While we were still very young and growing up, once it got closer to Dec 10 upward, we were always excited because it has been a norm for us to travel to our hometown to celebrate both Christmas and New Year with our grannies at home. The house is always full of far distant and nearby relatives who would bring their children to celebrate with us too.
One thing I always look forward to was the money we would be receiving once the celebration is over and everyone would be returning to their bases. Our pockets, as children were always filled with money and this is what makes Christmas interesting and fun.
The very one thing I love and look forward to during Christmas is family togetherness. Yes, the above picture is the family picture I took during the burial ceremony that was held last week. These are some of my family that come home every December to celebrate with Grandma and she is always happy when everyone is at home.
Another thing that makes me more excited and looking forward to Christmas is my siblings.
The lady in blue clothes is my elder sister, the firstborn and breadwinner of the family. The other one is my immediate younger sister while Princess is the one in the middle. They have covered me with their height. Lol
These are the people that make Christmas and New Year fun, especially my younger sister. She is the hype lady in the house who never gets tired. She knows how to bring up the vibe in the house and light it up everywhere. She is good at those things.
This is also the moment we would be seeing ourselves after eleven months and a half of seeing each other physically except talking via WhatsApp audio and video. Once it's getting closer to December, we would chat ourselves up to know those coming home or not and it's always a happy moment when they say they will be present for sure. It has been our norm to come home and see each other again. Mama is always happy too when we show up and she will never stop calling to ask if we are coming home.
We are five. The remaining two siblings aren't in the picture since they couldn't attend the burial ceremony. My younger brother is still in school while the last born is with grandma in the village. I would say she is always the happiest when she knows we are all coming home because she will receive things from us being the last born.
That is our Dad and his younger sister with us. It always feels great seeing everyone at home as we would come together to appreciate God for keeping us all from January. This happens on the 24th and when it's the 1st of January after returning from the cross-over service, we come together to pray before we all depart again.
At that time also, my siblings and I would come together, and lock ourselves in the room so no one would disturb us. We will then share how it has been for us throughout the year, our plans for the next year and other personal things about us. Then, we would advise each other and pray.
Family is the greatest gift God has bestowed on us and it is with love and unity we can achieve the best. This is something my siblings and I have always preached to ourselves because we don't want to be separated whatsoever, especially with what is happening in my family. Grandma has always tried her best to bring her children together and it is during this moment she has time and chance to talk to everyone because she will get to see everyone physically.
But this Christmas will be a different one because, among my siblings, I am the only one in the village with the last born. The burial ceremony brought us together and my two sisters are returning to their place to resume back to work. It would be another expenses to travel back to my hometown which they cannot risk again, not after spending so much coming for the burial ceremony.
My younger sister returned to Portharcourt after the burial ceremony. My big sis returned to Lagos in preparation for her best friend's wedding happening in the East. My brother said he won't be coming home even after persuading him to come. I bribed him too but it isn't working 馃槶馃槶馃槶
It's only my last sister who is already at home with grandma with a few of our relatives celebrating Christmas together. If not for the burial, everyone would have been at home and my sister being the hype lady would have added more vibe at home but as it is now, we will only try our best to make it more fun.
Above all, we would be appreciating God for being alive and bringing us together to witness the end of the year and awaiting the new year 2023.
