and joke and it's a lot of fun...but doesn't do much to make us better people." Hmm...quite deep for a 12 year old. He gets it. He knows in his heart that the life he has is better for him and that who he has become is a direct result of the normalcy and stability...but sometimes, his heart aches for the other 1/2 of him. What I wouldn't do to take away his pain.

Bittersweet...the memories of the years I tried and the tears I cried...the knowledge that without a doubt, our move East ultimately made them the amazing people they are...the acceptance of responsibility for my role in the pain...the belief that someday they will understand...the reassurance that they love me back...so very bittersweet.

It all leaves me feeling empty when my heart should be full again. A mother is only as happy as her saddest child. Tonight...I'm not feeling very happy at all. :(

Flying away

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone "

Friday, I experienced this..yet again...as my 2/5 's of my heart flew 3,000 miles away from me. Sierra and Jared flew to Palm Springs. They hadn't been out to California since last Thanksgiving. A year. This was the longest stretch ever. It was particularly hard for Jared. He gets anxiety, and is so very much like his Mom. Some people are muffins and others are stale bagels. I'm a muffin. I'm emotional, I'm squishy, I feel things to my very core. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and when I die, people will not wonder how I felt about things. I cry and I am proud of that. If something hurts me, I express it. If something brings me joy, I smile. If my heart breaks, I don't hide it, I don't make excuses for it, I don't pretend I'm okay. I feel deeply. I won't apologize for being a muffin. I'm quite proud of it actually. Stale bagels leave much to be desired.

That horrible moment...the one I dread every single time they head west...it happened again on Friday at 5:40pm. It is truly a feeling that is impossible to explain...you know you need to be strong, but your heart is breaking...literally causing physical pain as they walk away...down the tarmac. Jared is always the last one to walk away. He hesitates a moment...then looks back at me with tears streaming down his face. His eyes meet mine, he gives me one last wave. I mouth, "I love you" as he disappears. Then I just stand there, numb and broken. It is SO VERY FREAKING HARD. I've had a ritual ever since the kids first started flying out there...I walk up to the window and watch as the plane pulls away. I place my hand against the glass, and I close my eyes for a moment as I ask God to send 10,000 angels to fly with them. I felt peace this time, as I knew they would be okay. They are God's children, after all, He has just loaned them to me for awhile.

As I sat there waiting for them to pull away, I felt so alone...very, very alone. I went to the airport alone again (just like last time). I guess I feel like nobody really understands the pain of letting your children fly 3,000 miles away...and the fact that it hurts me is something I don't feel like having to justify. I called home and Steve was so busy with the other kids...he couldn't offer me the comfort I needed. So I called my Dad...just to hear a reassuring voice. He isn't one for small talk and chatting...but I didn't need that anyway. I just needed to be understood. "Hi Dad...I'm sitting here at Logan and the kids' plane just left." "And Mom's heart is breaking", he said. Precisely.

Then, I hung up and Sierra called me from the plane...sitting on the runway. "I love you, Mom...want to say bye again to Jared too"? I did. I told them to look towards the gate and they'd see me standing in the window. There I was, waving as 2/5's of my heart flew away.

I got lost on the way home, while on the phone trying to help Steve figure out his laptop. I can't see at night anyway, so that was a bit scary and un-nerving for me...and I almost ran out of gas too. Par for the course...a crappy day all the way around.

One week from now, they will be home again. For now, honestly, I am "faking it" quite well. Pretending to be okay and holding it together for the kids I have home still. I was at church today and 2 dear lady friends hugged me and said, "don't pretend...let it out". I said, "no way...then I'll never stop". So...here I sit...keeping myself busy with cleaning and getting ready for Thanksgiving. I know very well how immensely blessed I am. I have a lot to be thankful for. This year we will have Thanksgiving at our house with my MOM (still can't believe she lives 5 miles away from me!!), Steve's parents, Scott and Curly. It promises to be a special day. We'll be celebrating it under the same Autumn sky as Sierra and Jared...3,000 miles apart...but they know their Mom loves them with all my heart.

Learning...

I am learning a lot lately...

I'm learning no matter how hard you try, you will still be kicked in the teeth, spit on and made to feel like a failure.

I'm learning that certain kids have selective memories and that these are in full swing particularly when they haven't seen one parent in a year. Miraculously, that absent parent (the one who CHOSE to NOT make the effort to see them for a year)...that parent becomes a hero. He suddenly understands her like I never have and never will. He can offer her independence and freedom (because he was allowed free reign as a child). He can swoop in from on high, snatch her and the last 16 years of me coming to her aid, battling her bullies, defending her honor and standing up for her no matter what...that can all just be erased from her memory.

I'm learning a lot. That being a mom really sucks sometimes...it breaks your heart and walks away with a smile on it's face.

Somehow, I still wouldn't trade it for the world. Instead, I will sit here and wait. I will continue to love her with all my heart, I'll wish things were different, I'll support her, I'll guide her, I'll discipline her, I'll encourage her, I'll keep her best interests first and before my own selfish desires, I'll love her unconditionally...even when she breaks my heart.