December
Christmas time is here! I love
this time of year. We began with my mom’s birthday and pulling out the
Christmas decorations. It was so much fun to get everything out and to put up
the tree. Tannin got to help hang the ornaments and Alana laid under the tree
staring up at the lights. The hard part was keeping the ornaments on the tree!
We followed Tannin around for the next couple of weeks retrieving ornaments and
placing them back on the tree.
We started the Walk Through
Bethlehem and had a blast. After the five nights were done we were really tired
and glad it was over but we did enjoy it. We were assigned a time to arrive and
would relieve the Mary and Joseph that were there before us. Alana wasn’t too
sure what to think about it all. She really just wanted to sleep and found it
hard with all the people around her talking and singing but she would
eventually pass out every night. They had so many groups coming through that we
were reciting our lines every four minutes or so for an hour and a half! One
time, the groups were 2 minutes apart! So many people came through and heard
the gospel. They would easy get a thousand through in a night. The groups would
start off talking to the Romans at the gates of the city and then slowly work
their way through the streets talking to vendors as they went. Every night
there was over 280 actors in the streets. We had extras that just walked and
talked to people here and there. There were centurions who would harass any “Jews”
that crossed their paths. There were vendors who would hawk their wares and
children who ran and played. Everything was lit by fires and torches….it was
really cool.
We traveled up for a family
Christmas party in Northern Alabama and had a blast. Richard’s new job had a
party as well. Tannin and Alana got to tag along for some steak and a really
good Reese cup cake. Oh yeah, Richard got a new job. His boss at the
construction company was moving the business to South Carolina and was shutting
down the office here. Thankfully Richard was able to pick up a job on just the
first day of searching. He visited Woodham’s Cabinetry shop, dropped off his
resume, had an interview, and got a call back the next day. He started working
with them that next Monday. Sometimes God moves quickly J
Christmas day finally came.
Richard and I have been so excited to give Tannin his presents and to see his
excitement. He got a Spiderman t-shirt and undies (we’re potty training) from
mommy and daddy and DinoTrux figurines from Gramma and Papaw. He asks to wear
the undies every day and won’t let his DinoTrux out of his sight. Success!
Alana got some stacking cups and duckies from mommy and daddy and a walker from
Gramma and Papaw. Our little man ate so much candy! The floor was littered with
wrappers. Since then we’ve really cut back on the amount he’s allowed. Mommy
and Daddy are sacrificing themselves and removing the temptation from
him…by…eating…it.
Richard made me a beautiful
wooden necklace and earrings. He turned the beads himself and painted them the
colors of our birth stones. He also made a little jewelry box for them to go
in. It was all beautifully done and the time and skill he spent on them was
evident. I thought it was funny though because I also made him a necklace.
Funny how our minds think alike. J
His was on a leather thong with three brass pendants with mine, Tannin, and
Alana’s initials on them and a small wood pendant that had an oak leaf on it.
(We’ve been reading the Ranger’s Apprentice together. If you’ve read the books,
then you’ll understand.) Richard also made a Dalek (from Dr. Who) out of a salt
shaker for Garrett. He was very proud of it, as he should be; it turned out
great!
We also got the chance to meet
Shelby’s fiancé’s parents. If you didn’t get that update, my sister is getting
married! We’re really excited for her and Lewis. J
The last thing we did this month
was a date for me and Richard. We left BOTH of the kids with Gramma and Papaw
and went out to dinner. It was so great to get away for two hours and just be
together. It’s funny how the simple act of talking is so sweet when there is no
baby in your arms to distract you. The kids had a great time and were very
happy to see us when we got home. J
I think that wraps up our year.
