Thank you for the gifts.

Well, Christmas is over again. All the decorations are taken down and have been put into storage until next year. Thomas is missing his tree - and I kind of miss seeing how happy it made him! I always love turning out all the lights in the house except for the tree and just staring at it until I fall asleep. I think Thomas and I have that in common.  I know Christmas is not about the gifts, although I'm sure the retailers might not agree with me. That said, I got some nice gifts. Since I'm not sure I will get around to writing thank you notes I will just say it now - to anyone reading who gave me a gift -  THANKS!!!!! I really love the gifts and have been enjoying them all very much.

I had to return the coat for a larger one - probably because I enjoyed my own baking this season as much as everyone else did! I thought about keeping it for AFTER I lose weight, but decided I might want to wear it in this lifetime so I am anxiously awaiting the new one!

I have wanted one of these record/cassette/cd players for a long time. Now that I have it, I can't find my records! What I am most excited about is that I can burn my old cassettes onto cd. I need to get started before they disintegrate completely, as they are getting old. I have recordings of Anna and Noah when they were little - singing songs, reciting their A,B,Cs and just being silly. I have a recording of my mom preparing lunch while pretending to be Julia Child and one of the immortalized "Disney Family Singers" - my mom, my sister and me "singing" Disney tunes. They are precious! But the thing I want most is to hear my dad's voice. It was caught on the tapes - in the background.  I wish I'd realized then how special those breakfast table conversations were. They were the most important part of the day, with the most important people. This is what we should always remember - it is the daily conversations that matter. The things that seem the least significant always end up being the things we wish we could have back.  It is the little things that matter - not even so much what is said, but how it is said. How many times do you long to hear the voice of someone you love? 

I am just feeling quiet inside right now - thinking about gifts and how the greatest gifts in life are the ones that don't cost a thing. They are the smiles, the words and the love from our parents. So, I didn't capture everything on tape....but if I'm real quiet...and if I really listen....I can still hear you Dad.