Our Christmas was a little different this year. We wanted it to be....but then things got really different and we didn't plan how it ended up turning out. First, what we planned...
Dave and I really made a decision this year to teach our children to be generous. We figured we couldn't tell them that and then give them a ton of presents and then expect them to remember the "giving to others" part. So we held ourselves back and only got what RK asked Santa for and a few gifts for Sam. None for each other. (I must admit that was kinda hard. I LOVE presents and I thought I would be fine but it made me a little sad to see our tree not have a ton of gifts under it and nothing for me...) The kids were happy with what Santa brought them and we were happy because we knew we had begun to teach them about being the kind of people we want them to be...
Now, what we didn't plan... We had to unexpectedly pack up and jump in the car on Christmas Day to head up to Athens...Our favorite uncle, Uncle Dave had had a stroke after undergoing brain surgery for a tumor and it didn't look good. He passed away on Friday night....not a great way to spend Christmas but it did teach me, once again, how important family and friends are and how when we think something is so important---it suddenly seems silly.
Uncle Dave and Aunt Donna have always been generous to my family (and really everyone.) Uncle Dave was genorous with his time, his attention, and most importantly, his love. My husband was lucky enough to have an Uncle Dave his whole life but just in the last 10 years when I was blessed enough to have one I could see and appreciate this special person. He and Aunt Donna drove to Bremen for my very first day of opening "color me happy". They were some of my 1st customers and they had no idea how much that support still means to me. When they would drive to Jacksonville to visit thier grandchildren they would make an effort to see us, as well, even though their time was limited. And man---did he love his grandkids! I didn't think they would ever learn to walk because he wanted to hold them all the time. I was reminded this weekend of a time that had slipped my mind...when RK was a baby I had gone over to Aunt Donna's for a visit and Uncle wasn't home yet. For some reason I had to go and driving away Uncle Dave passed me going to the other direction. I stopped and pulled over and he did the same. He ran down the road to my car just to get a hug and see the baby asleep in the car...
His time was WAY too short but everyone that knew him was touched. He knew who he was and he didn't really care what you thought. He was happy in all he did and always willing to lend a hand. I'm sad that my kids won't get the chance to know him like we did but I pray that we can teach them to live as he did.
I always hear that in tragedy comes beauty...it holds truth here, as well. My Erin stayed an extra couple of days in Miledgeville so that she could drive to my in-laws to watch RK and Sam. Erin got to meet Uncle Dave a couple of times and she knew how much he meant to us. I hope she knows how much her generous spirit continues to amaze me and the gifts she gives are priceless.
So this was our Christmas...A lot of tears and, surprisingly, a lot of laughter, too. Uncle Dave was always trying to make people laugh so that is no surprise. I am thankful for the family that I gained when I got married...unfortunately, we've been to 3 funerals in that short time. too many. This one especially was such a shock but I know that Uncle Dave will remain in our hearts and I hope to be as generous to others with my time, smiles, hugs, and love as he was.
