All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go

Some of my favorite vacations have been the ones spent at home. When we first moved to this city, it was just the 3 of us, and we spent a week exploring the area: making appointments with ourselves to tour certain attractions, see the sites and eat at the local restaurants. It was a great week of activity in the relative calm of our own home. We have spent this Christmas and New Year's season much the same way, and it has been a joy.

We've taken the girls to see Charlotte's Web -- twice now! We didn't mean to actually; we had tried to take the girls bowling one rainy afternoon, but before we could pay and pick up shoes, the youth pastor's daughter-turned superstar, Jessica Simpson was being broadcast half-naked, groping her husband under a waterfall at every station. It was probably a music video, but it looked like something else to us -- no. thank. you. *sigh* So, I guess we won't go bowling. That's too bad.

Another afternoon, Fifi and I went alone to see The Nativity. Remarkable really, considering we might get to the movies once every other year or so, depending on what is made available by Hollywood.

We managed some fellowship time at our home, and at the homes of friends this season. There was play and pageant; music day and memories, stories and scrumptous food; caroling and candy; and the humbling answer to our long-suffering prayer that the Lord would afford our girls some Godly "grandparent" types.

There was a return to decorating and cookie baking, the annual Christmas letter, family photo and cards after last year's season of malaise that failed to bring forth the new life for which it was suffered. And after 50 cards were mailed, 5 trickled in late, in reciprocity; Christmas guilt I guess.

We caroled for the neighbors this year...one verse of Silent Night for the sweet couple next door who were so thankful after hearing what the contemporary music movement in the Church has done to the traditional hymn, the LDS family that doesn't bother with the garments or the CTR rings, the widow who lost her husband last Christmas and the family that almost nobody else on the block will speak to -- they brought us cookies the next day.

And on Christmas morning there were gifts. Years from now, the gifts will be likely be forgotten, but the thankful reactions will not. I will always smile at the remembrance of the collective gasp of three young girls as they first lay eyes upon their new "Dolls From Different Lands." I won't forget how grateful Fifi was to receive all 8 Millie Keith books from the Life of Faith series -- and how frustrating it is to keep this girl in good books when she's cracked open Book 7 already, after only one week.

Darling is the sight of Cuddlebug watching Dumpling open the gift we arranged for her to give. Of course it was the miniature cardinals, nests and eggs that she's been "hint hinting" about for days! Funny is hearing Dumpling's sigh -- and not of relief -- at the sight of the 24-piece paper punch kit we gave her. Too much of a good thing, I guess. Who knew?

Delightful is the sound of Cuddlebug and her sisters making pretty music with her new color-coded handbells. She loves to be musical, and I think this will suit her well for now.

Memorable will be the time spent watching It's A Wonderful Life together by a roaring fire with hot chocolate and marshmallows; the rapt attention paid to PBS's Celtic Woman concert by three little girls dreaming of the day when they'll bloom with such beauty, and the gleeful grin that reached ear-to-ear as Fifi, alone, was invited to join us for New Year's Eve with Garrison Keelor. Her sisters were sound asleep, and she was sworn to secrecy.

Profound has been the reading and remembering of the glorious coming of Christ. It has sparked discussion, and this week been afforded more time for meditation. Best yet is His faithfulness to apply His Truth to the heart of one who gave out of her poverty this morning because, "If something happened to us and we were in need, I would want everyone to be as generous as they could be." Agape. I want to remember that conversation and the thing I saw that initiated it.

Finally, there have been the in-between times that have been spent doing the common but unusual: breakfast out at a French bistro, shopping for a kite out of season and seeing faith built in a little one whose prayer was finally answered, flying kites and playing softball on a perfectly beautiful December day followed up by frappuccinos for everyone at Starbucks.

I've spent more than a few moments this in-between week clearing out the clutter. I've integrated all our "living books" into one library, assigned sections and labeled each piece of historical literature with a tag denoting the year. Books are shelved chronologically in hopes that fewer will be missed as we return to the Ancients next year and start from the beginning again. Do. not. touch the books. If you want one, ask the librarian (that's me) and please don't try to reshelve the books; kindly leave them on the coffee table for the librarian (that's me) to sort and and replace.

Ahem.

But I would be robbing myself of a future chuckle if I failed to detail the lighter side of some of these moments. I don't want to forget all the fancy footwork that Dumpling and Cuddlebug have been practicing. This Christmas, Dumpling On Display twirled herself quite dramatically and basically threw herself into the tree. I saw it coming, and *lift head high* in one of my better moments, sat perfectly still and let the chips...or, um -- ornaments fall where they may. Jingle Bells!

Not to be out done, Cuddlebug's finest moment came when she lifted the top off her frappuccino and tried to coax the slushy dessert to her mouth. It was a little thick, and the physics of it all says, "Whoosh!" Before any of us knew what was happening, Cuddlebug was covered in creme-based peppermint mocha.

And Fifi, finding a rare opportunity to sit with peers during the Christmas Eve candlelight service, found herself swept onto the "stage" with the others to sing an accompanying recitative to Silent Night. She didn't know it, had never heard it, couldn't read it, but did a fine job of lip-synching.

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we'll play games or ride bikes and read books with the girls -- last chance to make a memory as this gift of time converges with the blessing of family.