January 2 – “The Christmas Limit”

Well, Chris hit her limit.  Her Christmas limit, I mean.  Yesterday was the time to take down all things Christmas in the way of decorations.  She has actually been working on this goal for several days already.  But when she sets her sights on the tree itself, I know the time has come.  Empty boxes made their way in from their temporary home in the garage.  Ornaments slowly disappeared from the tree.  Garland and stockings and nativity scenes and red bows that once dotted our internal landscape … all gone.  Then the tree itself came down, as did the outside lights.  Now-full boxes now sit in stacks in our family room, patiently awaiting the arrival of some wiry grandkids to muscle them back into their yearly storage home in the attic.  Sigh.

 

We noticed later in the afternoon that Corey and Janell decided to do the same with their decorations, at least with their outside lights.  At one point, Janell came over and presented us with a light clip – the kind you use to attach the glittering luminaries to the eaves.  Apparently, I missed one when I was pulling them down.  She noticed it, and once she notices something like that, she just can’t un-see it.  So she took it upon herself to liberate it from its solitary perch.  Thanks, Janell.

 

After watching some college football, the time came for us to be heading over to Nathan and April’s for a New Year’s Day dinner.  They slaved all day over a grand meal of ham and black-eyed peas and cabbage.  Very yummy stuff.  They invited several friends over as well, so there were even three or four youngsters flitting about.  Apparently, someone felt that a side dish was in order to go with all the traditional New Year’s fare.  So before long a pizza delivery car rolled up.  Add that to your traditional holiday fare.

 

Oh, and there may or may not have been some fireworks being set off in the street nearby.  Very pretty.  And very loud. 

 

Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 

Father, thank you for friends and family and friends who are like family, for us and for our kiddos.  Amen.