During our Christmas family get-together, story telling is strongly encouraged. Sometimes, "the well may run dry (Renee!)" but other times, the stories bring up a beautiful nostalgic feeling.
You can read about our tradition here.
Here is my Christmas story from December:
Family Story – Christmas 2015
It was a warm fall morning in 2009. I was feeding our three
young sons their breakfast when Renee’s car sped into our driveway. She lept
out of her car and ran to the back steps. The back door swung open and she ran;
straight for the bathroom. She gave the door a slam and that’s when I heard
her…throwing up. “Umm. Humm,” I thought. “This girl is pregnant.” Renee came
out of the bathroom and sat down by the kitchen island with a sigh. After I
asked her some probing questions, I confirmed my diagnosis. We figured out her
due date and I wished her strength because there would probably be more weeks
of this morning upheaval. After Renee left, I smiled to myself. I was almost 100% certain I was pregnant too. Rachel was pregnant and she and Erik were looking
forward to a spring baby. However, the warm, fuzzy feelings of us sisters being pregnant together didn’t last because
I began to worry about Heather. She was married for as long as Renee and not being able to share in this wonderful excitement of the family
growing could be very hard for her. I thought of how we would handle all of this and the sensitivity we would
need to show. The next afternoon, Heather stopped by after her work. She sat by
the kitchen island and before I could start a conversation she told me she was
pregnant. I whooped for joy. All four of us sisters pregnant at the same time!
I asked her about her due date and smiled deep inside. I figured out she was due
a day after me and Renee was due two weeks ahead of us. My excitement could not
contain itself. I knew about everyone’s secret and they only knew about themselves and Rachel.
I convinced Heather and Renee to share their news at mom and
dad’s when we would all be there for supper. I imagined the happy chaos when
they found out about all of the pregnancies. It would be a joke on them and these were peculiar
circumstances would never be forgotten.
The special supper evening arrived. Renee had told Heather the night
before so they had figured out their special news on their own. Renee had also
told mom and dad.
During supper Heather and Renee had created their own cute ways
to share their exciting news. First we all cheered with Renee and Dave’s news.
Not long after their announcement Heather and Mark shared their exciting news. Supper
time was filled with jovial joking and laughing. Dad and mom could not believe
it- three of their daughters were pregnant. Adam and I just smiled and let
everyone tease us that now it would be our turn.
Later that evening it was time to leave. Adam and I loaded
our three boys in the van and as we sat down to go home we both had the same
thought - we had to go back in the house and tell everyone about our own
special news.
We ran back into the house and I shouted, “I’m pregnant
too!”
Mom literally felt for a chair and sat down. The house
erupted in cheers. What news to celebrate and share! That weekend my parents
found out three of their daughters were pregnant and they already had a
daughter who was pregnant.
There is something so special about being pregnant with
sisters. There is a familial wholeness and the beautiful wonder of God’s
timing.
After the nausea and fatigue subsided we had fun talking
about our growing babies. We speculated what it would be like when the babies
arrived. There were baby showers for Heather and Renee. We guessed what we
would be having. I was totally convinced I would be having another boy and I
really hoped that at least one of them would have a boy too for two reasons.
First, so that our little boy would have someone to play with and secondly, so
my sisters would understand the way I parent. Coming from a houseful of sisters
to having one or more sons is a real learning curb.
Finally a few months later, my mom and I were at a wedding
shower when the phone rang. Rachel and Erik had a baby boy. I remember sinking
down into the couch with the most relieved feeling. A boy. Phew. A boy cousin! Immediately mom and I left the shower, picked up dad and headed to the hospital. There we
met the most wide-eyed newborn we had ever seen. Kentin looked like he was
going to start up a conversation with us.
Seven weeks later it was my turn to be induced. We were thrilled
to meet our new son, Tyler. He was such a small little baby, but had lungs that
could fire away.
A week later Dave called me early one morning -they had a
boy! A boy – I couldn’t believe it. Three boys! Sweet Josh slept and slept
during his first few months. His content
disposition made parenting look easy.
And then two weeks later, on a warm summer afternoon, Heather made
the phone call. She too, had a boy. I
couldn’t get over it. Four boy cousins! Unfortunately for Mark and Heather, James
was colicky and fussy. James and Tyler made a good pair with all of their
crying.
Going to dad and mom’s that summer of 2010 was like walking
into Babyland. Littered across the
living room were diapers, nursing pads, nursing blankets, creams and lotions, baby
wipes, car seats, and tired looking moms- probably a bit on the hormonal side.
Our cousin Jeanette, also had a boy a few months after us.
Kyle is just like one of these little boy cousins, interested in how things
work, trucks, tractors, and loves things that go fast. Now those little babies
are 5.5 years old. All of these boys have a zest for life and each have their
own unique character.
It will be interesting to see these boys grow up. We think
there will be a lot of fun and pranks. There might be some trouble – I picture
cars racing down our road. We do pray though, that they will be true, caring
friends; spurring one another to live their lives in a way that glorifies and
honours God.
Three of us were at the comfortable stage of our pregnancies. Thankfully Rachel only had 2 weeks to go!
This was our first time altogether after the boys were born.
At the cottage over the years...
1 YEARS OLD: The first summer up north. Strollers, diapers, smiles, crying, crawling...lots of memories.
2 YEARS OLD!
At THREE years old, some of them showed their fearlessness and others
showed their caution. Okay, only one showed their fearlessness.
He's the crazy guy doing cartwheels out of the wagon.
At age FOUR, these guys are great buds, enjoying their time more
at their cousins' homes than their own home.
Now at FIVE years old, these boys were able to organize their own
boy-fun while up north. Their imaginations took them on great journeys, they shared their exaggerated fishing stories, and searched for the best treasures.
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