M A R M U N I A

Christmas is always over too soon, and this Christmas was awfully special, so I really didn't want it to end. It is hard to explain in a few words why, and to go into every story behind the significance of yesterdays happenings would take up a good amount of time. To describe my day as best as I can; the spirit of Christmas proved its ability to bring about miracles and began to mend the hearts of some that have been hurt or aching in my family for a long time. The first steps to healing broken relationships were made, and there was a warmth and feeling of forgiveness. A lot has been lost in my family over the past several years, and as I have grown, I have learned a lot about the truths of our pasts that have at times been disappointing and have saddened me deeply. We have our problems and imperfections just like everyone else; and as a little girl this was never evident to me - so as I've gotten older, it has been very hard at times to swallow the pain of the truths that I had been so sheltered and protected from. But after seeing everyone together yesterday, I am reminded of the power that love and family has.

The gift my parents gave me for Christmas this year was a perfect reflection of all that I have been learning as I get older and go through my own struggles, disappointments, hurts and downfalls, and what I hope to take from those experiences in order to grow from them. It is a locket that belonged to my Great-grandma Alice and was passed along to my Gramma, and then my Marmy. Inside the locket is a photograph of my Gramma and Papa Cal, who passed away 15 years ago. All three of the ladies who wore this before me were the eldest of all their siblings, (just as I am) and have been known to be the most strong, beautiful, loving and amazing women. It is my desire to live up to every single one of them in character and in the accomplishments of their lives as women, sisters, wives, mothers and grandmothers.


I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas.