It's been a year since I've blogged in this space. An entire, amazing year where big things happened and I didn't document it. We bought a lovely house, went on a great vacation to California, and had some fun visits from guests. I got a few race PRs, Molly applied to and received acceptance letters from colleges, Anna delivered a great performance in her school play and snagged another lead role in the next one, I took a new position at my agency, and my sister Kristy and her family moved close. The last item has changed our lives for the better quite a bit, with one reason being that we are much closer to our 4 year old niece. Being far away from nieces and nephews while they are growing up has always been the saddest part of living in a different state than family. Kristy is also expecting another baby soon, and we are totally looking forward to her arrival and getting to know her too. Also, it is nice to be able to help out family instead of being far away and feeling helpless when they need something. We will care for Jovie when it's time for Kristy to head to the hospital to deliver.
Babies do not adhere to anyone's schedule. They are about as controllable and predictable as the weather. "Baby sister" (as my niece exclusively refers to her and demands that everyone else does too) has a due date of January 6, but several factors have come into play that caused the doctors to inform my sister that a 2015 delivery is at hand.
It is Christmastime, and my little family usually travels to the Midwest to visit with family and friends from just before Christmas Eve until New Year's. This year, not only is the visit cut short, it is entirely unpredictable. My sister and her family have only lived in Jersey a few months, which is not too much time to make friends good enough to call at 1 am on Christmas morning to take your child who doesn't like to be out of her routine and with strangers, should the need arise. We have some fluid "plans" in place, because we are not going to leave my sister and brother-in-law and niece in a vulnerable situation.
Seemingly switching tracks for a minute... do you sometimes find yourself seeking peace and meaning in the middle of the Christmas season? Something beyond feeling "Christmas-y" because that can be achieved by spending one dark evening in a lit-up, busy, decorated city center. Perhaps you practice advent, go to church more often, meditate, etc.
In the midst of the upheaval surrounding our Christmas plans (not to say that my soon-to-be newest niece is the next Christ Child) I remembered that the Christmas story is one rooted in the impending arrival of a baby being born at an inconvenient time. This still unborn niece is the one who is making Christmas real for this auntie this year. As Jeff and I were shopping after a difficult disclosure of our non-plans to other family members, we saw a little one-year-old with barely-pigtails toddle by, clutching her mom's hand while taking bumbling baby steps and we looked at one another and grinned. It was as if Christmas one year in the future made a quick appearance to remind us that little precious people are undeniably worth any hijacking of best laid plans. (Which, if you know anything about us by now, Jeff and I have never laid any best plan in our entire life together anyway). Babies born in inconvenient times always open our eyes. Opening our hearts to receive our new little humans, loving them and bringing them into our family, is part of what living is really about. The first Christmas was about a new life that brought new life to all humankind. All new life still brings a little to those of us near and reminds us of the possibilities of renewal and hope. And that Love trumps everything.
Tonight is the little Christmas play at our church, a ten minute, homespun "production" acted out by all of the children among us. My daughters were asked to help keep the little ones doing what they are supposed to (Anna is shepherding 2 year old sheep!), my 4 year old niece is an angel, and the brand newest baby is really going to lie in a manger for about one minute and hopefully not have his eyes poked at by any "sheep." (Anna has a big job). I. am. so. pumped. for. this. The beauty of these funny performances lies in their uncontrollable and unpredictable nature that lead to inevitable and endearing imperfection.
I wish for all of us a wonderfully unpredictable season that keeps us off-balance and therefore more alert to the possibilities. Joy, peace, grace and love to the world:)
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