MERRY CHRISTMAS...

 An amazing Christmas gift arrived in the form of a Cindy Loo Who slip of girl who came to stand beside me mimicking my stance.  Her tiny little hand patted my leg to get my attention.  I smiled down at her as she tipped her dimple cheeked face to mine.  "Hannah?"  "Yes?"  She laid her cheek against my leg, "I love you very, very, very, very much."  I scooped her up hugging her tight and whispered how much I loved her in return.  The gift of love was given and received...priceless.

A look of awe covered a little boys face as he held a box before him in disbelief.  Time froze, his eyes a big as saucers and his mouth a prefect "O".  He fumbled opening the box, still not sure its contents matched the image on the outside.  He whirled the room until our eyes met, "Hannah!  This the best gift I ever imagined!"  All evening long Grandpa and I were showered with hugs and love, with "thank you's" and exclamations of this being the best Christmas ever.  The gift of joy was given and received...priceless.

A family gathered around a table groaning with the bounty of a Christmas feast.  Topics were tossed about amid exclamations of appreciation for this or that dish complimenting the cook.  The air buzzed with voices and laughter to the accompaniment of Christmas carols in the background.  I paused to take it all in...tiny tots at the children's table giggling over the antics of chocolate sucker elves who were holding an animated conversation...young adults talking over technology, latest movies, and oddly enough, pickles...older folks reminisced over Christmas' long long ago...as I sat happily sandwiched in between all ages and stages of life.  The gift of family, as fractured as it can be at times...priceless.

 

I sit here this Christmas morning swaddled in a luxurious blanket with a fur baby cuddled in my lap quietly tapping out memories of our annual family Christmas Eve gathering, savoring all my favorite moments.  I think of you, my extended cyber family, and I wish you a priceless Christmas too, one filled with happy memories in the making, the notice of the little things that make the season bright, one gilded with love and graced with joy.  May this be your very merriest Christmas ever!