A hand to hold on to

There's something to be said for sticking it out. Hanging in there through everything that life sends your way. Plodding along when the easier thing to do, and sometimes even the more logical thing to do, would be to make a break for it. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part.

For all the memories I'll have of this Christmas past - Alena and her Taylor Swift guitar wishes, Alivia's taking her pick of EVERYONE'S gifts, Trace being the life of a Christmas party and Alysse spending most of her first Christmas feeling under the weather - one that I'll treasure most doesn't include any of the four.

Sitting amidst a Christmas Eve get together with the hustle and bustle of the season surrounding them, there they were. Overwhelmed with the holiday chaos, tired just having put in the day and trying to keep up with it all. Old, wise and standing the test of time (and life). Holding hands. My grandma and grandpa.

Bob and Mary Lou Moran holding their second great grandchild, Alena Grace Scott, September 20, 2004.

Married in 1948 and holding hands some 59 years later. Their union, while decades past, has created for them five children; 15 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren (to date). Together they have survived weddings, births and deaths of loved ones. Together they have attended birthday parties, ball games and graduations. Together they have struggled, loved and lived.

While they've never lived extravagantly and have worked hard to provide for and give what they can to those they love, they managed to raise five children who have a keen sense of family and a deep faith.

As they sat side-by-side holding hands surrounded by the chaos that comes with five children, 15 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, I had to laugh to myself wondering if they sat thinking "what did we do?" Knowing better, though, I'm sure their thoughts were instead "what did we do to deserve this?"

My hope is that our children will grow to have many memories of the couple we fondly refer to as "old grandma and grandpa." However, should fate rob them of this blessing, I'll hold on to my treasured memory of the two holding hands on Christmas Eve; do my best to teach our children that a small house filled with love beats a big one lacking it; and always encourage each of them to stick it out.