Life seems to run on a parallel. This side of heaven we get a mixture of pleasure and the undesirable. Hence the redeeming work of the gospel kneads its way into our soul and spores into our surroundings – evoking change from within.
This holiday season was just that for me and my family – mostly for me.
The Thanksgiving dishes were hardly put away when Victoria and I boarded a plane for Cochabamba, Bolivia to visit the orphanage at Casa de Amor. This long anticipated trip was finally happening! Our 10 day adventure can not be described in a blog post. To touch what God is doing in the lives of the least privileged leaves one without description. We’re so thankful to the Lord for this opportunity and hope to return, with friends!
Our plane descended upon Dallas/Ft Worth and a blanket of Christmas lights welcomed us. Our first glimpse of Christmas! The warmth of the season was tangible.
We returned to our Christmas-clad home with only a few aches and pains that sleep would surely solve. Victoria nursed a toothache we hoped would go away.
We were hosting a large party in our home, along with our neighbors across the street, for our speech and debate club. Just a few more details needed to be placed on the house for the finishing touches. Christmas celebration was in the air! I climbed onto my wobbly kitchen extended stool to place that last wreath way up on the outside window – the one that sits above the retaining wall.
The stool gave way and I found myself in a heap on the grass moaning for help. Our kids doctored me up and pain killers did their magic. The party went on and our sons pulled it off beautifully! Upon closer examination my foot was broken – really broken. After doctor’s visits and scans, surgery was scheduled for the day after Christmas.
Meanwhile, we had a holiday to plan!
Victoria’s mysterious tooth ache landed her in the oral surgeon’s office for wisdom teeth extraction. Two days after her surgery she came down with the flu – the bad kind. I hobbled around the doctor’s office getting her meds and tucked our sweet baby girl in bed to rest. Amos was my chauffeur on duty 24/7.
We had a Christmas/family vacation planned and nothing was going to hold us back! Two days later we packed up the vehicles and loaded a trailer with the overflow. We arrived at the lovely cabin-like lodge in the Texas Hill Country overlooking the Llano River. Our oldest son, Barnabas and his wife, Justin had a fresh Christmas tree decorated waiting for our arrival. Over the next 4 days, the guys deer hunted every day and Justin helped prepare meals. All 13 of us enjoyed our temporary home in the country. We had no TV or internet. In the evenings we played games and roasted marshmallows. Meanwhile, the flu made its ugly trek from Victoria to Malachi who laid in bed most of our trip.
Christmas Eve brought us all home to prepare for our traditional gathering and everyone was well! We ordered dinner out {just for this year} but we still ate on china – it’s tradition! We opened new pajamas and watched White Christmas on the big screen. {the living room wall – via projector} The evening was everything holidays are made of. Josiah’s flight from NY finally made it and we savored our time together. The evening was christened with a cold front. Everything felt like Christmas.
Christmas morning the kids made our usual Christmas breakfast and served with it with flare. Plates were heaped with fresh berries, eggs, biscuits and bacon. Rich coffee and orange juice topped it off. As the morning progressed snow began to fall. Snow flurries turned into real flakes and In Dallas this was surreal. We were giddy with the novelty of a White Christmas! Priscilla and her fiance, David, joined us. Our traditional Christmas play and gift giving for our clan takes a loooooong time. Watching the kids give to one another was a delight! The day ended with full hearts. So thankful for our time together. Since I couldn’t get up and hustle around the house – I had a perfect view by the fire and plenty of time to soak in the day.
The next day came with the sobering reality of surgery. Priscilla took me for a pedicure and a few moments together before the inevitable. Once home and secured in our bedroom, my sweet husband fell fast asleep. The vicious flu bug had done its work and he was down for the count. In the days that followed other family members succumbed to the flu one by one. I tried to keep clear of the germs while holding fast to healing. But sickness is no respecter of persons. In the end – we only had 2 survivors – Amos and Joel avoided the flu.
We nursed one another back to health and spent a tremendous amount of family time together. The fireplace roared without ceasing. Hannah and her family were in New York visiting her in-laws – she put out a plea over Facebook for meals. Our sweet friends have supplied us with meals on a nightly basis. What a ministry of love and healing!
Life begins to return to the new normal tomorrow. I won’t be walking without crutches or driving for a few more weeks and physical therapy is in my future.
This holiday season will go down in Chapman history as most memorable – for all the right reasons. Our hearts are full. The goodness of God is so evident in our lives. We’re thankful for our times together and have come to expect a mixture of the difficult and the spectacular.
While others are strategizing for 2013 – I’m just glad to be here.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! That’s one for the books. Pray your new year is blessed as you all recover and heal. Love and prayers. Cyndy.
I’m sorry you’ve all been ill. Glad your hearts are full! Praying for healing and upcoming physical therapy.
I “liked” you on Facebook!
Oh soooooooooooo sorry..and yet you know it made memories and be talked about for years to come….I hope you are doing better and life is just filled with “normal”. Oh I miss the hill country…thanks for the pictures
Oh Debi! I just love your perspective. What a year! Praying you are all on the mend!