Visible Signs of the Season

It is the Lords's Day, Sunday and amazingly a warm balmy 60 degree day. A rare blessing indeed. The weekend was good. In fact the holiday season was good. I stood this morning and reflected in front of my real 8 foot Christmas tree. I was thinking about all of the quality times far and near that I was able to spend during the season with people that I don't get to spend time with as much as I would like. Once again, I felt emotions creeping into my thoughts of how happy I am to be "back". It's not like I made some big announcement to those around me but the subtleness of the change proves what psychologists have stated recently, happiness is contagious--conversely, so is sadness.

Time (quality time) with my family was the most precious gift that I received this year. Cody was my most joyous and unexpected delivery. He is "back" too. He's the kind of person you just can't get angry with. His demeanor and smile will turn even the worst day back in to perspective. Over recent years, he has struggled and I with him. I believe his accomplishments in the business and his maturity in relationships and responsibility have grounded him. He is a work in process with God. I can see it.

Kayla my free spirit, strong willed child is also back. She realized at some point during this year that she needed to stop living in the past and start living for the future. I told her recently that she has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. Mixed with her strong will and free spirit, we've developed a dynamic way of bringing out the best and the worst in each other. Regardless, we have an incredible respect for each other. My gift from Kayla this year was a picture of me holding her in the delivery room. The engraved frame said, "together through it all". It brought me to instant tears.

So as I took down my decorations today and the visible signs of the season were gone, I am thankful that this year although not outwardly visible the celebration for the Shaffer family lives on.