That House

When you drive down our street at night, you'd probably make a comment about our house.  You know the one where you say, "Geez, those people STILL haven't taken down their Christmas tree?!"  Or "If they can't take their tree down yet, the least they could do is not light it up for the whole world to see."


In a book I read, Christmas lights (not necessarily lit) that were left up year-round on a house were a sign.  It was to make it easier to identify a house that sold drugs.  This is NOT a post about dealing drugs.  It is a post about our house and the sign we are leaving for all to see.


Last Christmas our family was so excited because we KNEW that next year Evan would come home and she would celebrate her first Christmas with us.  As the year unfolded and then started to come to an end that dream of her sharing Christmas with us slowly began to fade.  


We put up our tree and we hung her stocking along with the rest of the family's.  Christmas day came and Evan had presents under the tree.  We didn't open them.  Her stocking was bulging with goodies.  It sat untouched.  


Instead of taking down our Christmas tree this year, our family decided to leave it up until Evan gets home.  No matter how long it takes.  Heck, you might come over to swim this summer and walk in and see our Christmas tree.  I pray it won't be that long.  BUT we will celebrate Christmas with her!  It was our way of telling the judge that no matter how long she keeps our daughter/sister from coming home, she will still have a Christmas with her family.

So if you are out driving and you see a tree or a house that still has lights up - remember our daughter and say a prayer for her - that she'll come home for Christmas soon.