The Happiest of Holidays

In many ways, it could be called the Hubbub of the Holidays but we packed so much into these two weeks -- it was indeed the happiest of times.   Seeing Christmas through the eyes of our Grands is always a joy.

No way could I do my usual full-scale decorating, so that left me time to focus on what it really important. .  . the revelation of God . . . the Eternal God come to live among us.  

We heard some moving messages at Redeemer Covenant related to the Presence come to live among us.

We began the season with the kids Christmas Choir performance - on Sunday, Dec. 9

Wed the 17th, I raced from giving finals to my high schoolers to Jack's Preschool presentation of the Christmas Story in which Jack was a Cow.  And a cute cow he was.  Jack had all four grandparents there -- as Jim and Jan had come early.  

                              
Jim and Jan celebrated their 50th anniversary on Dec. 21st with Mat and Bethany and some special surprises. The 3 Goodletts slept over and then on Saturday morning, we hosted our Family Holiday Brunch with Jim and Jan and Mat, Bethany and the kids.  Monday morning the 24th  J & J took off for Denver to have Christmas with Marshall and Katie.

Christmas Eve we attended the Candlelight service at Redeemer with the family and then back to our house for dinner and gifts.

Christmas morning was all about gifts and new puppy and a lovely Christmas dinner that night at Bethany and Mat's.

Meanwhile in Denver our two CO cuties were enjoying Christmas with Grammy and Granddad Good.  

On the 29th we headed to OKC to meet Marshall and Katie and babysit while they hunted for a house.  We were able to stay at an restored home with airbnb., in a neighborhood Marshall likes to call gentrified.

Charlie had a huge case of "PawPaw" the whole time and loved wrestling with him and crawling up in his lap.

The house Marshall rented was right in the Plaza District of OKC where lots of restaurants are opening up.  Having lived in OKC for four years he was so excited to see all the changes.  (We forget he's always working and doesn't get to have much time off to connect with friends and eat out.)  He got a chance to try out a couple of places.

We wrapped up our trip with a stop at the Science Museum on New Year's day.   All too quickly it was time for Clara and Charlie to head back to Denver.

Don't know if this is where the Bell Family will call home in mid-summer -- but we enjoyed looking at neighborhoods they are exploring.