From guest blogger Dakota Colwell filling in for Dar:
Mama has again given me the task of writing our Christmas
letter. (She says it’s important for me to help out when I can. She says I’m a
very good companion and mouse catcher, [purr, purr] and this is my other
once-a-year job.)
Let’s paws for a bit to reflect on the meaning of the
season. Recently, Mama was in a meeting where she was asked what Jesus’ birth
means to her, not only at Christmas, but all year ‘round. She answered with (purr, purr) a story about
me that went like this:
Seven years ago, I got an itty, bitty kitty.
At Christmas time I put him in his carrier to travel to my
parents’ home with me. He didn’t
like it and cried for the whole two hours. I spoke soothingly to
him and told him that although
he didn’t like it, it was the safest place for him. I told him that if
he were out he would get under
my feet and distract me and kill us both. But he couldn’t
understand. I thought of God and
how many times He tried to communicate to me and I couldn’t
understand, how He tried to
console me and show me that the difficult situation was really for
my best. I couldn’t become a
kitty and speak in Cat, but God did become a man, a human being
so that He could communicate to
me in a way I could understand. I’m so thankful for that.
Just for the record (hiss, growl) I still don’t like
traveling in the carrier!!!
Let me give you a little recap of our year:
·
In March Grammie fell and half of her face was pretty colors for a
long time. Uncle Don took her to the ER and they kept her for observation. They
wouldn’t let her go home unless her family could guarantee someone would be
with her 24/7. Mama was very thankful that Aunt Karen was willing and able to
take on this job.
· Aunt Karen’s girls planned a surprise party for
her in April. Mama helped with the surprise by going with her to see a movie so
the girls could decorate and set up. Aunt Karen was very surprised and deeply
touched by the thoughtful gifts her daughters gave her.
·
In May Aunt Cindy planned a surprise party for
Grammie’s 88th birthday. Almost all of her children, many of her
grandchildren, and a few of her great-grandchildren were able to celebrate with
her.
·
In June it was Mama’s birthday and Aunt Karen
put together a special gathering and Aunt Carol made Mama’s favorite red cake to
celebrate the momentous occasion. Mama is calling it her Year of Jubilee and
made a list of 50 things she would like to accomplish before her next birthday.
·
At the end of July Mama took a little weekend
excursion to Connecticut to spend time with her friend Anne. They went to the
ocean, visited a butterfly garden, stopped at Yankee Candle headquarters, and
had lunch with some of Anne’s friends. Mama crossed several things off her
Jubilee List as a result of this trip.
·
Shortly after her return, she heard sad news that Uncle Don had bone
cancer. Following surgery and radiation treatments he has received a cancer
free report from his doctors. They will continue to monitor him regularly. Mama
is thankful for his renewed health and God’s answer to many prayers on his
behalf.
·
On September 16th Mama left for work
and had a few “firsts” take place (although these were NOT on her Jubilee List
- hiss). She rode in an ambulance for the first time and was a patient in the
ER for the first time. On her way to work, a pick-up pulling a trailer pulled
across the road in front of her. Mama was okay, just a few bumps and bruises,
but her car was smushed. Thankfully God provided through the insurance company
and her church and now Mama
has a cute little white Mazda (purr, purr).
Mama continues to visit Grammie every other weekend and on
breaks, work at the church, blog, and edit papers for doctoral candidates. This
year she also completed training to become a life coach specializing in
spiritual development as well as grief. She hopes to build her coaching
practice in the coming year.
We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy
and Blessed 2015!!
Meowry Christmas,
Dakota for Mama Dar J
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