Continuing with the WordPress challenge to post something every day for a week. This was the inspiration for Christmas Day, but I had a better idea then.

At noon today, take a pause in what you’re doing or thinking about. Make a note of it, and write a post about it later.

As I prepare lunch—heating leftovers from our Christmas dinner—I think of the dear faces around our table yesterday, daughters, sons-in-law, a godmother, her partner and her grandson. Tasting the dishes prepared by each one, salads, sweet potato casserole, veggies and mashed potatoes to go with the chicken and dressing. I’m remembering the conversations around the table, of news, of family happenings.

We’re also thinking about my parents who usually attend but are at home with colds. Two of the guys having delivered their gifts and some Christmas dinner,  return in time for dinner and we’re all hoping they will feel better soon.

There are also two small ones— our granddaughters— one excited by the gift giving that would follow and her curiosity of what’s in those packages, and the younger one, enjoying the food, and clinging to her mommy whenever possible, but coming to give hugs to Grandma and aunties. The three-year-old, asked whose birthday we celebrate this day, finally answers “Jesus” with a little prompting from her mother.

In the basement recreation room, while we sit around the tree, giving and receiving gifts one at a time, the three-year-old hurries to one after the other, her eyes issuing the wish to help unwrap the package, and upon being invited to help, eagerly undoes tape and rips paper away to reveal the treasure inside. She opens her own gifts gleefully, and even helps her little sister who does not really get  the occasion, to open hers. The one-year-old pulls wrapping out of gift bag then stuffs it back in again only to start over when the job is done, having more fun with the wrapping than what’s in the package.

Excited by the gifts, the three-year-old wants to paint with her new brushes and paints as soon as we were done, and her mother says, “Later,” and redirects her to another new  toy. There”ll be time to explore the other gifts another day of the holidays when they are by themselves. She chooses the special cupcakes Lego and takes it upstairs.

Yes, today, on Boxing Day, my husband and I take time to rest up and eat leftovers and think about  our enjoyable family gathering, while some of our daughters and sons-in-law have a family gathering with another part of their family.