My Eldest Son

I’m the first to hear the knock on the door.  It’s just a little after three in the afternoon.  Too early for party attendees.  Emmie and Noel must have arrived…

“Mom?  Are you baking again?” Kookie queries as he steps into the kitchen. “Yep.” “Don’t you think you’ve earned a break?” “Not today, Kookie.  I promised your brother a Dutch…

My family is in a festive mood.  Most of us are inwardly celebrating Tae today.  But, outwardly, we’re about to shower one of our favorite people with his favorite foods. …

“Man, I knew I shouldn’t have eaten so much yesterday.  Now I’m starving,” I murmur the next morning as I stand in front of the open refrigerator. “That’s great, Mom,”…

After we finish opening all our gifts and enjoying Kookie’s Christmas concert, I head to the kitchen to scramble some eggs while Janna fries up the sausage.  Somehow, in the…

The first glory to meet my eyes on Christmas morning is a dusky blue eye peering into mine as a tiny voice whispers, “Mommy?” I crack both of my eyes…

I am the last to head to bed.  I still have several gifts to wrap.  “Off to bed with you two,” I shoo Kookie and Janna towards their rooms.  Janna…

I finally close the door on all of our guests at midnight.  Kookie left at eleven to drive Emmie and Noel home so they can be with their parents on…

Emmie returns a moment later with a flat rectangular package.  She also wrapped her present in bright red paper.  Probably because she knows it’s Kookie’s favorite color.  Sheepishly, she hands it to him.…

“Emmie?  I have another present for you,” Kookie admits softly. “What?”   She is overwhelmed.  I can hear it in her voice and see it on her face.  Wide-eyed, she stares up at him.…