December 24 – “On Christmas Eve Eve”

So it's really Christmas Eve.  There have been some definite signs lately.  The temperature got way down to 56 degrees yesterday.  Brrr.  Had to get out a windbreaker and wear tennis shoes with socks instead of my tevas.  Still wore shorts, though.  Galveston winter and all.  The Christmas Eve candlelight service is tonight at church.  The open house over at the Stones is this afternoon.    I got several Christmas cards this year from couples I have married over at the San Luis hotel.  I try to send them all an anniversary card each year.  At least until they move and the card gets sent back with no forwarding address.  It's always good to hear how they are doing and check out the pictures they send, especially if they have had kids.    Yesterday - Christmas Eve Eve – we went to Golden Corral for lunch with Nathan, April and Cailyn.  Then we went over to Kel and Christina's house for supper.  In honor of the weather they served chili.  Nice.  And after the meal we piled into their van and drove around looking at Christmas lights in three different subdivisions, Gulf Village (where we live), Colony Park, and Harve Lafitte.  Little Josiah snoozed the whole way, and by the time we got to the last one, Jachin and Micah both were beginning to lose interest.  At that point the wise one, Christina, asked, "So of the three subdivisions we have been in, which one had the best lights?"  Of course Chris spoke up for ours, and I had to agree, as did Mom and Christina.  Seeing his opportunity, Jachin piped up, "Not me.  I think this last one is the best."  We teased him a little about being a traitor, and he loved the attention.  And then he said, "I have an idea.  When we get home, lets write the names of the places on a piece of paper and put them all in something and pull out a name and that will be the winner."  Sounded like a plan."   He wasn't through with his Christmas gems, though.  After taking in some more of the decorations, he commented, "Mom, I think maybe Jesus was the number two gift at Christmas."  Horrified, Christina asked him, "What could possibly be better than Jesus?"  With a sly grin he answered, "Well, there's Legos."    Sounded like it was time for some hot chocolate, so we headed to our house.  Josiah woke up when the "cold" air hit him.  Hey, he was born in South Texas.  The air was cold.  Micah was revived at the chance to run around and then play with the train under the Christmas tree.  Jachin joined in the festivities for awhile, but the he remembered.  He had a mission.  He found some paper and a pencil.  His Mom wrote down the names and he cut them out.  Nana told him where to find a bowl.  And then it was time for the big reveal.    Jachin got everyone's attention and asked, "Who wants me to draw the name of the winner?  Raise your hand."  Of course, he won that vote in a landslide (Though not 100%.  Micah and Josiah abstained due to a previous commitment with a train).  He peered intently into the small bowl holding the names.  And his Mom challenged, "Hey.  No peeking.  Shake those names up."  Shake them up he did.  And the tension mounted.  Would Gulf Village take top spot?  Or would the insurgent late comer Havre Lafitte bully its way to the top?  Or would the sleeper, Colony Park come through in the end?  We held our breath as he reached in.  And out came the answer.  Drumroll here, please, as he handed the name to his Mom.  "And the winner is … Gulf Village."   Cheers erupted.  Well, quiet cheers.  Disappointment engulfed Jachin's face, but only for a second or two.  Wise Christina suggested he draw for second place, and he grinned as he quickly completed the task and headed off to get in a few more minutes of wrestling with Dad and DadDad before they had to get home.   Now what better lead-in to Christmas Eve could there be?  Hot chocolate, Christmas lights, giggling children, family.    2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."   Father, thank you for your unspeakable gift in Jesus.  That really is the best Christmas gift.  Amen.