Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas in Texas

We spent Christmas in Texas with John's parents,brother, and sister. They live in the Texas Hill Country, which is so beautiful, definitely one of my favorite parts of Texas.

We drove.

25 hours each way.

We left Tuesday morning Dec 21st and arrived Wednesday evening. We spent 3 days and then left Sunday, returning to DC Monday evening. Thankfully the blizzard hit east of DC and so we didn't run into any trouble on our drive home. I had to be back at work Tuesday morning. I am still exhausted from the drive. I am glad we went and happy we saved money and were able to take Annie, but I am never making that kind of drive again. I am definitely looking forward to recovering over this 3-day holiday weekend.

We did have a good time though. We hadn't spent Christmas with John's parents since 2007 and I know it meant a lot to them to have us there.

I didn't take many pictures, but here are the few I took.

At the Salt Lick in Driftwood, barbecue is a must have on any trip to Texas - love it!
 
This was outside our room at our bed and breakfast - I thought it was funny
  
Our room
 
Along the River Walk in San Antonio. We went to an Irish pub with John's dad.


 The Salt Lick and the River Walk were the first day's activities. Christmas Eve we mostly hung around the house since it was raining and then John and I made dinner to give his mom a break. We were hoping to go to Christmas Eve service, but it would have been very awkward because his brother and sister had just arrived on Christmas Eve and they are not believers and therefore would not have been interested in going with us. I think this is a difficult aspect of spending Christmas with my in-laws; there is not even a mention of the true reason for the season.

Overall, I think I handled Christmas fairly well as far as infertility/childlessness. Since we were not anticipating having Joshua home by this Christmas even under the best of circumstances, I was okay. I actually had a much harder time with missing our baby though. Two years ago, I was pregnant at Christmas. Many friends, including several I have come to know through blogging, are newly pregnant or about to have their babies. While I am thrilled for all of them, it has been hard not to think about pregnancy and remember when I was pregnant. The events of that awful day in January kept replaying in my mind. Christmas Eve night after we got back to our bed and breakfast, I had a good cry and just let it out. I miss our baby. Though I am excited about God's plans for us, I still miss her.

I have been consoled by one thought. Next year should be a very different Christmas for us. It actually didn't occur to me until after Christmas, but by next Christmas, Lord willing, Joshua will be home with us. It is hard for me to wrap my head around the thought of it - a Christmas with our son, a child we have waited for and prayed for for a very long time. I can't wait!

6 comments:

Deni said...

Oh Becky! I'm sorry you were missing your daughter this year. Having a new baby on the way doesn't change the loss of your first baby (or second). I'm certainly praying that you get your sweet Joshua home asap and can't wait to see him all decked out for Christmas!! The hill country is so far from me, but I'm in TX and wish we could've met up! I'm with you on not loving those long drives, and hope not to have one anytime soon! Happy New Year, may it be full of all kinds of blessings for your family!

The Sherrill Family said...

I'm so glad that you got to see some beautiful TX. We have the same trouble with either side of our extended family with the non-believers thing. It's definitely hard celebrating the season with them because the 'real' reason for Christmas is almost non-existant.

As one of your friends who was newly pregnant with you, I can only sympathize. My heart breaks for you as I see this post and I can only continue to pray for you as you wait for Joshua. I am looking forward to reading about your adventures with your son and joyfully anticipate the day he comes home and how different next Christmas will be for you.

xoxo

Sending you a BIG HUG

Stacey said...

Looks like a lovely Texas Christmas. I'm glad you survived that loooong drive!

Becky, you're always in my thoughts and prayers. I know that you'll always, always miss your baby who resides in heaven. Christmas (and other holidays, too) seems to make the pain feel so fresh again. I can't wait to see all that will unfold for you this year, and the joy on your face and in your home next Christmas!

Lots of love to you!

Mrs. Chapman's 2nd Grade Class said...

I can't imagine how beautiful the river walk is at Christmas. I'd like to go down during the holidays sometime. I've only been in June and it was SO hot. I'm praying that Joshua is home soooo soon! I think this is going to be a great year for both of us! I sure pray it is my friend!
Hugs!

Michelle said...

Although the drive sounded absolutely exhausting the trip was something that brought joy to your in-laws and looked fun. The holidays without our babies are hard (I remember last year) and when you have experienced a loss it's even more difficult. I'm glad that you had a good cry - you need to let it out. You are also doing the right thing in looking forward in anticipation of the arrival of sweet Joshua. He is your little angel. Hang in there :)

Wendi Kitsteiner said...

Not sure if you got our Christmas card but I actually wrote that on it. That next Christmas will be a whole new array for beauty for you. Praying that your heart is at peace during the final months.

They will go by slowly. No way around that. But once he is home, he is home ... FOREVER