Saturday, December 17, 2011

My red headed Gingerbreads!

I think it is much easier to work hard on something, when you do it for someone you love. That is probably why I have such a fun time making matching seasonal outfits for the girls. I just finished their Gingerbread outfits ( look below), they really like the skirts they can twirl in. And even though they compete in almost everything, they still like having the matching outfits ( go figure ).

Tonight I am sitting here at home alone. Jeff is gone, Lee is out on a date, Lauren is at work and I have Kenny G Christmas music playing in the background…now doesn’t that just sound like a perfect setting to feel lonely in? I am missing my boy Bradley and his wife Krystal pretty bad, I guess that is normal for Mom’s. They live in California and Krystal is expecting their first baby, and it’s a boy! We can hardly wait till he gets here, still how I wish magically we could all be together for Christmas.  I am missing Lauren and Lee already ( and they aren’t even gone yet ). They keep this house full of laughter and fun, it certainly will be quiet without them here.

This time of year I always think of my Mom and Dad (who have already finished their mission here on earth). Oh how I wish I could just pick up the phone and hear my Mom’s voice, I really miss her. She would have loved meeting these cute little red heads! As for my Dad, we weren’t very close at all, but he taught me to love giving and Christmas, that is one time he was always happy. He gave gifts to everyone, he would start from Thanksgiving on… all the way through Christmas. He and Mom were always making gift baskets for everyone, my Dad had a million friends (guess I inherited that from him ). So the holidays were always special, and living on a farm seemed to make everything even more magical. We had our own sleigh riding hill ( that my Dad had cleared and made just for that ). Actually it was for tubing, it was way to steep for sleds. Still everyone wanted to come tubing at the Johnson’s farm. My Mom would have warm Gingerbread cookies ready with Hot Chocolate for everyone.

As we got older Mom would always call to see how many of her kids could make it home for the Holidays, now I find myself doing the same things. I cry when I hear the song…"I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS”. Yes, I get very homesick this time of year for my kids, family and friends. So I guess it’s a real good thing that I am going with Jeff and Lauren and Lee  when they head off for college in a couple of weeks. I will stay in Utah while they head off to Idaho, but at least I won’t be here by myself. When we come home to an empty house, at least we will be together.

Many of you who are already Empty Nesters, have shared tips on  how to survive being Empty Nesters and what some of the feelings we will go through, thanks for that advice…it really did help. The truth is though, like everything else…many things we have to just go through (that is where the lessons are learned ), but still it can be tough and I realize that. So thanks for your good advice.

Well, I have got to quit sitting here and thinking to much and get to work, there are lots more gifts to make! Good night dear friends!

DSC03223[1]

 

“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given, when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.”     ~Joan Winmill Brown

“Time was with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire, and make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes, complete.”     ~  Charles Dickens

“Christmas is a time when you get homesick -- even when you're home.”   ~ Carol Nelson

1 comment:

*b said...

Such cute girls! Love the outfits!!!
*brittany