Monday, December 28, 2015

December 28 - “Our Christmas”

Chris and I went out clubbing Saturday night.  Well, to be fair, we went to one club.  OK, to be completely honest, we went to MOD Coffeehouse to listen to Jim (one of our praise team guys) sing outside.  It was pretty nice.  The weather was great in spite of the weatherman’s predicted rainfall that never materialized.  We just sat outdoors and drank cold hot chocolate (my only complaint about the evening) and talked to Charlotte (Jim’s wife).  He did a great job, by the way.  He had a good rapport with the crowd, and I just like the way he sounds.  Nice job, Jim.

Yesterday was our actual family Christmas.  It was the first time everyone could be together in the same place.  Josh and Christi and their boys got here first, so they had to experience the anguish of patience – waiting on their belated cousins to arrive.  Problem was, Noa was taking a nap (read here, Kel was watching the Texans football game), so I didn’t expect them until the game was over.  Nathan and April were driving in from their Christmas in Corpus Christi, and they ran into a patch of the nasty weather that kept threatening in Galveston (It held off here, though, until everyone arrived). 

Once everyone was here and I had my Galveston Santa suit on (that would be a Santa hat and the coat with the sleeves rolled up and the front collar rolled under), we begin the festivities.  And of course that meant reading the Christmas story first.  Kel found the version he had read Christmas Day on his phone, so I read it off of Kindle (whatever that means).  Next came … no not presents.  Next was Nani’s picture of all the grandkids holding their stockings but not looking inside yet (Quite the feat, I might add).  I think amid the 700 or so that we took we might be able to find one or two that will be usable for a Christmas letter.  And finally it was time. 

First the kiddos checked out their stockings.  Fun stuff there, and yes, Josiah, they each had an apple.  Then they were all set to get after the presents.  But wait.  Nani pointed out that the adults hadn’t even received their stockings yet.  Well, taking care of that minor oversight took all of two seconds.  Come on, Nani.  Finally the time had arrived.  We decided this year that whoever had come from farthest away could give out their presents first.  Caleb leapt at the chance to represent Waco.  I suppose Cailyn could have made a case, since they had indeed driven in from Corpus Christi.  But they live in Galveston.  Caleb and Zak were on for distribution.  They were followed by the LaMarque cousins and then the Galveston cousin.  And finally Nani and DadDad had our turn to hand out Christmas joy.  I kind of liked this approach.  It emphasized giving, but everyone received every round as well. 

Tacos were the cuisine for the day, and the Dad gifts were distributed while around the table (those would be the special gifts I select for each of the adults to show them that someone really did think about them enough during the past year to give them an “appropriate” present).  They are usually little commemorative things.  Two tiny rhinos for April since she enjoyed watching them so much when we all went to the zoo.  A giant blow-up of the picture Christi had taken of her and Chip Gaines, the Waco TV celebrity.  A Rapunzel wig for Nathan so he can continue his exploits as Aquaman indefinitely.  A Texans #1 fan finger with every quarterback who has ever played for the Texans inserted on it (I had to unwrap that gift six or seven times.  The Texans just couldn’t keep a healthy quarterback).  A little minion to let Chris know that she is cared for during the allergy season (Sorry, that story would require way too much time).  Some DC Comics world “wallpaper” for Christina’s downstairs superheroes-themed bathroom.  And for Josh, some “inspirational” reading material inspired by certain issues they have had in one particularly crucial room of their house.  Great fun for all, and hopefully memorable.

Acts 16:34 says, “The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God — he and his whole family.”


Father, thank you again for the family you blessed us with.  We have been given the gift of quite a quiver.  We love ‘em.  Amen.

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