We had a GREAT Christmas and enjoyed these last few days in a big way. Here's a quick rundown:
- We had Sunday brunch at the new Chiquola Club with our great friends Mike & Ann Marcie. That was a treat.
- We drove late Sunday afternoon to Lexington, SC, to spend the night with our friends, the Lows. We took back roads the entire way and it was a great drive. Got to see lots of cows (which my wife loves) and listened to a lot of Christmas music.
- At Jim and Susan's house, we laughed and laughed as we always do when we're together. They've been the ultimate friends for 15 years now and I am so thankful how God has sustained our relationship. Claire was only a few months old when we met and Matt was five. Now he's a junior in college and she's in high school. Wow --- we've been through a lot together. We've vacationed together and drank loads of coffee together and cooked some great meals together. Friends are a rare treasure and we treasure them.
- Monday we spent the day with Yvonne's family in Columbia and it was a lot of fun as well. Yvonne's parents are in their 80s now and while Mom's vision is weakening a good bit and Pop doesn't get around as well as he used to, they are an amazing couple and a great example of how the Lord can keep two people in deep love --- even after almost 60 years of marriage.
- On our way home Christmas eve night, we stopped at my Aunt and Uncle's house in West Pelzer, SC. This is a family tradition with all of Mama's family. It's always a lot of fun too. My cousin Kelley and her husband were home from Seattle. It was great to see them.
- We ended the night making Jesus' birthday cake (an annual tradition since Claire's first Christmas). The pre-made icing we were going to use had expired two years earlier. So, we made some homemade chocolate icing using water instead of milk because we were out of milk. It tasted great and most people probably wouldn't know the difference! We read the Christmas story by candlelight (another tradition) and then off to bed about midnight.
- Christmas morning I built a fire in the fireplace and we began opening presents about 7:30 am. The three of us had a great time watching each other open our gifts. Claire was shocked by a few of her gifts. That's always fun! I got some great new kitchen stuff. Yvonne got a new camera. We are blessed beyond measure.
- The afternoon was spent at Mom & Dad's with all the family. Lunch was great. My family laughs like idiots opening gifts. Josh had a friend there and she probably left thinking we are a bunch of crazy people --- which is accurate. It really is a funny time because there's so much joy and laughter. The gifts are fun but it really is about just being together.
- Ended the day stopping by to see our friends the Marcie's. They've been a huge blessing in our lives over the last six months and so it was great to spend some time with them. God's done a huge work in their lives and we've been affected by that as well.
I didn't intend to write all of this. But there you have it. Now I need to get busy cleaning it all up. 2008 is coming!
