Tales of Holiday Cheer

We hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.

AUNT HELEN. Back at Thanksgiving I reported that Aunt Helen had fallen again and broke her wrist. She is at NHC Healthcare in Springfield now and I stopped by to see her the other day. I really admire her for the attitude she keeps. I know it is hard to keep a smile on her face and be cheerful but she does that every time I see her. It is most humbling when I think about the things I complain about.

A FUN OUTING. Wednesday we all went to Opry Mills mall (well, Nate stayed with Pauline). As a Christmas treat we splurged and saw The Polar Express at the IMAX theater in 3D. Ben tried to catch a few snowflakes and the train coming to a stop with the cow catcher just inches from our noses was very impressive.

After the film was over we walked over to Opryland Hotel to look at all the Christmas decorations. Vicki said she read they began decorating for the season in August and I can see why. Of course the kids wanted to look at a much faster pace than we did. We'd call them back to see something and they would say, "Yeah, that's neat. Let's go see what's up here."

WHITE CHRISTMAS. Here in Tennessee we dream about a white Christmas more than we enjoy them. Occasionally we get a skiff of snow but not even enough to cover the grass. This year is different. It rained all day Wednesday. Shortly after we got home from Opry Mills the rain started freezing on contact. Our back porch was iced over and SLICK. I helped Nate slide into the house and I've never heard him giggle so hard. Vicki had such a hard time getting in she took her slick soled shoes off to improve her traction. An hour or so later the rain/sleet mixture changed to snow. With 2 inches of snow/ice on the ground and the ice coating the trees we woke up to a winter wonderland the next morning.

Actually we had a mild ice storm. People west of here (like in Clarksville) had it worse. We were lucky not to lose power except for a couple of hours on Christmas Day (Saturday), and that was due to a car accident. Our next door neighbors, Jimmie and Suzanne Pitt, lost power Wednesday night and didn't get it back until lunch time on Christmas Day (and then their lights went back off when ours did). Mom and Aunt Mar lost power due to ice laden power lines Wednesday night but their power was restored the next morning.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY. Kenny and Lori always host a Christmas party on the 23rd. They postponed it due to the weather, rescheduling it for Sunday night. Then they had a water pipe to freeze and burst causing them the reschedule it for New Year's Eve. Unfortunately we won't get to go this year.

CHRISTMAS EVE. In spite of the weather we had our Christmas Eve service at church. Around 200 people slid in to worship together. We sang Joy To The World at the end of the service. As the last note dies away Nate started clapping and yelled out "YEEAA!" Everyone laughed and turned to see the joyful boy. After church we all went over to Pauline's house for supper.

CHRISTMAS DAY FUN. Of course we had an exciting morning at our house on Christmas Day. The kids had a really big time. Jenna got a kit of magic tricks and a wand, a guitar, a movie and books among other things. Ben's presents included a bicycle, a Buzz Lightyear spaceship tent and a Viewmaster. Nate got a tricycle, a Sit-N-Spin and a Wiggles guitar (from a show on the Disney channel).

After opening all the presents we got ready to go to Mrs. Connie Swann's for brunch. What was so nice about this year is that the kids could go sledding down the hill behind her house. Poor Ben was standing at the bottom of the hill when someone came down on an unsteerable plastic disk and knocked his feet out from under him. He hit the packed ice face first. This slowed him down for a short time. Jenna enjoyed the sledding also but she sure isn't the daredevil in the family.

Nate went sledding in a plastic, 20 gallon storage container. We sat Nate inside and Mac Swann pushed him down the hill and I caught him at the bottom before he went into the creek. I think he had fun as all I could see above the rim of the container was a red hat and two rows of teeth. If I didn't get him back up the hill fast enough he would kick the sides to hurry me up.

That afternoon we came home for naps so as to recharge for supper at Aunt Mar's house. All in all it was a very big day.

MORE HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS. We went to church on Sunday. The kids spent the rest of the day playing with their new toys. Jonathan, Sheila, Kelsey and Taylor Leach drove up to visit during the evening. They are in from Connecticut to visit their family. We had a great time catching up with friends from college.

TRAFFIC CIRCLE. Because of the ice we are letting the kids ride their bikes through the house. They are really good drivers having learned to steer carefully so they won't mash their fingers between the handlebars and the door frames. They make the circle around the hallway, back hall, Nate's room and our room. They even pretend to be throwing newspapers on a paper route. Strange thing, they must think they are in Great Britain as you have to keep left so you will go with the flow of traffic.

