A week ago, my daughter (Little Miss’ mom) and her family arrived for Christmas. It was the first time in a decade that we were able to spend Christmas together. I was so thrilled! Her sister, obviously my other daughter, was supposed to join us, but, at the last moment, couldn’t. We were disappointed, but, understood.
The days leading up to Christmas were full. We had fun, visiting, playing with our Little Miss, who is two and filled with giggles and two-year old conversations. We went shopping for last-minute gifts, for groceries, for nothing in particular. It was a lovely few days leading up to the 25th.
Christmas Eve we set out gifts and made plans for the following morning. My daughter made a breakfast casserole in the crock pot and we planned to get up and head to church. We each had our outfits ready to go, and it was all planned out. Get up, have a nice breakfast, go to church, come home and open gifts and have a nice dinner.
Christmas Eve we went to bed. All was quiet… Hubby and I got up, showered, got ready for church. Our daughter was getting up and Little Miss’ daddy was kind enough to discover that our guest room bath had standing water in it. Such a wonderful Christmas gift for us! We went to the basement and lo! there was more standing water.
That lovely Christmas breakfast casserole stayed in the crock pot just a bit longer. Hubby and I changed from our church clothes into work clothes. So, for the next two hours the guys worked. Pumping and vacuuming water from the floor. Turning off water certain places to make certain it didn’t leak. Moving a toilet to make certain it wasn’t the cause of the water. Discovering that our septic tank decided to be full. Full on Christmas Day. Not Christmas Eve…. no…. Christmas Day. It could not wait another day… no… full on Christmas Day.
So, we called and got an appointment for the next morning to have the tank pumped. That was good. It was going to happen soon. We had water to drink that did not need to be run through the sink. So, that was great. But… cooking. I just could not think about doing that in my kitchen. This will be in part 2…
We ate some breakfast, although the guys did not have much appetite after clearing the rooms. I had the fumes of disinfectant lingering in my nose as I scrubbed the floors where the water had been and where the men had walked. We ate, not truly enjoying the casserole that was delicious.
We read the Christmas story. Little Miss was a bit distracted, but hubby was trying to salvage something of the day. The story ended. I went to the kitchen and decided that mimosas were in order. And then we opened gifts. Christmas, as it is spoken of in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” did come. “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… He thought …means a little bit more.” Christmas came even though the tank overflowed…
Christmas came. We laughed with one another as we sat in our stinky work clothes. We hugged and thanked each other even though only half of us managed to shower that morning. We had each other and the cares and weight of the messy morning did not ruin what happens when family sit around a tree on Christmas morning and share with one another.
Christmas came as it did centuries ago. Christmas came quietly that day long ago. That day when our Savior was born. Christmas came without ribbons, it came without tags. It continues to come even when the morning is filled with shop vacs and buckets and scrubbing. I hope your Christmas was special like ours, but, not as eventful as ours turned out. Cathi
dearanonymousfriend 
Hope your New Year Eve is better, nothing like a little sh#* ;)LOL! to bring us down to earh.
You got that right! Not exactly the planned and thought about day I had in mind… nothing like the smell of bleach, breakfast casserole and fir in your nostrils! Not to mention that fragrant water!
We have not yet had Christmas. Jonathan was/is sick so we could not go to Morgantown WV this weekend does not look any better for us to travel. Maybe Christmas in July. Look at the memories/laughter you will have!
Hahahaha …. I’m convinced that plans are a waste of time. It sounds like you found the silver lining, enjoying the moment.
Helen, we may join you in July as far as getting our youngest family’s gifts to them!
Life, I don’t think we had a choice, really. The day could have been ruined, or you can make the most of it… right?
Absolutely! Laughter makes even the shittiest situations doable.
You said that well Life… hahahaa!! Hope you are well my friend.
You can feel the love just reading your words ❤ Merry Christmas and I love you xo
I love you Michelle!! Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a note. This means so much to me.