Holidays on the Rez
December 29, 2007 Children No CommentsThe holidays and being away from my children is probably the hardest part of serving a mission. This year I put out a plea for someone to come visit. Jared and Emily and the girls came down the friday before Christmas, braving the bad weather and wandering animals and even the possibility of drunken indians to come see us. It was so neat to have them here. I even got Melody to come to Grammie with her dad holding her. We mostly visited and just enjoyed being together. I love to watch my children parent my grandchildren. I’m impressed with their patience and loving ability to encourage their children to make good choices. This is true pleasure for me.
Rebecca and Keith came with their two boys all the way from Mississippi to be here for Christmas. They got here on Saturday, after taking an extra three hours to check out the rez without realizing what they were doing. Its actuallya straight shot from Gallup to here, but Rebecca decided to take the straight line approach and went through Saw Mill which we haven’t even gone to or through. It is one of the coldest spots on the rez. I think they got to see lots of snow and not to good of roads. Which really means, instead of taking the main road which is paved, they took a dirt road which isn’t even graveled. But they got here. The cousins were so happy to see and play with each other, bringing much joy to their Grammie.
We drove to the south rim of the canyon to look over the side into the deep canyon. It was a cold day so we decided it wouldn’t be the best idea to hike into the canyon at this time. Keith and Reb rode with Jared and Emily and we had the three oldest cousins in our car, it was the best. To hear them laugh and talk to each other was such pleasure for me.
Saturday night was cold and no one except Dad and Rebecca and the three oldest grandchildren wanted to brave the parade. I would have gone but I was making a lemon chiffon pie for us to eat and I was sure the parade would only last ten minutes. When two hours went by and they hadn’t returned, Jared made the comment that he was sure that the indians had talked dad into being in the parade and put lights on his car. Well, it wasn’t exactly like that, but close. Dad and Rebecca were asked to judge the floats. Being outsiders, they wouldn’t be swayed. There was $1500.00 in prize money to be won and so the people organizing the parade didn’t want members of the same clans judging. They watched the parade, it was ten minutes long. They took the kids and walked around the floats, the kids about froze to death, they put the kids into the car and walked around the floats again with the women in charge and then finally made their decissions. They said they departed soon after as they didn’t want to be acosted for their choices. Jared was almost right.
Jared and Emily and the girls decided to leave on Sunday so Jared could make it to a doctors appointment without traveling Christmas eve or day. The little cousins traded Christmas presents and had fun playing with their new treasures. Before Jared and Emily left with the girls, we made a large breakfast and enjoyed just being together. While Jared packed his car and got it warm for their trip, Cadence began to feel puny and act a little puny. Jared got double wal-mart bags and put them by her car seat just in case. Jared later said that the way dad sent them home took three extra hours. He already told me he wouldn’t be coming back to the rez ever. Then to take an extra three hours to get home only added to his commitment. Cadence was sick all the way home. She ruined all her clothes, all her dads shirts and finally they had to find a store to buy her something to put on so she could make it the rest of the way home. Even if the trip was trying to the parents seeing my darling little granddaughters was heavenly for me.
We took Reb and her family to church with us, or I should say we took the Elders in our car and they followed in their car to Lukachukai. I’m sure it was an interesting event in their lives. Indians don’t always start their meetings on time and sunday was no exception. RS and Priesthood was held together because there were no teachers. After the meetings we handed out goodie bags to all the families and those that stayed for another hour heard dad read the “Real Story of Christmas” a tradition for us. I had made english triffle and served everyone. Keith chased Craig outside in the snow and Wesley slept through the whole thing.
Monday we drove to the south rim of the Canyon De Chelly and walked down to the white house ruin. We bundled up thinking it would be cold, but ended up carrying our coats, hats, gloves because it was so warm. The little boys walked the whole way without to much complaining and Craig beat his mother to the top and won a root beer float at the A & W.
We fondued on Christmas Eve and just enjoyed ourselves. The Bardo family was so beat they were all in bed by 8:00 p.m. and sawing logs. The senior missionaries, came by about nine to hear the Christmas story read by dad and I served New Mexican hot chocolate. We enjoyed their company and I enjoyed hearing the story again. Forty years of hearing it never seems to much.
We woke up later than usual, the boys were dancing around by 7:30 a.m. That’s late for us. Usually our children would be up by three or four in the morning. The trick of taking the long walk was the best. It took most of the day to open packages and eat and open some more. It was delightful to watch the boys. We had a wonderful Christmas. We spoke to most of our children and grandchildren and it was such a pleasant time for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better present than having Jared and Rebecca’s familys here. Thanks guys.