Joe

P.S. Ben, who is sitting beside me here says, "I'll agree with that." When I asked him what this says he said, "I don't know, I can't read."

Coasting Into Christmas

Now that the choir musical is over I feel like we are coasting along. This just goes to show how our community is changing but we decided to have to musical a week earlier than normal because so many of our choir members aren't from around here and travel home to be with family for Christmas. I like it because I can catch my breath before Christmas day.

We hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas!

OFFICE PARTY. My office had its Christmas party at lunch on Friday. We went to a local Mexican restaurant and played Dirty Santa after the meal. It just reminded me how blessed I am to work with those people. My work environment is more like a family than anything else and that is very rare.

SCHOOL'S OUT. Tomorrow is our last day of school for the fall semester. We get a two week break and since I am ahead on my contract I am going to take the whole time off. It's going to be a lot of fun!

Jenna's Christmas party is tomorrow and Vicki is one of the moms organizing it. Ben's party at Mom's Day Out was on Friday. Unfortunately I missed it due to my office party.

QUALITY TIME. I can't remember if I have mentioned Jenna's school bus situation before but she has been catching the bus at Aunt Mar's this year. We haven't felt good about having the bus stop here since the view for drivers coming from Springfield is blocked by trees. Vicki is usually at Aunt Mar's in the afternoon to pick Jenna up, but about one day a week we let Jenna visit with Aunt Mar until I come home from work. I think they both enjoy the visit and I usually find them watching TV when I get there. I'm glad they get to have that time together.

CHRISTMAS EXCITEMENT. When I was little I used to get really excited over Christmas. Of course, the days seemed to be a lot longer to me then, but I remember the anticipation building for weeks. Jenna and Ben don't seem to be excited like that. I'm not saying that they aren't excited or any less so than I was as a boy. I think it is because they have so many more activities. We had a pretty full schedule when I was little but not quite as busy as they have. I'm sure having siblings contributes to that as well. I just noticed that because I remember constantly asking how many days until Christmas. Our kids don't ask that question.

LAST PRETTY DAY. I guess that headline sounds ominous but Saturday was really pretty with the high around 50° F. I worked out in the yard most of the day. I got all of the leaves cleaned up. I call it the last pretty day because yesterday's high was 20° F and given our schedule for the next few weeks I probably won't have a chance to work out in the yard even if we have a mild day for a while. That's the bad thing about going off of Daylight Saving Time.

Anyway, on Saturday I had come into the house for something and when I was going back outside Nate wanted to come too. Since I was into a chore where I couldn't watch him he had to stay inside. After I closed the door Vicki thought she heard him say, "Daddy ow-sigh, I wanna go wi Daddy" She couldn't get him to repeat it.

LATE NIGHT READER. I went into Jenna and Ben's room just a few moments ago. He had gotten out of bed to look for his bear and I was pretty sure it was in bed with him. When I walk in I catch him looking at a book...without any lights on. Oh what little boys will do to stay awake.

Joe

Advent Is Upon Us

Has it been eight days already? This week has flown by, and no wonder with the schedule. But I'd rather be busy with friends than sitting at home bored.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC. I've been to two practices this week. Last Tuesday night the A/V crew and those with speaking parts were asked to attend. Wednesday night was the last dress rehearsal. Their musical was performed Sunday night and they did a wonderful job. Now there are only ten choir practices until the Easter musical.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO VICKI. Vicki celebrated her 35th birthday Friday. We didn't get to do anything special because I was in Nashville all day for some training and got home just in time to leave for the church choir's Christmas party.

I did ask Vicki what she wanted for her birthday and she said she wanted me to cook her supper. When I asked which restaurant she wanted me to cook at she said, "Our kitchen." I don't like to cook. I don't even like to pour cereal. But I did it, with some help. You see, the secretary at my office, Sherri, is a really good cook. Now before you think I cheated read on.

Last Tuesday I made lunch for everyone at my office. Sherri and I decided on an easy menu for Vicki's birthday supper and she supervised my attempt at cooking the meal. I did all the cutting, pouring, stirring, etc. I was very glad I did this as I had a lot more confidence when we finally had Vicki's birthday meal last night. Unfortunately I cut my finger while cutting up the ham. It didn't hurt but it bleed profusely making the preparations a real challenge. Oh yeah, the menu: Potato soup (the thick kind with ham and cheese in it) and grilled cheese sandwiches (I have a history of burning these). It wasn't fancy but at least it was supper.

