Christmas' Past.....Gift of a phone call......tender mercies!

Here is a great memory.......a Christmas past. This picture was taken in 2008 ~ oh, how our lives have changed since that day! Funny how Christmas "present" leads us to Christmas' "past". We reminisce about the good times we hold in our hearts!

In Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol", he talks about the Ghost of Christmas' past. As I thought about how I wished we could be visited by a ghost of the past, some miracles started to occur in my life. I don't think they were coincidence! I believe they were tender mercies from the Lord! I've mentioned these occurrences to people in the past and they have asked what is meant by the term, "tender mercies". The best way for me to define one of these is that the Lord  gives us blessings at times when we need them. They are empathetic forms of compassion and love that we hold dear!

I heard from all my boys at Christmas time. Yes, all of them -- Kenny, Jeremy, Thomas, Khuyag, and JON! Through different avenues of technology these memories transpired. I believe all happened due to my wishes and desires to feel love from my boys, all of whom were not with me during this time!

Khuyag, our exchange student from Mongolia, called us and then Face-booked us over the holidays. We have so many wonderful memories of this young man who lived in our home over 8 years ago. He grew to love American traditions! He is truly a son!

Thomas, our exchange student from Germany has kept in touch with us through phone calls, Facebook, emails and Skype! It means the world to us when he contacts us to show his gratitude for the wonderful memories he has of America and our family. How'd we get so lucky to have such great young men in our home?

And then I got to hear from my 3 amigos! 

Jeremy texted us throughout the day, sharing his excitement of playing Santa Claus along with photos he had taken all day. He truly is a gift-giver that enjoys the season. He takes after me in that he does not sleep much on Christmas Eve.

Kenny called us later in the day. What a joy it was to hear about him hosting 24 people in his new home. He has learned well how to show hospitality to his guests. At the close of our conversation I heard Jon's voice on the phone and as I said goodbye, I said, "I love you, Jon". 

As you can imagine, Kenny began to giggle and probably thought his mom was crazy. But I know what I heard was a gift I needed from Heaven -- a tender mercy. So often I pray that I can feel Jon with us and I don't always feel or recognize that he is here. But this time I cannot deny that I felt him with me.

I posted this poem on my facebook a few days prior and had been praying for an experience such as the one I just described.

I wish Heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again. 

I thought of you today, but that is nothing new. 

I thought about you yesterday and days before that too. 

I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. 

All I have are memories and your picture in a frame. 

Your memory is a keepsake from which I’ll never part. 

God has you in His arms, I have you in my heart.

And of course I cannot leave out my "Prissy". Although we didn't hear from her on Christmas, we were able to spend Christmas Eve with her and her husband's family. It was a lot of fun and so nice to be included in their festivities. I love the growth that we are seeing in our family! It will only continue!

Although we were physically without our family Christmas morning, I truly felt it was one of the happiest of my life. I believe it is because I know they were with me in heart and spirit. The memories of all these contacts from my children have affected my life. I always think about how life is not the same since our Jon went to heaven. But now I realize that even if he were here our Christmas' would always be different now. That is just part of life changing. Perhaps I really am growing up.....