Thursday December 27, 2007

    Well I’m back after a great Christmas at Mom & Dad’s.  I headed to King Friday after work.  I got unloaded.  Then Dad, Mary Etta (Grandmother Gentry), Mary Ann and I went to K&W for supper.  (Mom had a Christmas party with work.)  Saturday I did laundry and took it easy.  It was a nice quiet day.  Sunday was busy.  I went to church with Mom & Dad.  After church, we got food together and headed to the Gentry family reunion.  It was a good time talking and reconnecting with extended family that I only see once a year.  Sunday night was our traditional Dec. 23 night.  Mom makes pizza, we watch the George C. Scott version of “A Christmas Carol” and fold bulletins for the Christmas Eve services.  Well this year we had a packed house with Mary Etta, Mary Ann, Joe & Kathy, Beth, Jennifer & Chris.  We enjoyed it.  But since Dad is not head usher anymore we didn’t have to fold bulletins.
    Christmas Eve was busy but good.  A lot of the family had breakfast out.  Then I washed and cleaned Mary Etta’s car.  Mom & Dad and I went to the church and took one load of stuff.  Then we got ready and brought the rest of the stuff.  Mom does a meal for the choir.  That way they can eat and relax in between services.  After we got it set up, I headed over to the sanctuary.  I helped Dad user.  As busy as it is,  serving on Christmas Eve is a blessing.  It makes it Christmas for me.  After the choir headed in to the second service, Mom & Dad and I packed up.  We then headed down to Mary Etta’s for a late supper and opened gifts.  It was different because we missed my cousin Cliff and his fiancee Amy.  He is in the Navy and had duty and tests and could not come in for the holiday.  It was hard to get to sleep that night.  I was tired but worked up.
    Christmas day was nice.  Mom & Dad and I opened gifts.  The we ate breakfast with Mary Etta & Mary Ann.  Then we headed down to Lexington.  We spent the day with the Allred side of the family.  It was great.  We had all the family in.  We had a good day eating, opening gifts and relaxing.  It was great to spend time with Grandmother, Roger & Karen, Donna & Harley, Wes & Kristi and Adam.  At the end of the day we went and looked at Harley’s lights and some other lights.  Then we headed home.
    Yesterday, I did some laundry and packed up.  We had a dinner of leftovers.  The we took down Mary Etta’s tree and decoration.  We spend the rest of the evening relaxing around the house.  I headed out this morning.  I got home and unpacked.  I did some clean up around the house and just took it easy.
    I’m really thankful to the Lord for the sweet time with family over the break.  I got some good gifts and I enjoyed giving to my family.  But the blessing was remembering and glorifing Christ.  I know I’m richly blessed with my family.  I’m so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be apart of the family I’m in.  I love them all and look forward to sharing them with the wife and kids the Lord has for me down the road (when ever that will be).  My cup overflows.  I pray that your Christmas was a great time as well!