A Christmas card to all marrigebuilders from an "ordinary family" :D - 12/17/07 03:12 PM
So we "Pures" have an odd Christmas tradition y' see.
We tend to spend Christmas in the sun as a "nuclear" family since our folks passed on, so we have "Christmas day", i.e. Turkey, gifts and friends to call round on a weekend before we leave.
This was on Saturday , just gone.
Kids got us up too early, and they were spoiled by too many gifts from kind people as usual, but I soon got over this regular sulk ! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> (Kids are kind and grateful, so not really spoiled thank goodness) !
Squid bought me very caring thoughtful gifts. She seemed to like hers from me too <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
"Christmas lunch" was a great success, with Squid, DS10 and myself enjoying a great dinner with bacon-roasted turkey, sesame & ham brussel-sprouts, and all the other clever extras Squid does so well. DD14 is a veggie so she ate all the stuff that had no meat in plus Quorn steak. Her loss ! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The bottle of Prosecco added to the fun too ! ( yes I even dare wine from time to time again now, for those who recall my "off roading" incident!;) )
After lunch I took my border collie for a bracing after lunch winter walk to shake the food down a tad, then readied the house for visitors with Squid.
Friends and relatives came over, we talked and laughed and sang.
Went to bed very pooped, but managed giggly, sleepy SF <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Sunday was relaxing, we had a carol service at 4 pm so had a lazy day tidying up the house ready for our vacation.
LOVELY carol service : tears and smiles and prayers all round.
Today, winding down my work and preparing the documentation for our holiday. Squid just came up to my attic-office with a kiss and a cup of coffee - very welcome !
We'll start packing soon and be ready for an early start Tuesday when we fly to Florida.
"SO...Bob...why this boring update on normal family life ?" you ask.
Because thats what it is : normal family life. Not "recovery", not triggering, not "processing", , not loving detachment, not plan A'ing... Just ordinary loving family life.
Not so very long ago I could not even IMAGINE having such a normal loving Christmas so very far from infidelity, hurt and hopelessness.
While my aspirations are for greater heights of marital greatness than we currently have, I can't describe what a blessing "normal" loving family life is after all our experiences.
Squid loves me very much. I love her. Our kids are blessed to have us as parents. We had a virtual Christmas without a shred of "a"- staining.
For those of you wrestling the affair demon right now please take heart - my situation was pretty horrible, yet with the right stuff, and a little luck you can be sharing a kiss with your baby wearing a paper crown of your own , pretty soon.
Never NEVER give up out of hopelessness, only because you choose to.
I pray a blessing on ALL earnest marrige-builders this Christmas that you may all know the incomparable joy of an "ordinary" family Christmas like ours.
Thank you Harleys. Thank you God. Amen.
We tend to spend Christmas in the sun as a "nuclear" family since our folks passed on, so we have "Christmas day", i.e. Turkey, gifts and friends to call round on a weekend before we leave.
This was on Saturday , just gone.
Kids got us up too early, and they were spoiled by too many gifts from kind people as usual, but I soon got over this regular sulk ! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> (Kids are kind and grateful, so not really spoiled thank goodness) !
Squid bought me very caring thoughtful gifts. She seemed to like hers from me too <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
"Christmas lunch" was a great success, with Squid, DS10 and myself enjoying a great dinner with bacon-roasted turkey, sesame & ham brussel-sprouts, and all the other clever extras Squid does so well. DD14 is a veggie so she ate all the stuff that had no meat in plus Quorn steak. Her loss ! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The bottle of Prosecco added to the fun too ! ( yes I even dare wine from time to time again now, for those who recall my "off roading" incident!;) )
After lunch I took my border collie for a bracing after lunch winter walk to shake the food down a tad, then readied the house for visitors with Squid.
Friends and relatives came over, we talked and laughed and sang.
Went to bed very pooped, but managed giggly, sleepy SF <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Sunday was relaxing, we had a carol service at 4 pm so had a lazy day tidying up the house ready for our vacation.
LOVELY carol service : tears and smiles and prayers all round.
Today, winding down my work and preparing the documentation for our holiday. Squid just came up to my attic-office with a kiss and a cup of coffee - very welcome !
We'll start packing soon and be ready for an early start Tuesday when we fly to Florida.
"SO...Bob...why this boring update on normal family life ?" you ask.
Because thats what it is : normal family life. Not "recovery", not triggering, not "processing", , not loving detachment, not plan A'ing... Just ordinary loving family life.
Not so very long ago I could not even IMAGINE having such a normal loving Christmas so very far from infidelity, hurt and hopelessness.
While my aspirations are for greater heights of marital greatness than we currently have, I can't describe what a blessing "normal" loving family life is after all our experiences.
Squid loves me very much. I love her. Our kids are blessed to have us as parents. We had a virtual Christmas without a shred of "a"- staining.
For those of you wrestling the affair demon right now please take heart - my situation was pretty horrible, yet with the right stuff, and a little luck you can be sharing a kiss with your baby wearing a paper crown of your own , pretty soon.
Never NEVER give up out of hopelessness, only because you choose to.
I pray a blessing on ALL earnest marrige-builders this Christmas that you may all know the incomparable joy of an "ordinary" family Christmas like ours.
Thank you Harleys. Thank you God. Amen.