December 4 - “BDD”

I fully expected to be outside walking our prescribed route yesterday. Big nope. I’m pretty sure the wind chill of 44 degrees had something to do with that decision. 

Well, that and the fact that we had some work to do. It was BDD, “Begin Decorating Day.”  The tree was already up, so we just had to dig into boxes and hang up ornaments. Well, “just” may not come across in the way it was intended. Unloading those boxes was its own kind of challenge. And we didn’t even finish. Chris was also washing clothes and doing some baking. My back started tightening up. So … it’s a break. “Just” taking a break. More to come later today. 

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬ says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Father, thanks so much for the Christmas season. Love it. Amen. 

December 3 - “Walmart Wonder”

Cyber Monday. The day for doing all your shopping online. And we started out strong. Yes, we did. Had one order done just after 9 a.m. 

But then we kind of slacked off a bit. Oh, our intentions were good, but we just couldn’t help ourselves. We went to Walmart. The grocery portion was pretty high. Replenishing after the Thanksgiving hordes. We also grabbed a few Christmas gifts. ‘Tis the season and all. 

We did stumble across one amazing deal. We were walking down the ice cream aisle when a lady in front of us began animatedly talking to anyone anywhere nearby. Since that included us, we were, sort of, captured. Seems she had been to the check out counter and had discovered one of those quirky little mistakes of Walmart Wonder. Entire boxes of those ice cream cones dipped in chocolate and peanut particles on top were ringing up for only two dollars. The lady had become quite the evangelist. Certainly reached us. We picked up a few boxes, too. 

Oh, back to our earlier purchases. The funny thing about those gifts, though. We found out that one of them was available online for seven dollars less. OK. Not that rare a find. But get this. Back home we ordered it from Walmart.com, and indicated that we would pick it up at the store. An hour or so later I got a text. “Your order is ready for pickup.”  I drove back over and got it - at the store - for the lower price. Weird. But welcome. 

Well, I didn’t get a chance to finish the shopping I wanted to do for Chris, but we still have a day or two before Christmas. 

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭57‬ says, But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Father, thank you for the fun we had on our shopping excursion yesterday. Amen. 

December 2 - “Lights!”

Another great day at church. And as a bonus, there was an entire table full of leftover Thanksgiving sweets. And that’s in addition to the donuts someone thoughtfully brought. Major sugar overload possibilities. 

After church the LaMarque crew agreed to come over to help us put up our outside lights. We paid them in leftovers (of the last Thursday kind) and sno cones. Kel and Jachin got the icicle lights up. Josiah hauled out the wooden cutout nativity. Noa and Ezra helped Christina with the Precious Moments nativity. Oh, and Kel and Josiah pulled the old tree down from the attic. They took it with them to donate. Thanks, guys!

John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ says, That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Father, thank you for the joy of anticipation. Amen. 

December 1 - “Turkey Bowl Day Again”

Yesterday was AnnaGrace‘s birthday. Eight years old. And her gifts were incredibly varied. Goober showed up. That’s the imaginary friend that she colored a picture of and asked Nani to recreate in stuffed form. Chris did an eerily excellent job. 

She also got a hologram. Not sure about that. Maybe a pet?

And speaking of pets, there was also a talking stuffed Yoga Goat from the LaMarque gang. Yep. You heard right. Yoga Goat. It was a little scary. 

Oh, and there was also the Precious Moments figurine from Nani and DadDad. Always a treat. 

Zak and Lindsay had to leave early to go to her family’s Thanksgiving celebration. I guess they needed to see her sometime this weekend. Imagine that. 

There was a rousing game of kid’s monopoly that went on up until the LaMarque cousins came around 11:30 for lunch.  Turkey enchilada pie. Say no more. Definitely one of Nana’s best. 

Uncle Josh and Uncle Kel set up a jigsaw puzzle on the table that’s been outside. Star Wars. It’ll take me a while to finish this one. 

Aunt Christina went to the bathroom at one point. Why is that such a big deal? Well, the rest of us gathered at the door and sang Christmas carols until she came out. 

The ever-popular Turkey Bowl happened yet again. We found a large, open, grassy area at the airport. It was a seesaw battle all the way. So much so that I couldn’t keep track. Didn’t matter anyway.  We had a really fun time. 

Nominees for The Trophy were numerous and varied. Here’s a list:

1. Zak and Lindsay for strategically avoiding the game altogether and absconding into the frozen northlands with a truck full of furniture. 
2. Noa’s blood
3. DadDad’s 72 year old trick play touchdown - previous record by Uncle Jerry at 60 something 
4. Josiah’s back flip.  Almost
5. Micah’s back flip. Almost 
6. Uncle Nathan’s phantom plays
7. AnnaGrace’s touchdown 
8. Ezra’s “unique” touchdown celebration. 

It was a close vote. Uncle Nathan probably would have won - in the spirit of the original Dee Clements Memorial Trophy - but, well, he wasn’t there (he had to work. We missed April and Cailyn, too). So instead, the award went to DadDad and the new record for oldest person to ever record a touchdown, even though it WAS on a somewhat questionable trick play. 

After a presentation by last year’s winner, Ezra, and a victory speech sadly cut way too short by the house supervisor (AKA Nana), and a resounding chorus of Happy Birthday to AnnaGrace, the out of town families made their way to their respective homes, ready to return and do it all over again in a few short weeks for Christmas.

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭ says, Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross.

Father, keep those out-of-town Vaughan’s safe and secure until we can see them again. Amen.