A Christmas Whirlwind

Blog Post About Winter 2020

The cards you all sent made the best decorations in 2020! It was such a blessing to be remembered by so many and our plain-looking tree thanks you :)

We went to church for Christmas Eve, and then we came home and Kylie and Karis treated us to our own "food board." We weren't able to have all of our overseas friends come by for the Christmas story and some American food, and they were missed.

On Christmas morning, Keira read us the Messiah's birth story from Luke 2.

I don't have a picture of Caleb because I think I missed him opening the few he had. He had decided to forego most gifts so that he could buy parts for and build his own computer. 

That evening (on the 25th), we all loaded in the car to drive 2.5 hours to my parents' house to celebrate Christmas with them and other family member that could make it.

Kylie and my sister-in-law put this "board" together. In reality, these are the kinds of foods we have always eaten and snacked on at Christmas and other times with family...for years. 

I was just thinking the term charcuterie board was something new invented to describe what we had been doing for years. Nope.

The French came up with this in the 15th century. "Chair" means "flesh" and "Cuit" means "cooked." It basically translates as "pork-butcher shop." Their shops also included the pig's internal organs, which I'm thankful has gotten removed from our boards in America.

In French, the one preparing the meat is called a Charcutier.

So just like Solomon in his great wisdom reminds us, "There is nothing new under the sun."

The cousins that were able to make it sat at the "kids' table" for dinner. 

Who doesn't love sitting at the kids' table, right?

Things like this happen at the kids' table :)

This is my son on the right and his cousin (12 days older) on the left.

They decided to try some hot sauce called "Da' Bomb" my dad had around the house.

The sweating, moaning, and pain continued for quite some time (and probably later, if you know what I mean).

When Kylie returned back to college, she found a youtube video showing that the hot sauce these boys tried was the third hottest in this particular hot wing contest.

Yes, these are things that happen at the "kids' table." :)

We only stayed two nights with my parents because we needed to go see the other grandparents and more cousins on the 27th. 

One of the many benefits of the grandparents living in Waco is that we can go see the Chip and Joanna Gaines empire almost anytime we want. We hadn't gone in few years so we drove over to see all of the new additions like this chapel. The crowds were really low because of Christmas, plus there was rain in the forecast.

We also took advantage of other "Waco-things" like the store near the Dr. Pepper museum.

S'mores by the fire was a nice ending to the day.

And the next morning, a few of us got up and went running/walking downtown.

Covid + Christmas made for a very quiet, enjoyable morning.

We knew it was important to see both sides of the family because we are rarely, if ever, in America during Christmas anymore. So even though this was a whirlwind of a trip, it was good!

Locked In?

On May 10, 2020, we decided to do some "talking" as we walked around the old city. 

This particular day, our "talking" was answered, and we met a family, which started some Good-news chain of events.

There weren't a ton of people out, but it was so nice to be outside.

And on any given day, I normally wouldn't have taken pictures flowers, but I saw these on my photo roll and realized I must have just been really excited to get out and be in "nature" this particular day.

May 10, 2020

As if "lockdown" wasn't enough, Caleb decided to go for "locked in."

The story, as I understand it, is that Caleb, Doug, and Karis were in the kitchen, 

and Caleb told Karis he didn't want her to leave, so he locked the door.

Karis said she was leaving and walked over to simply unlock the key in the door.

Caleb told her if she got closer, he would throw the key under the door...

and that is exactly what he did.

He tried using a pen and a toothbrush (as evidenced in the picture) to get the key but to no avail.

That's when the hollering started.

We were upstairs, but eventually we heard them, and Keira saved the day.

I was laughing too hard to help, but I decided to document it with a picture.

May 17, 2020

 

Texas and More

I had the opportunity to take the girls back this summer so they could attend ballet camp in Mississippi again.  This camp is so instrumental to their spiritual life and dancing skills, so we try to make it a priority for them to be able to attend. 

This year, we went a month ahead of time so Kylie and I could visit colleges.  

But first, "Hamilton."

Kylie had a doctor's appointment for her knee in Austin, so we took advantage of the fact, and ordered tickets for the musical we had all been dying to see for quite some time.

June 9, 2019

We educated my mother on the musical on the ride there.  It was nice to share this experience with her.

Second need, a driving permit.

Kylie had completed the necessary hours online to apply for a permit, so off we headed to the county seat.

And wouldn't you know it, Texas had a gift waiting for us beside the road in true Texas fashion.

The rest of the ride was beautiful, though.

Mission Accomplished!

 June 11, 2019

Next, Karis reunited with her oldest friend and stayed with her for a few weeks while Kylie and I visited campuses.

June 13, 2019 

 June 14, 2019

Kylie and I headed off through northeast Texas, across Arkansas, and on to Nashville, with Kylie driving!

In Nashville, we stayed with a friend we met at our training 10 years ago preparing to go to Africa.

Since Kylie has decided to go to school in Nashville, it makes me happy to know our friend is there if Kylie needs anything.

After touring the school in Tennessee, we traveled ALL the next day back to Flower Mound to stay with my brother and sister-in-law for one night before touring North Texas (my sister-in-law's alma mater) the next day.

After one more night, we traveled to West Texas, where we were met with this stunning sunset driving into Canyon, Texas.

The next morning, they were expecting us for our tour.

After the tour, we headed down to Waco where Karis met us, and we spent a couple of nights with Doug's parents.


Then, we drove back to my hometown for two nights.

The girls finishing an afternoon run/stroll.

Seeing friends one last time.

Seeing some cousins one last time.

Then back to the airport so the girls could fly to Mississippi for ballet camp.



I stayed with my parents four more days before heading back over to the Middle East.

It was the fastest month of my life!

A Walk to the Fruit Stand

I thought I'd take you on a walk to the vegetable/fruit stand today.  

The one I frequent the most is right across eight busy lanes from my neighborhood.

We live on the road across the street that runs between those two tall buildings (behind the left palm tree).

If you look to the far right, you can see the foot bridge.  This is what I choose to use most days instead of playing Frogger with traffic.

Here's a better picture of the foot bridge.

Then I go down those covered stairs next to that building construction.

And walk to the corner (where the dirt pile is).

When I cross the street, this is what welcomes me.

Isn't that beautiful?

I love all the colors.

The bags are hanging from the tree branches, so you just fill all the individual sacks you want, and then take them to the blue scale which is on the ground in the front right hand side of the picture.

A man totals up what you owe him; you pay; and you walk home happy.