Outside Looking In

Well, Christmas has passed, it was wonderful as ever. One of my favorite things about Christmas is decorating the house, for me that means exterior lighting. Every year I am a mix of satisfied and dissatisfied at my efforts, and most years involve trips to Home Depot for 50% off lights after the holiday has passed, this year was no exception. I have big aspirations for next year!

Inevitably, I wander out during the darkness of night, to admire the illumination cast upon our house. I remember doing it at every house we have ever had except for the one in Georgia, because we were in Phoenix for Christmas that year. I stand there and take in the view for a while silently, alone, reflecting not on the work it took to do, but on how lovely it looks, and how warm it is inside the home I gaze upon, how grateful I am for its walls and what they contain. You pass so many homes that look lovely and inviting from the outside, and you wonder who lives there, if their lives are a reflection of the house they live in. Often homes, like humans, project one thing but hide another. Our walls, be them brick or proverbial hide the secrets of what lies behind.

I will tell you behind our walls there was warmth and love. There was at times anger and sorrow and things all families and people deal with, but I love our home not because of how it looks, but how it feels to be inside of it, with all my family, living a life that is so good I couldn’t have imagined it when I was younger. We are blessed by the Lord to have such a home and your mother and I are blessed to have you. Now, we might have had the Lords blessing, but never forget how hard your mother and I worked for it as well. We worked on our love, and we worked to provide, and it has been worth every effort.

I made terrible mistakes for two of you this year and got you bikes and Razor dirtbike/ vespas for your birthday- which left me completely out of Christmas ideas. I have to be careful not to spoil you as it is my natural inclination. I really want to get you everything you want, but that doesn’t make for the best outcome in adults most of the time… Quinn you ended up with all things Frozen related, dresses, dolls, and candy. Deacon we got you a Red Ryder BB gun, and some Bakugan figurines you like. Cora you got a makeup kit, and some other art and science projects. You three were excited as ever, and Christmas is always so much fun, time with the Grandparents, and time with one another. I really enjoy the pause at the end of the year to catch my breath before the intensity of January with work.

For New Year’s we once again went up to the Bishops cabin in Forest Lakes outside Payson. This year the Coberly family went with us, Cora you enjoyed having Hanna and Wes to play with as they are closer to your age. Deacon, you, Quinn and Cash spent most of your time together, and a lot of it was eating icicles you continually had me fetching from the roof. We also got to do some more serious sledding this year, and had two feet of snow to do it in. Cora you were super brave and took on some hills I was impressed by. Deacon and Quinn, you guys had a much better time as mom got you set up with the right gear to keep you dry and warm. It is a huge blessing to be able to spend time with great friends in beautiful places. Mom made a standing rib roast one night, and we all lit of fireworks in the snow on new year’s eve, the dads smoked some cigars I brought and it was just a great 3 days. Friends are such a blessing in life, and enrich it so much. I hope each of you are as blessed as we have been in our friends.

Deacon- you are so sweet to your sisters, the other day we were coming home from church, I forget why Quinn was not with us, but you made sure to bring her home donuts. When we go out for guys nights you always save some of your ice cream for your sister. You have always been such a kind boy, and it makes me so proud. By the way for guys nights we go to Smash Burger, and lately to Castles and Coasters to do the go carts, bumper boats, and play in the arcade. We have also been playing catch more and more, Grandma Gail got you a mitt and ball for Christmas, and I feel like I was late to getting you playing. You have really caught up quickly though, when you are focused you have quite the arm… until you get really silly, then its wild pitches all over the yard. Lately you are into Bakugan- some kind of small figurines that roll up into balls and when you drop them turn into different kind of creatures. You also just started being interested in Pokemon, and though you were big on Beyblades, you haven’t played with them lately. You have a few tennis lessons under your belt now as well which I am excited about, you were very nervous before the first one but you are liking it more and more now. Love you, always.