Christmas is in the little things #Christmas #chalkpaint #family

12/19/2016

The perfect tree.

My niece Wendy is fun. Really fun. Her laughter is infectious and she can always make you feel better. She is the perfect antidote for a depressed Sunday. I had a back procedure done on Tuesday that while it was better than expected pain wise it still hurt. Plus, I just wanted to wake up today feeling normal and without pain. It didn't happen and it depressed me a little. Last night, for whatever reason, my back really hurt. I could feel my heart pulsing in one of the surgical sights and it would not let me sleep. I did not want to take a pain pill and because of Crohn's I am not suppose to take anti-inflammatories. I cheated and took 4 Motrin. Slept like a dog afterward.

Got up this morning feeling better than I did last night, but I could tell the husband needed to get out and I didn't feel like shopping. He felt guity so I sent him on his way called the kids and discovered no one was home. My niece moved up a few months ago and I really wanted to see her but she works full time and I don't like to bother her on the weekends. I called her anyway.

Wendy was into cookie making so I invited myself over. There were chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies. Next on the list were snickerdoodles and oatmeal cookies. My favorites. My granddaughter Kate and her cousin Marissa were in the kitchen mixing and stirring. Marissa is a perfectionest and Kate just wanted to eat the cookie dough. They are always fun to watch. They are complete opposites but they are good for each other. They balance.

Leaving the older kids in the kitchen, Wendy moved into the garage. A pallet with a fast coat of white paint, a willing husband who measured and screwed in the screws along with some left over Christmas lights soon turned into a fabulous Christmas tree that Allison hung with a star and ornaments. In the garage, painted mirrors and lovely cabinets my niece had decorated caught my eye. I could have hung out in the garage forever. I even tried to talk the nephew-in-law into giving up his mother's sweet tiny cabinet that would be perfect in my kitchen. He wasn't going for it and I couldn't blame him. Wendy showed me some color combinations I never would have thought of in a million years. She takes after her mom when it comes to decorating. They have different styles, but their ability to put colors together are wonderful.

Afterward, Allison sat next to the lighted village making up stories about the people who lived there. When that wore off she decided that I needed to sew her new puppy purple slippers and a coat. I didn't have the heart to tell her I don't know how to sew. Then she extracted a promise that I would take the new coat and shoes and leave them at her house addressed to her from me.

As a parting gift, my niece handed me off some chalk paint and glaze along with a plate of cookies to take to her uncle. I headed out the door a happy and fulfilled grandmother and aunt.

Thanks Wendy. I really needed that.

Ten minutes after getting home I had my cradle on the kitchen counter that I decided to distress. One pain pill, a can of paint and crackle glaze and my new candle holder will be just perfect. As will my mood.