This week, a delightful whirlwind of flurry, furry, and festivity swept through my world. Three dogs, four kids, and fifteen adults gathered on Christmas at this house that was never meant to hold that many folks. Happily, the bricks didn’t fall off, and the roof still covered their heads.
My son and his fiancée finally arrived late in the afternoon after sitting on a plane in Denver that was determined not to fly anywhere. I guess the aircraft had family waiting in the wings of the hangar at the Denver airport.
Six hours waiting on a flight on Christmas day is not a fun way to start a holiday, but better than flying in a plane that didn’t want to go in the air!
Despite the unexpected delays and challenges, I was proud that we didn’t panic or cry. We simply decided to let the day unfold as it was meant to.
The gang from Florida arrived with a new puppy named Wally or Walter, depending on the owner’s mood. We were told that the ‘cute as a button’ hound was 99% house-broken and trained, but I never determined what he was trained to do.
I decided to call him puddles since he left a puddle when he was excited, which was 99% of the time. With two boys chasing each other, two little girls who believed Wally Puddles was an infant they should carry, fifteen adults clinking glasses, and two older dogs snarling, what would a fourteen-week-old puppy be so nervous and excited about?
Meanwhile, I tucked a roll of paper towels under my sweater and soaked up the puddles Puddles left while playing Santa.
I have no idea who received what gifts and if they liked them. All I know is that there was enough paper and ribbon scattered across the floors that Walter finally decided to go outside because he couldn’t find an open watering spot.
My husband surprised me with an art sculpture. A beautiful and intricate work that I fell in love with when visiting a gallery in New Orleans this summer. I often would say, “Darn, I wish that exquisite pottery wasn’t so expensive because I just can’t get it out of my thoughts.” Now I don’t have to. That beauty is home with the rest of the gang. I cried over that present. Some gifts are like that… they can take your breath away when you know someone loves you enough to go to extremes to find something you love.
As we chased Wally, told stories, and chuckled at the kids, the hours began to fly off the clock. The shared laughter and memories filled the room with joy, warmth, and thankfulness.
To see all three of my children, grandchildren, stepchildren, and their families gathered around our tree and table is a blessing I never take for granted. I appreciate God granting me that moment when love is abundant and visible. Brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, cousins, and three dogs shared an evening that all will remember as remarkable.
My mother was never a jewelry person. She owned a watch, a simple wedding band, and a few other bobbles, but she often wore a broach or a unique pin she would put on a jacket lapel.
One was made from two white buttons topped with a tiny felt hat and scarf, creating a little snowman. Mom always wore it at Christmas. I retrieved it from her old jewelry box and put it on my Christmas sweater.
A few times during the day, I could hear her laughing from heaven at our shenanigans and amazed at the amount of stuff all the kids received from the overly generous Santa who spoils them. I decided the little snowman was more magical than Frosty because Mama came for a visit. This simple yet cherished pin symbolized her presence and love, making it a truly enchanted Christmas.
Who knows what next year will bring. If I am still here by the end of 2025, Wally Puddles Walter will hopefully drop his middle name. The little ones will be taller and the teenager will no longer be one. My children will grow, too, and life will take them to places they cannot imagine. The world could grow darker or bestow us peace if we flood it in prayer. None of us know what tomorrow will be.
But I know one thing: today is a good day because yesterday was beautiful.
Believe in the goodness around you, appreciate God’s wonderful gifts, and spread joy. Keep hugging your family, even when they bring home a puppy that isn’t fully trained. I have learned that the fluffy, furry, festive moments in life are what make it as beautiful as a fine sculpture shaped by love.
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Lynn Walker Gendusa is a Tennessee-raised, Georgia-residing author and columnist. Her latest book is “Southern Comfort: Stories of Family, Friendship, Fiery Trials, and Faith.” She can be reached at www.lynngendusa.com. For more of her inspirational stories, click here.
