My Cup Runneth Over

”My Cup Runneth Over” These are the best words I can think of to describe our Christmas this year. This was a special year for us with my Dad receiving a new heart and the feeling of gratefulness is overwhelming. Please keep the Donor’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this first holiday season without their loved one…to whom we owe it all to.

“My Cup Runneth Over” because it was a very full Christmas. We had our own Christmas with just the three of us on Saturday morning. It was a bonus not to have to travel with our gifts for each other. And because of the negative reaction Kevin had to opening gifts on his birthday we thought it best to keep it as low key as possible. But Kevin surprised us and did great. He willingly opened his gifts as well as mine. We left town later that day to be with the G family for a whirlwind of Christmas festivities. Kevin was very excited to be there with everyone so much so that he woke up extra extra early the first morning. The following morning, Grandee was curious if Kevin ever gave a response for “no” when we asked him a question, so she asked Kevin if he was ready to go back home and Grandee got to hear his “no” answer. Aunt Marcia, found out how Kevin will lean in for a kiss when asked. This is all progress for Kevin.

“My Cup Runneth Over” because I think all 14 of the Golembiewski’s would agree that this was our best Christmas ever. One small miracle was that none of us were sick…so we could all be together with Dad. There was a definite shift in the festivities this year as the grandkids are getting a little older. And we noticed that Dad had extra participation in the Christmas festivities this year. With the help of my brother and his son and some of the other grandkids, Dad was able to get his train set up this year. The train didn’t run any better than in past years but he did create a fun scavenger hunt on the train platform for us. Dad has also been very busy whittling since he has been home from the hospital. Each person in the family got a golf ball with an individual carved face on it. In addition each family got another carved Santa ornament for the tree.

“My Cup Runneth Over” also describes the many tears I shed this Christmas. Not tears of sadness and not necessarily tears of joy but I think best described as tears of love because “My Cup Runneth Over.”

I think my first crying episode happened on Christmas Eve Eve when my Mom gave me a Belated 40th Birthday gift. She created a scrapbook on the computer of my early years. When I opened the gift I was at first bewildered because this is not the type of thing you would find my Mom doing, especially when she had to dig through old old photo albums and pry off each photograph or polaroid and then scan them into the computer. Luckily, she had help from my Aunt and her Girlfriend, or she might not have ever finished. It was very emotional seeing the baby pictures of me with my brother Kevin before he died of Leukemia when he was three years old. Some of these photos I don’t ever remember seeing. The scrapbook means so much to me to have these forgotten old photos and knowing the emotion, time, and effort that went into making it. My Mom had received a scrapbook of her early years from her Mom on her 40th Birthday, which is what gave her the idea. 

Typically, Jon and Brad (my husband and my sister’s husband) usually find a way to sneak away to see a movie and this year, Ryan the oldest grandchild was old enough to join them. Well the rest of us (not including my Mom and Dad) decided to go see the Disney movie Frozen. The last and only other time Kevin saw a movie in the theater was four years ago. He was happy to sit with his Uncle Steve and Aunt Dawn and did great. He sat for the entire movie and even had a few favorite characters in the movie, the Reindeer and the Snowman. 

Another tearful love filled moment was when my brother and sister’s families each gave Kevin a book for Christmas, but also made a video of them reading and signing the storybook. Each were brilliant and fun and special in their own way and we love them!!! I really appreciate the extra extra time and effort they spent making this gift for Kevin. Best Christmas gift ever for Kevin!

Another fun moment during the G Christmas Festivities was when my brother’s kids put on a little Christmas concert for us. Ryan played the trumpet and his two sisters sang along (with their new karaoke microphones). The trumpet didn’t bother Kevin at all, in fact he was sitting on Grandee’s lap smiling through the whole thing. There was lots of laughing but when the kids performed Silent Night…you guessed it…tears in my eyes again!

My sister had the idea of having my Mom and Dad bring up the Offertory Gifts at Christmas Eve Mass with all six grandkids. This is something that we began doing with Kevin this year, so we knew it would be a success and it was beautiful…and, yes, more tears in my eyes.

There were so many special moments during our Christmas this year…it is hard to describe each one. Jon even made a Christmas video of pictures from the last 10 years of Christmas with the G Family which created a lot of laughter in the room.

We spent Christmas Day and night with the Hudak Family. It was a lively Christmas with Kevin’s almost 11 month old cousin. We enjoyed every minute of our Christmas with them. Kevin loves to be with his cousin and Grandparents and there were lots of smiles and fun.

I love spending time with family!

We are Blessed - My Cup Runneth Over