Missing Her

Last night, we had our annual Night-Before-Christmas-Eve taco run. Half the family went to buy the food, and the other half stayed, making cookies, turning on the log in the living room, and making Mexican hot chocolate with the ever-loved Abuelita chocolate. The quiet of the house came to a stop when Dad and the kids came back with food, fifteen minutes later, all that was left was an artistic array of napkins, cups, and half-eaten tortillas. No utensils, of course.

As a wonderful surprise, today we were able to talk to my Army sister, the oldest of us seven, and stationed in Iraq now. We laughed and reminisced o'er past Christmases with her. This will be our first Christmas without her.

Tonight will be a night filled with lots of family, after the two hour drive down, tamales, singing, and lots and lots of laughing.

And in the midst of all, we'll stop and smile at each other. Missing our sister, and thanking God for her safety.