Wood Family Christmas Dinner 2010

This past weekend marked our annual Wood Family Christmas Dinner.  This particular shindig is for my dad's family and is always so very enjoyable.  I look forward to seeing my family so much, and truly this "event" is among my favorite of the entire year.  The problem for me this year was, however, that I've been in a horrible fibro-flare for the biggest part of two months now and wasn't sure till two hours before time to meet that I'd be able to go.  From pain to fatigue to insomnia to fibro-fog, I had every reason to stay home.  

But - this year we have a new addition that I hadn't yet met.  Her name is Ridley and she is the darling new daughter of my cousin, Yvonne's daughter, Lauren and her husband, Phil, who I rarely get to see due to the distance that separates us.  I followed Lauren's blog for months, I anxiously awaited ultrasound pictures to be posted, I cried the happiest of tears while texting with my cousin, Tammi (Lauren's aunt) through Lauren's labor and shouted "Thank you, God!!!" when the text finally came that Ridley was born - healthy and perfect.  The bond I feel with this baby is unusual in that Lauren is much younger than me, and we live at opposite ends of the state, so it's not like we grew up together or have ever been super-close (like I am with some of my other cousins who are closer to my age), etc.  But for some reason, who knows what, from the moment I learned of her pregnancy, I've developed a huge love for Lauren's baby.  (I had an overwhelming love and closeness with another cousin's baby in utero, who sadly didn't survive, but his mommy lives close to me and we're very close, so that one made perfect sense to me.) 

So on Saturday morning, I had resolved in my heart that I simply could not attend, and kept trying (and failing) to be at peace with this decision, knowing I was perfectly within my rightful limits to stay home and rest.  However, the pictures I'd seen of Ridley kept flashing through my mind, and my heart strongly yearned to meet this little bundle of joy to the point I was in tears thinking of not holding her and smelling her sweet baby-ness.  So I hoisted (yes, it truly feels like hoisting some days) myself off the couch, out from under my snuggly blankets, and forced my body to GO.  

Words simply cannot express how much JOY it gave me to see her, to see her smile and feel her soft hair on my lips and to hold her and cuddle with her.  She's amazing.  Her mommy and daddy are amazing, and so tender with her and each other.  Meeting Ridley has been the best experience of my entire year.  

Lest you think I've lost my marbles, here's proof of the absolute joy that filled my heart when I held this little miracle:

When I attempted to share with Lauren that I love *her* even more now that she's a mother, I stumbled over my words - I couldn't explain what I was feeling (yes, there's that fibro-fog running rampant again).  Seeing her as Ridley's mommy increased my love for Lauren in ways I'd never imagined.  

Perhaps it's the miles between us that caused me to reflect on my heart-feelings in this way.  With those who are close to me physically, I'm with them.  I see them regularly.  When they have new babies, I meet them and hold them.  But with Lauren and Ridley, I had time to think more because I couldn't "act".  I fell in love with Ridley via text messages, facebook and blog postings.  So holding her was a highly anticipated joy, but I hadn't even considered how beautiful it would be seeing her in Lauren's arms.  My heart wasn't prepared for the surplus of emotion that overflowed in seeing Lauren as a mom.  I hope she understood what I was trying to say.  And if she didn't, I hope one day she has the same beautiful experience so she will understand and feel the surge of love that I felt for her and Ridley in those moments.

Me, Lauren & Ridley <3

Ridley with her awesome Daddy, Phil..

My sweet girl, Sydney, with Lauren & Ridley

More of my precious girls - these I see more often and have always loved like my own children ~   Jessica (Sydney's incredible & wonderful mom), who is holding her niece, Katelyn, and Tabetha (Katelyn's awesome mommy), who is expecting #2 ~ a baby boy <3

Katelyn (Tabetha's darling) and her daddy, Seth

There are no words to adequately describe how I savored and cherished each moment I spent with my family.  They are my treasures, my blessings, my heart.  Many of them were unable to attend this year due to sickness, finances, work, etc., and I always miss their presence with great sadness when we can't all be together.  But young or old, near or far ~ my family is the best and I treasure each and every one of them with my whole heart!!!!  Thank You, God, for giving me the most amazing family ever!!!!! 

Dear Lord, thank You for each member of my family, thank You for the new babies and for the older generations, thank You for the love we share and for what each of them means to me.  Thank You for giving me the strength to enjoy this time with them, and the JOY that comes with each new baby with which we're blessed.  Thank You most of all for YOUR son, Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this Christmas season.  Help me to always have the JOY in my heart that comes in knowing Him, the joy that is unbelievably even greater than that of the precious little ones I can hold.  Please help me to always remember to give You the praise, the honor and the glory for every blessing in my life.  In Jesus' name I pray, amen.