The Wilsons

File this one under the “special times” section, or maybe, things Papi and Mami like.  It’s been a week since this happened, but I haven’t had time to post it.  I think one of my favorite days/times of the entire year happened last week at Grandma Jo’s house.

We spent our Sunday out and about - we took the kids sledding - and Melodia for her first time - then we took them to McDonald’s and let them play in their big indoor play structure, and a little later in the evening, we took them to look at some Christmas lights at an amazing house we dubbed, “Winter Wonderland.”  But all of this, Melodia commented on in an earlier post.

What really made that day so wonderful was what happened when we got back home that night.  Grandma Jo was sitting in front of the tv, holding Izzabelle, watching the Hallmark channel, and it was showing made-for-tv movie after made-for-tv movie themed around Christmas. We climbed onto Grandma’s couch with a few bed pillows and finished watching one with her.  Then another came on.  So we kept watching.

Now, I should interrupt and say this - we don’t have a couch right now.  We have 3 amazingly comfortable La-Z-y boy recliner/rockers.  We invested good money to get them, and love them.  Comfy.  But there are times when I miss having a couch.  This reminded me of that.  And it had me wondering about our kids’ need for a couch.  They seemed to treat that thing like a play toy; climbing up and down it often.  And I was reminded of how nice it is to sit in the same space together, rather than in our individual chairs.

We made the kids some toast for an evening snack, and then they climbed onto the pillows on our lap. Soon, they were deep in slumber as we continued to watch this Christmas Hallmark movie. There’s something about the warmth of a child emanating from his/her sleepy body sprawled out on top of you - something special. And sleeping kids are just magnetic to watch - it’s hard not to sit there and stare at them, and kiss those soft cheeks a thousand more times!

So the Hallmark movie played on, and it accomplished its goal - the goal of all those tear-jerker, heart-warming Hallmark flicks - remind us of the everyday wonder that is love, family, kids, and sharing life together.  Melodia and I enjoyed a little hand-handling on Grandma’s couch (shh, don’t tell her!).

Words can hardly capture that time, but it felt like we were in a Hallmark movie.  It was the perfect, slow, appreciative winding down to what had been a wonderful family day.

Last night, I told Melodia that I was still thinking about our time on the couch, and she admitted that she, too, had thought about it and how wonderful it was.  Definitely on the top 10 list of days/times for the Wilsons this year.  It’s things like this that we want to enjoy now, lock into our memories now (for later times), and celebrate. Kids grow up so fast. I think often about the fact that it won’t be long and our kids will no longer sleep in our laps or ask, “Papi, carry me.”  I have to hold and “hug” these times while I can.  We all do.

I love the holidays.  I love the time off from school (over a full month in the case of this college professor).  I love the sounds and smell of the season… baking cookies and making gingerbread houses, sitting by the glow of the lights on the tree, watching the snow fall, listening to Christmas music with no tv on in the house, smelling wood burning in the fireplace, and stepping out into the Crisp (20-degree) night air when the snow on the ground is reflecting the light of stars and what should be night is lit up as if someone had hung street lights all around (those of you who’ve experienced this, know what I’m talking about).  And there’s so much more to love about this time of year.

Melodia and I were chatting about all of this the other day, and were discussing the notion, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Melodia questioned such widespread use of the words, “Holiday Season” to mask and/or avoid calling it “The Christmas Season.”  She was, of course, making the point that society (particularly American) has worked hard to take the “Christ” out of Christmas.  Yet, He is the reason the Holiday exists - and even the historical notion of St. Nick wouldn’t exist if St. Nicholas himself had not believe in that Christ’s birth was more than myth, legend, simple historical fact.

I mentioned to Melodia that I struggle myself with the Christ in Christmas.  Oh, it’s not that I don’t believe in His birth, the price He paid for me, the salvation that comes because of His gift(s) to us — no, it’s just that, I also love the notion of the “Holidays.” I’m not bothered by the word, and am just as happy with the words, “Christmas Season.”  But, as I told her, I love all the things I opened this paragraph with…  the snow, the music, the lights, the baking — and the other things — no, not the beat downs in Walmart as people display their ultimate rudeness all in an attempt to “generously give from their heart” - lol.  But I do appreciate the spirit that some others seem to adopt, which I have to believe is a hint of the reflection that we ourselves are supposed to live daily… opening a door for another, allowing someone to go ahead of them in line, saying thank you, displays of both grace and mercy, and generosity that some seem to show - if only during this season of the year.  I like those hints of His love, and only wish we’d live the Christmas season all year long.

Of course, I have the benefit of now living somewhere with real cold and snow.  And I love that bundling up to go outside adds to the “experience” of this season for me…. and then, after having been outside, returning to the warmth of the house, and drinking hot tea or hot chocolate.  Yummy.

I guess, in the end, I love the experience of it all, and maybe, just maybe, weather we use the word, “Holidays” or “Christmas,” there are things in this season that offer hints of — well, if not the way it should be between us as we journey this path together, perhaps the way it will be in the end.  Oh, I’m not so sure they’ll be endless fountains of hot chocolate in Heaven, but I like to think that somewhere in that warm, cozy, loving, gracious, giving experience of the season, we are glimpsing the stuff of Heaven.

I know, I may be stretching it a bit considering the commercialized, packaged, mandated gift-giving, competitive light-decorated, government ordained day-off season — but I find the season to be — well — hopeful. And right now, this world needs hope.  Of course, it’s need hope long before a little child was born in a manger; and it’s needed hope long after that same child was a man walking one last time up a hill; but here’s “hoping” that all of us find a renewed hope this season, and that more and more of us will - even in the midst of all the scents, sounds, sights, and feelings - pause to consider the first five letters of “Christmas.”  Merry Christmas, everyone.

You know, when you get married you inherit a whole slew of things.  Not just your spouse, but the entire kit and caboodle.  In-laws, some out-laws, and if you are lucky you get a Grandma Jo.

She lives in Michigan which is where Lonni’s family is from.  She is in her mid 70’s and lives alone but has a great daughter living right next door who looks after her.

Anyway, Grandma Jo is Great! Literally and figuratively.  She remembers all of her families birthdays and anniversaries.

This is no small task.  Grandma Jo has eight children, each of those had at least two children, and now all of her grandchildren have given her (some are about to pop) a total of 20 great grandchildren! (Wil is the 10th in the mix.)

And she remembers us all!

We were able to finally make some time to visit her this past weekend which just happened to be our 5th anniversary.

It’s about a 7 to 8 hour drive. She was thrilled.  We had not seen her since a year ago last August.  Wil was only 2 and McMac was just starting to walk.

Grandma is famous for playing Scrabble, so we made sure to make time for a couple games.  (She beat us on the last one.)

Wil and McMac fell in love all over again and Izzy was quick to  con Grandma into spoiling her all weekend.  Wil started calling her Jo Grandma, which we thought was cute.

The first thing Wil asked her was how many toys she had. Grandma has tons of great toys, all inherited from the growing number of great grandchildren.

Wil and McMac spent the whole weekend without watching one lick of TV.  They entertained themselves with all the great “finds” at grandma’s house.  They made sure to make a great mess as only Wil and McKinley can.

We did get to play out in the snow.  Actually, we had planned to leave on Sunday morning and ended up staying the extra day.  We were able to go sledding with them on Sunday, which was my first time. While Grandma watched Izzy for us. Needless to say, my new winter gear came in pretty handy. (More on our sledding later.)

All in all, we had a wonderful time.

We will actually be heading out to see her again on the 24th because this would have been her first Christmas Eve without family around.  We wanted to be there for her since she is so great at being there for all of us.

The kids keep asking if we can go back to Jo Grandma’s house and we are glad we can tell them “yes, we will be there next week.”

Off to Grandma’s we will go again…