For years being in Ephrata, Washington had many joys- yet one struggle gnawed at my heart every year around the holidays... jealousy. Yes- jealousy! I was jealous of all those around us who had family to be with every holiday. I coped with my jealousy by transforming our holidays into valuable and cherished times to which our children would never notice they were missing out on what so many others enjoyed. Little did I know that no matter how hard I tried I would never remove our innate desire to be loved and adored by "extended family" from our children. We built that family in Washington with a few families who we adopted as our own, but there was more we were still missing. I knew it. The kids knew it. We never talked about it.
Since we have moved a bit closer to family, I was overjoyed to have somewhere to be and someone to be with on our first holiday! We drove 8 hours to join Gramma and Grampa on the farm for Thanksgiving. Never underestimate the influence and affect that grandparents or extended family have on children. There is a sense of belonging and comfort with being around those related to you. Although I still dearly miss Ephrata and our adopted families- I was relieved to not be jealous of those around us. I was relieved to watch the kids enjoy- for the first time in their memories- a holiday with family.
Joseph followed Grampa around the farm talking to and feeding animals, he never came indoors except to sleep. MacKenzie walked every morning, with her Bible in hand, to find a quiet spot to read. She also spent hours with the horses- riding, grooming, and loving them. Annabelle just thought being with Gramma and in the house was wonderful. She doesn't really have any memories of being there before this trip. She had her own room into which she completely moved in. She had things in every nook and cranny. She baked with Gramma, talked with Gramma, and did chores and errands with Grampa. Sammy- well Sammy did the best he could- being a place he doesn't remember ever being, with people he doesn't know too well, and around a lot of big scary animals. Nevertheless, he occupied himself and tried many new things including riding a horse and going on an errand with Grampa.
