Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The "Expectant" Family at Christmas...

Like many families, we love Christmas around here. We take the day to decorate the tree and the house, watch cheesy Christmas movies (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation now that our son is a tween) and just enjoy being a family. Like a typical female, I love the Christmas shopping. And as the lone female in the house, this activity can be pretty lonely. It's not about getting "stuff" but just about finding things - regardless of the cost - that will make my loved ones smile. I take particular joy in the stocking stuffers - trying to keep within a budget but move beyond the standard toiletries and socks. Every year since he was born, our son has received an ornament which represents something which was important to him in
the past year - whether that be a family vacation, an accomplishment or something he was "crazy" about. My goal has always been that, when he has his own family, he will have these ornaments and these memories to share with them.

As we sit in limbo waiting for our home study, it is hard not think about our "kids." When you are pregnant at Christmas, you think about the new little person who will be joining your family next year and how different your Christmas will be. With adoption, what dawned on me as I was Christmas shopping, is that our "little person" or "persons" are already out there - somewhere - about to celebrate Christmas. It is a strange feeling to realize that "our" children are already celebrating Christmases and will, hopefully, be hanging stockings, visiting Santa and exchanging presents with their current family. Will they have their own special ornaments? Is their Christmas a special time or a lonely time? As sad as I am not to share this Christmas with "our"children, I hope and pray that their Christmas is special.

So, as I wander around the shops, it is hard not to wonder what our family will look like next year. Will I be buying one special ornament or two, three, four?  Will I still be the lone female shopper or will I have one or two "helpers"? 
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1 comment:

  1. The Gumboot GalDecember 10, 2013 at 9:29 PM

    I totally get that feeling about wondering what your children will be doing for Christmas. I remember wondering what Elizée would be doing with her foster family and what she did with her birth family. Turns out Christmas was all about getting dressed up in your best, going to Church and walking around town looking at all the lights (not what we think of as Christmas lights) and decorations and if you were lucky, eating a special meat like chicken. So what is she most excited about this year? Walking around the neighbourhood to look at lights, sneaking her Christmas dress out of the closet to wear and going to neighbourhood events with lots of music. :) And wondering why people here have so many more things and why Canada is so nice when so many people in Congo suffer. Her thoughts, not mine. Here's to hoping you have those two helpers next year!!! :)

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