Today we woke up late in our motel.  We slept well.  It was a little warmer than we're used to but we were tired and didn't care.  

Looking out the window I could see the motel parking lot.  A car blowing smoky exhaust into the frozen air.  The wind blowing bare trees.  Winter.  But not as cold as it's been.  So I felt blessed.

We got to Rain and R's way earlier than expected.  But the other grandparents had gotten themselves out of bed at 7 a.m.  That's not uncivilized.  Not on Willow's horizon.  They came in p.j.'s to open Santa's bounty with les kids.  After the exhausting trip they took from the east in hard rain,  Luke and I felt admiration for them.  What a beautiful sacrifice.

We sat around the table drinking coffee and talking.  Peace.  Good feelings.  Happy.  Rain had cooked all yesterday and all morning to create an amazing Christmas dinner.  The kids celebrate Christmas and Hanukah.  It's sweet.  

We sat around the table eating roast (the rest of the family) ,  turkey,  potato pancakes,  and salad .  The desserts were piled up high on the dessert table.  I forgot my offering but it didn't matter.  

After eating we were stuffed like sausages.  And happy.  Good fun conversation. 

Watching V and X playing together.  Chasing each other and laughing.  V has the sweetest laugh.

X playing ,  doing his job as big brother.  Precious.  

Then we opened presents.  I got a beautiful wrap from R's parents.  I'll have a lot of uses for it.

L gave me a chain that goes perfectly with my other jewelry.  I put it on right away.  One of my fav gifts was a purple Indian scarf from Rain.  I'll be able to wear it to Prem's bday party next year.  I'm so excited.  But the best gift was family and love and the laughter the little's.

We played games.  We took turns playing with X and V and with the adults as well.  V loves to watch reruns of "High Five."   It's a show for older kids,  but she's entranced by it and knows all the characters.  She was tired and sat on her grandpa P's lap.  He has had a lot of health issues this year.  She laid back on him and just watched her show.  It was beautiful to watch.  The grandpa who made such a heroic effort to be with family and his tiny,  beautiful granddaughter.  Peace and love.  You couldn't imagine a better miracle.  

X liked his video games.  We all took turns playing his games and watching him  play as well.  

TIme flew by and it was time for Luke and I to go home.  We said goodbye with promises that we would come East for Aimee's wedding,  and that we'd all be together again for more happiness and more miracles.  

The ride home was in perfect weather on perfect roads.  Blessings on blessings.  Luke was mellow and began talking about his years as a young musician in Dallas.  He told stories that I'd never hear before and created a world that was peopled by the famous and the not so famous.  All fascinating like creating a woven fabric.  

Thank you God for this blessed Holiday season.