December 28 – “Our Christmas”

 Well, we finally caught up with the rest of the world.  Yesterday was Family Christmas Day around the Vaughan house.  It was the first day that all of our children could be together, so somehow it worked out that Santa made a special trip here the night before.  Amazing how he can do things like that. 

While we were waiting for the Kel and Nathan families to arrive, we were blessed with the speculations and observations of Caleb and Zakary.  Caleb in particular was eager to point out that his stocking that had been hanging on the fireplace when he arrived was now on the floor, and it had a wrapped present in it.  And it was important for us to know that at his house, all the gifts that were designated for him were wrapped in the same kind of wrapping paper.  That way, once he established that one present was his, he didn’t have to search nametags for any other possibilities.  Hmm.  Smart Santa.  And speaking of smart ideas for wrapping, we did hear a great idea for next year.  Not from Caleb, or even Zakary.  Chris heard it or saw it online or something.  Instead of writing the kids’ name on the tag, stick a picture of him on the package.  We may try that one if we remember.

All the cousins did arrive, as did the usual exciting array of gifts.  Personally, the gifts I received were pretty special, from the Astros hat (the orange one with the star) to the Spiderman dvd (never did see the new one) to the Brick Testament Old Testament (I use that website all the time) to the old school cell phone amplifier (a very strange looking hunk of rubbery stuff into which a cell phone mounts.  The rubber is shaped like one of those old megaphone-looking things you used to stick in your ear for a hearing aid.  Works like a charm).  I remember a few shirts and some candy corn as well, but there was a lot of debris by that time.  Chris got some of those pavers with each grandchild’s handprint in them.  Brought tears to her eyes, of course. 

Well, my office just got invaded by the boys, so I guess that’s enough info for today.  I’ll resume tomorrow when there hasn’t been a full-blown cousins’ sleepover. 

Psalms 50:2-3 says, “From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.  Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.”

Father, you also shine in the fire of life emitting from all these kids.  Thanks for that.  Amen.