Friday, December 4, 2009

The feeling of home, family and love!

I flew in last night to Salt Lake City, Utah to come and visit my family that is here. One of my niece's had her first baby and so Aunt Lynn needed to come and see her. I also got to stay with my sister-in-law Shirley who is the closest thing I can imagine what a sister feels like. I have some friends that I feel that close to too and it is a wonderful feeling. Since I never had sisters, I can only wonder what it is like. Shirley was one of my room mates during our college years and quickly became one of my best friends. I thought that if I introduced her to my brother... then if they got married, she would get to stay in the family and we would always be together. It worked and we have been close ever since. That was over 30 years ago!

It is always hard for me to leave home, I worry about the family and what I need to be doing but...as my kids get older and more responsible, it is getting less stressful. I was grateful that I finally healed from the flu, so that I could come and see everyone, the icing on the cake is...that it's Christmas time!

My mom died 9 years ago today, I sorta feel in some ways, that I am trying to take her place in these kid's lives.I get sad to realize that they don't have a grandma or great grandma on our side. My mom was big about being with her family, she loved each new daughter-in-law, new baby, new husband or wife that came into our family. Like I mentioned before, one of her all time favorite Christmas songs was I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.  As I spent the day with this new little great niece,and as I saw how excited my other niece's were that I was here, it did my heart good. I only wish that I was that close to all my nieces and nephews but I do think at least they know that their Aunt Lynn loves them and would do anything for them. Yes, as I felt how much they loved and missed me today, I realized that HOME is more than just one place, it is wherever your family is and I felt blessed to be so loved. So tonight, I thought I would learn a bit more about my mom's favorite song and remember to try and follow in her footsteps of staying close to her family. I miss my mom, I miss that see never got to meet so many of these sweet little ones that have come, since she has been gone. She was a proud grandmother and mother, everyone knew that about her. And so... I am trying to be the same.

I hope at this wonderful time of the year that we will try to show are appreciation for our family, the love that we have and also be grateful for the homes that we have made. Good night dear friends!

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love
Even more then I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams

In 1943, this song joined "White Christmas" to become one of America's most popular holiday songs. The recording by Bing Crosby shot to the top ten of the record charts that year and became a holiday musical tradition in the United States. The idea of being home for Christmas originated in World War I when soldiers at first thought that the war would be quick and they would return by Christmastime. This inevitably did not happen, hence the line "if only in my dreams".

2 comments:

Brad and Barb Cahoon said...

It's true that HOME can be many places. It's where we feel at peace in the company of those we love...the places where we are most fulfilled and have a difficult time leaving. Please share a hug with all of those Johnson girls from me.

Julie N. said...

Have a wonderful time! I'm so glad that you are feeling better and were able to travel. Enjoy all the beautiful sights and sounds of this season. Love you dearly!