December 31 – “Yup. Yum”

Finally.  Our Big Day Family Christmas Experience was here.  All of our kids and grandkids and three of our granddogs made their appearance at the same time.  Chris put a big roast in the crock pot and made ready to heat up some brisket and veggies to go with it. 

 

We started off the day with a donut run.  Luke garnered the honors of being the Donut Man for the day.  He came back with a dozen iced with sprinkles donuts.  Six pink (little sister’s favorite) and 6 chocolate.  He also nabbed a few dozen donut holes.  Meanwhile, the breakfast pull-apart bread was baking in the oven.  Wait.  Where else would it be baking? 

Everybody finally arrived, and we had a big lunch.  Roast and brisket and rice and green beans and baked beans and a big salad and crescent rolls.  Yup.  Yum.

 

After lunch we did our family gift exchange.  I received two t-shirts.  One said, “Theology Matters.”  The other said, “Jesus took naps. Be Like Jesus.  Mark 4:38.”  I also got a silicone base for doing jigsaw puzzles that allows you to roll up an unfinished puzzle when you need more table space.  Amazing.  We both got a mug with a picture of the National Parks on it.  There was also a pen to use to mark the places as you visit them.  Then you bake it in the oven and the pen marks never go away.  Can’t wait to try that.  Chris’ haul was similarly grand, as was that of each little child present.  And that. By the way includes kids from 5 to 68. 

 

Next came a round of dessert.  Frozen cheesecake.  Christmas mix chocolate.  Divinity.  Yup.  Yum.

 

Dessert was followed by our version of the Candy Cane Games.  Every person got to do something (if you count me leading and Chris taking pictures).  Even five-year-olds, AnnaGrace and Ezra had their moment in the sun as they led the Jingle All the Way game.  Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.  We ended the fun with a reading of the Christmas story from our children’s Bible. 

 

Next came a trip to the park to play basketball.  Well, for some of “us.”  Josh, Christi, Kel, and Christina did the honors there.  Chris and I stayed behind and did some straightening up.  Chris also had a few minutes to chat with April and Nathan.  Guess she was catching them up on her latest medical history. 

 

The rest of the evening was spent watching college football, playing an array of table games, or, well, eating.  Yup.  Yum.

 

Psalms 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

 

Father, thank you for big family gatherings.  Well, big to us, anyway.  Guess yours is a bit larger, huh?  Amen.