leila 27 Dec 2006 12:37 am
Chiaravalle Christmas
Well the Christmas holiday is over at the Chiaravalle home. It was overwhelming preparing for it… making sure every gift was perfect and met a need or touched a heart… hmmmmm failed at that one…. Attempting, somehow to figure out how to make it special, fun, interesting, etc… when life has been like the arms of an octopus (the ride) stretching, spinning, twirling to different places feeling out of control but then landing again and again on solid ground. (failed at that one too….) Yet it was so wonderful to have our family home, together (missing Heidi and Joe so much, although understanding it is a year that we are together in heart only) celebrating one another, the giving and receiving of gifts and the anticipation, hope and fear of a new year.
I personally found great joy this year in decorating in a somewhat contemporary theme. I admit, I love modern, clean and fun design and brought it into the theme of Christmas this year in our home. Bill loved it also, everyone else tolerated it; wondering, “what’s happened to tradition?” I don’t know really, it just left this year, to much change I suppose.
I found it fun and funky and it helped to keep my spirits up!
Then…… Wil & Kristen completely blessed us by spending three solid days and nights here at our home. It was so nice having them here (although I know we are a quiet and a bit boring of a house) we enjoyed the time with them so much and the fact that it caused Laura and Michael both to be home here with us a little more often (o: We played thrilling games and had very good times of just hanging and talking with one another. We are so thankful for the gift of their visit, it’s been a blessing.
They loved Sophey so much because they missed Gracie even more, she REALLY liked them a lot. Gave us & Laura more room on our beds for a few nights!
You can see from the photos that our games pf poker, scrabble, apples to apples, poker (I guess I mean 21) etc.. are very thrilling.
Actually I think either Wil or Kristen won every game, hmmmm…
Anyway, we all received wonderful gifts that are fun. We had a yummy prime rib dinner that was really good. We shared our anticipations, hopes and fears for the year to come……..
Leila- Laura leaving home….)o:………yet (o: for her……. but me… I’ve been a mom a long time now. A home without a teenager??????????? Huh?
Kris- Graduation……and all that is involved in that…..a different job, perhaps the corporate world….
Wil- his future with the company he loves working for (Starbucks) ans what that may bring… he also has a degree to complete
Alyssa- School?????? trying to make the school of her choice fit the degree of her dreams (it is proving to be a challenge)
Michael- moving out, all on his own, being responsible for his own place, bills, etc… YIKES!
Laura- moving out and going away to college, growing up, even more… away from home…
Bill- his studio building coming to completion and moving into a place he has always dreamed of..
It was interesting that everyones hope was also their fear, says something about life I suppose.
Anyway, I hope this Christmas you:
-Received a gift that touched your heart.
-Gave a gift that blessed a soul.
-Enjoyed the pretty lights of the Christmas Season.
-Saw a light in your home that you know only came from Christ.
-Anticipated your year to come with some anxiousness and hope mixed with a good dose of fear.
Warmly, loving you all.
Leila, with my mouth wide open 
3 Responses to “Chiaravalle Christmas”
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on 27 Dec 2006 at 4:32 am 1.Shari said …
My Dearest Leila, I know that we are ‘really’ nothing alike…but… I asked Fred if we could “flock” our Christmas Tree this year at least 3 times! Obviously, from this note, you know that didn’t happen! I LOVE your, “retro tree!!!” I wanted a “Tumbleweed” for a tree this year & Mom was the only one who knew what I was talking about! I could not get one this year, but maybe Heidi or Michael could have one for Christmas 2007? (For those of you “North-landers” it’s a “Southern California” thing!)
Gift?? The MOST WONDERFUL FOR A LONG TIME - THANK YOU, BILL, LAURA & MICHAEL for sharing your Love (Wife / Momma) with us this month… HEIDI,you too for being here for Your MOMMA & FAMILY)
LEILA & RENEE
THANK YOU CHUCK, TRAVIS & ELAINE {for also so splendidly sharing yourselfs & Rebbenae - {you know}…) YOU ARE ALLL THE BEST!
Each of You Truly Know & SEE to it that your FAMILY IS THERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM… GRACE OF GOD? FAMILY LOVE…It all wraps up for ME & FRED, BETH AND MOMMA TOO!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!! S’HARI (Only some people know who S’Hari is…)
on 27 Dec 2006 at 5:50 pm 2.leilac said …
I admit, I do not think i know who S’Hari is, although, I do know who Squash is! (*/*)
It’s snowing here and we are getting ready to climb into the Hot Tub with a glass of wine, brrr, hot, brrr, hot!
on 30 Dec 2006 at 11:55 pm 3.Shari said …
S’Hari, was my story at the beginning of when I went up to talk about SAM… As I passed by my coworker, Patty, she said, “You GO S’Hari!” My story was about the fact that my name is on my door & there are Patients who go through a vestibule to go outside & can sometimes see me in my office or see my door if I’m not there. This guy has read my door & is black, apparently he reads it as S’Hari, because whenever he sees me, he calls, “HI S’Hari, Hi S’Hari, until I call & wave back. It gave me an “opening line” & loosened me up to talk to everyone. For me it was very cool! In fact, Kelly’s Boyfriend asked me about him, & then said, “I knew it had to be a ‘brother’.”
I leave you with the HAPPIEST WISHES for the Year 2007 and ALWAYS… My plan is to call tomorrow or Monday. Love, Shari
P.S. I still don’t eat any sqaush…and only barely tolerate zucchini…BAD memories {what little there are of them!} ;o(