For the first time in about 21 years, as Troy and I kissed our families goodbye at Thanksgiving we said, “See you at Christmas!” Trips to Kansas have always ended with that little heart-tug reminding me how many seasons will pass before we’re all together again. But no longer! And what better time of year to feel so sentimental and nostalgic than these days with the Johnny Mathis soundtrack playing in the background?
We started off the weekend with my family in Salina. My parents love to have their children and grandkids decorate the tree during Thanksgiving so that throughout the month of December they can remember us. They also play audio tapes of Christmas music from 1979 and 1982 and 1985 that my dad recorded from the radio while we were opening presents all those Christmas Eves ago. This visit my mom taught us all how to play Canasta and started a family obsession that appears to have replaced Apples to Apples. Troy started Thanksgiving morning by running a Turkey Trot with actual runners Jeni, Nathan and Noah, which may have led to his right-on-time recurring Holiday Back Injury, inspiring the oft-sung song nowadays: “The old grey mare, she ain’t what she used to be.” But Sunny was the real star, nervously lying on her dog bed as family members took turns petting her as if she was Great-Grandma in the nursing home. (Though male dog Spanky thinks of her more as a hot young thang.)
Next was a few days with Troy’s fun family in Wichita where we told stories by the cozy fireplace, prayed for Grandpa Nickel’s dump truck to get fixed, fed Troy ibuprofen, and enjoyed what I hope will be a new tradition visiting the beautiful Illuminations light show at the Botanica Gardens. And while three year old twins are definitely our idea of a good time, they were Sunny’s nightmare, so she stayed far away and it was almost like we didn’t have a dog for 2.5 days. Once all the kids were in bed, Troy, Tina, Scott and I rekindled our late night card game playing of years past, and I’m pretty proud to announce that The Mamas beat The Papas at Spades.
We got back to our sweet town on Sunday afternoon and headed over to St. Paul’s Advent service and wreathe-making. There were songs and lessons and an amazing meal and wine and all the fixins you can imagine to make your family a treasured advent wreathe, including hot glue guns.
Our hearts and souls and bellies filled with so much goodness, we went to sleep happy last night.






















