Christmas Came and Went but it Left Some Wonderful Presents

Most of the children gathered at our home for Christmas this year although all but two of them were gone by the time the actual day occurred. We had the extended family at our home the Sunday before Christmas for the large Tanner family Christmas Party. The food and the company were good and the program was entertaining as usual. However, what made the evening memorable was what happened at the end of the party. After the singing and the talent display, Mom began passing out her poetry books which we had helped her to acquire to her grandchildren. She pulled them out of a pile close by her and signed them as any renowned author would for her grandchildren as they came forward to receive their copy. Dad told me later she had been looking forward to doing that for many days. She loves to be where her family is gathered and she loves her poetry. Dad did not feel well and would not have traveled to our home from Utah but for Mom's sake. He suffered for the week or more he was away from home, but he didn't complain

Both Mom and Dad are not in great health. Knowing that, the sons and sons in law in the family gathered at the end of the party as it quieted down, and we gave both of them blessings joined by the other grandchildren who held the Melchizedek Priesthood. It was a sweet moment for all of us to be able to do that for them.

Before Michael and Lori, and John and Sarah departed on the Wednesday before Christmas to spend the holiday with their other families, we gathered for breakfast at our home. In the course of the morning before we settled down to eat, something had happened to Catherine Tanner, our Tweadle, and she was very unhappy and expressed it in a plaintive way. As we ate, our attention turned to her because it looked like a matter that would need to go a doctor although Michael and Lori were scheduled to fly out in about four hours. I guess we had forgotten there was a doctor in our midst. John stood up and walked over to her and picking her up manipulated an arm that Sydney thought Tweadle had been favoring. He put her back down and said he thought she may have dislocated part of her arm and he had put it in place; he said if he was correct she would be fine in a few minutes. In a few minutes, she was once again ambling about the house walking with the gait of a small and curious Frankenstein.

It struck me how much our children were adults with adult capacities. John had rendered service as a doctor, Michael was with the family he was raising and supporting with his labor in the workplace, Dana is the de facto general manager of a small company, Biz is a librarian contemplating managing her own branch library, and Jeff is determinedly and studiously pursuing a college degree. And their companions are accomplishing the same kinds of things. And all of them are good people. What a wonderful Christmas present!

Well, I am getting maudlin, one of the first signs of old age, and as anyone who knows me well knows, I am getting younger every year! I'll write again when I think of something worthy of the effort.