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK. That's what the Church at Grace Park in White House calls their community Christmas event. They decorated their campus for a Dickens style Christmas and opened their doors to all. We went Saturday evening. The kids enjoyed a train ride, story time, and a walk through toy land. That was all we had time to do before Nate was ready for bed. It was a lot of fun.

KEEPING A STRAIGHT FACE. Sometimes it's just hard to do that. Ben had a hard time keeping still in church Sunday and wouldn't listen to Vicki when she corrected him (I was running sound). I understand how hard it is for a boy his age to keep still so I had a talk with him later because I feel it is important for him to learn this now. I almost lost it when he looked up at me with really big eyes and said, "Dad, I really try to be good but sometimes I just can't hold on to it." Since he didn't appear to try too hard this time I said," Well, I suggest you find the handles on that thing and hang on for dear life next week."

COMPUTER TRAINING. I mentioned the training I attended above. It was a two day thing on the Linux operating system. I really enjoyed it and was very impressed with what I saw. Those of you who enjoy working with computers might want to keep your eye on Linux.

ANOTHER TEN YEAR MILESTONE. I forgot to mention this last week but it was ten years ago on the 2nd that we bought my truck. It has 141,000 miles and is going strong!

Joe

A Pretty Fall Week

We have had the prettiest fall week this past week. It has been cool but not real cold. The days have been really pleasant. I just wish it didn't get dark so early so I could get some outdoor work done on the week days.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THINKING. All out of the blue the other day Ben said to Pauline, "I need a wife." She asked him, "Why is that? Do you need somebody to cook for you?" He replied, "Yeah, Mom and Dad say I can't marry you or Jenna."

CHRISTMAS PARADE. Cross Plains had its second annual Christmas parade Saturday. We were in the van when I told Ben where we were going. He said, "Oh! They'll throw out lots of candy. Dad, we need to go back and get our Trick or Treat bags!" The parade was one of several Christmas in Cross Plains activities scheduled for this weekend.

A FUN RIDE. Mr. Larry Pinson was shelling soybeans in the field behind our house Saturday. Ben wanted to ride on the combine so I took him out there and he rode for about 30 minutes. When I got him off he was one happy boy. I asked Mr. Larry if Ben said anything but he said Ben kept pretty quiet. As we were walking back to the house Ben told me he didn't say a word, "because I still pretty shy Dad."

A FUN AFTERNOON. After church yesterday Jenna went out to lunch with Pauline, Mom and Aunt Mar. Afterwards they attended a tea party with Lottie Moon and then went on a home tour sponsored by the Cross Plains Heritage Commission. (For those of you who aren't Baptist, Lottie Moon was a Baptist missionary in China back in the 1800s. Our Christmas season offering to support international missions is named in her honor. This tea party was a fun way to raise missions awareness for little girls.)

MORE CHRISTMAS IN CROSS PLAINS. The rain has moved in as of yesterday. Our church choir was scheduled to sing on the sidewalk in Cross Plains as part of the weekend festivities. The weather caused us to move inside the Methodist church. They sang some selections from the musical they will be performing next Sunday evening and did a great job!

WAY TO GO MORGAN. Speaking of Christmas music, yesterday morning at church my cousin, Morgan Swann, had a part in the service. She came on stage dressed as an expecting Mary. When she got in position the music started and she sang "Breath of Heaven" in sign language while a lady from the choir sang it vocally. Morgan, I was really proud of you!

TIS THE SEASON TO DECORATE AND DECORATE AND DECORATE. Okay, so all of our indoor decorations are up and we spent Saturday afternoon putting our nativity set up out in the yard. We also changed our decorations on the outside of the house. The greenery and bows we used to hang on our front columns have been replaced with branch garland with bows draped around our front porch and upstairs dormer just under the gutters. We have also put wreaths on all our forward facing windows.

Tonight we went over to Aunt Mar's and put up their Christmas tree. Vicki also packed the chili she was making for our supper so they wouldn't have to bother with fixing their supper. Tomorrow night we tackle Pauline's tree. Maybe this will wind the decorating phase up.

CAUGHT RED HANDED. Nate likes ornaments. He also knows he is not supposed to take them off the tree. Do you think this knowledge stops him? Vicki and I have both caught him holding an ornament. When he is discovered he tosses the ornament and runs. Vicki had better luck than I did as the ornament she caught Nate with was made of cloth. I had to go get the broom and dust pan.

Joe