Nursing Home where Mom is living. Today is our family Christmas dinner so happy to be back in Ohio and see my family especially my Momma.
Well, we have the activity room all set up. Jenny and Rob are going to work on a puzzle of baby Jesus in a manger.
Robbie looks up for a minute from the puzzle and spots some dear outside over by a grove of trees. These deer are always out there roaming around. Looks like they have found some good food outside, it looks like nuts are laying on the ground. Maybe that is what they are eating.
Out in the lobby, there is a beautiful big cage of parakeets. I stood for a while and watched them fly around in the big cage, some were just sitting on branches and some were in the nest. What a nice display of nature at its finest for the residents to watch.
Everyone has arrived and are seated at the table waiting on me to give my Christmas speech. I read the first line but by the time I get to the second sentence, I am choked up and crying. I noticed a few of my family members were getting choked up also at my words.
This year has been a difficult year since we have lost a precious loved one, my daughter Jammie. It's nice to know that no matter what happens, I have a wonderful family to lean on to help us get through the holidays. This year will be lots of first to get through. We have lost a daughter and you have lost a niece and granddaughter. As a family, we are lucky to have each other to help us deal with the loss of another family member. I asked my sister Debbie to give this years speech but she said she could not do it. So I’m going to use the words she told me while traveling to Ohio, to comfort me. My sister, Debbie told me You have Dad, Grandma, Papaw & everyone is taking care of Jammie in heaven, she is at rest and she is keeping her eyes on you.
You pulled through with dad and you will do the same with Jammie, you never missed a speech while she was here, now she is in our heart and wants you to continue. As I’m sitting in the van another message comes through from Debbie. I love you, just think, Jammie is everywhere you are and enjoying her trip back from a nice warm place, which Jammie loved. You are surrounded with love, I feel pain for you Sister, I know it's more than any one person can bear. This last statement she wrote to me meant so much. We all got you sister and just know we are there for you. I want you to be comforted, I wish that everything was different, but God had bigger and more plans for Jammie, she may be on earth as an angel helping someone else who needs help and. She is here with us, keep that in your mind, only happy thoughts. My words to all of you are perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place on your knees-alone or with a loved one give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask his spirit to dwell in you as you strive to keep his commandments.
Everyone has made their plates of food and are now sitting down to enjoy all the great food brought by everyone.
Time to open presents and my Mom was very happy with her gifts. I made her some painted rocks of the 4 seasons, and Urbana Daily Citizen newspaper starting in 2017 for one year. Mom was happy with all her presents.
I passed out watercolor paintings I painted for each of my sisters and brothers.
I brought supplies to make the Grooms Annual Christmas ornament. All family members created a handmade wreath to hang on their tree.
Me and my sister Maggie
