January 1 – “Fire and Family … Happy New Year”

So how did your wild and crazy New Year’s Eve celebrations go?  Out on the town?  Gathered at a party with dozens of friends?  Hope you had a safe time.  But we Vaughan’s tend to do things a little differently around here.  We hosted a Cousins’ Sleepover instead.  Yep.  Seven of eight grandkids spent the night last night (Noa was going to stay, too, but she fell ill in the afternoon.  Started running fever, so Mom and Dad took her home with them). 

Luke started off the fun when he discovered the roll of toilet paper just hanging there in the bathroom, waiting for his input into its drab and dreary existence.  He has such a kind heart that he couldn’t possibly allow that to continue, so he started unrolling it.  And unrolling it.  And unrolling it.  His brother saw it first and loudly announced what he perceived as an infraction.  Fortunately, however, DadDad heard the announcement before Nani or any of the Moms.  I did what any good DadDad would have done.  I got out my phone and videoed the whole affair.  Once he completed the task all the way down to the built-in tunnel inside, he decided to show the  rest of the family the fruit of his labor.  He tossed it all in the air a time or two, and then grabbed a wad of it and dragged it in to show it to Nani. 

I think it was Mom Christi who retrieved a trash bag and gently suggested that the paper be disposed of properly.  But Mom … it’s Christmas/New Year’s.  Surely we can find a better option.  And so they did.  Before Christi could get the trash bag fully opened the youngsters had started an onslaught.  No, not at each other, although there was a taste of that, and it would have been great fun.  No, instead the dutifully picked up every scrap of toilet paper … and redecorated the Christmas tree.  Shimmering white TP garland now adorns our December greenery.  Beautiful.  Just beautiful. 

The rest of the partying started at a local playground in the afternoon.  The Dads (and Christi.  You almost have to have a Mom around to keep the Dads in check, right?) had the assignment to get the kids as tired as possible before bringing them back home.  We thought things had gone pretty well, but when we got home they continued their frolicking outside in the back yard.  That gave Nani time to get the pizza heated up for supper, though.  And once their bellies were full, it was time to settle in for the sleepover. 

Of course that meant pulling out all the sleeping bags and covering the floor next to the Christmas tree.  It meant choosing a movie they could all enjoy.  This year’s winner was “Inside Out.”  One of them had received it as a gift.  It was followed by “Horton Hears a Who” (that one was Nani’s white elephant victory).  I didn’t get to see the climax of the first one though.  A fire call came over my phone that a huge tree or maybe a house was on fire right on Nathan’s street.  He and April were both at work, so I grabbed my Fire Department jacket and raced to the scene.  The fire was already out by the time I got there.  A huge palm tree had caught fire, probably the result of fireworks (or maybe outright prankster arson).  The neighbors were worried that the sparks would ignite homes nearby, so they called it in.  I did get to meet several of the neighbors who were watching the action.  Even found out that I played Little League baseball with one of them.  Small world.  Even smaller Island.

The kids were all still awake when I returned.  In fact I had to go to bed long before they crashed out.  I think they forgot all about the whole countdown to the New Year thing.  It apparently came and went with little fanfare.  The occasional nearby fireworks explosion was the only thing that dispelled our private celebration.  Josiah is now helping me compose this journal entry, and he already received a text from the other room from Nani reminding him to speak quietly.  I hear Luke rousing his parents.  Must be close to time for the donut man to make his run.  Guess I’ll go see who else is awake.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Father, thank you for one more year gone by.  Help each of our little guys grow stronger and wiser and closer to you over the course of this next one.  Amen.