Christmas

Now for the last of the blogs today.  Christmas.  Clif and I went out looking at lights.  We went to Baldwin Park looking for the street that had Santa and his reindeer flying across the street from one house to another that was featured on the news.  We never did find it, but we saw this one house.  It was so unique, we just had to take a picture.



Stephen and Amber spent the day with us for Christmas.  That was a special treat because they usually have to work!  We had an early start because we were going to Clearwater for lunch with the extended family.





Once we were at Barbara and Pete's, it was time to catch up on the happenings of everyone we hadn't seen in a while, and to meet the newest addition to the family...Oriana.  She was born in October.





I had bought some snowballs from Hallmark.  I thought it might be fun to have a snowball fight.  Only a few of us participated.  I don't know what the bah-humbug is, but I had fun!



Braydon was taking it all in.  He was not quite sure what to make of this.





Krista and Jake were ganging up on me.



That is until Jake moved to the balcony with Braydon.



They took a stash of snowballs then pelted them at Krista and I.  It was easier for them to throw down than for us to throw up to them.  They had the guardrail for cover!



By the looks of this picture, you can't determine the weather.  Is it cold, or is it warm!!!!




Unwrapping presents is always fun.  Barbara and Pete were quite the hosts because everyone had a gift. :)

Starting at the front and winding around to the back, counter clockwise... Maura (Claudia's mom from Caracas), Claudia, Oriana, Krista, Grandpa Harty, Stephen, Amber, Mark, Jennifer.




Clockwise from the floor... Krista, Liz, Vince, Braydon, Diane, Jeff, Jill.



Annabelle and Jake on the right.



Content with Amber.



Had enough by the time Diane and I got our hands on her!



We had a wonderful visit.  On the way home, I could see in the mirror it was a pretty sunset, but there were low lying clouds in the gulf.  But tried to get a nice shot from the moving truck anyway.



We were home by 7:15.  Clif had to be to work by 3 am for a concrete pour.  Stephen, Amber, and I went out for the evening.  The best present for me was spending time with them.  It's so rare.  We went to their apartment so I could see their dogs, cat, and decorations, then we headed off to the movies and watched Night of The Museum: The Mystery of the Tomb.  We had good laughter.  I went to bed very content because of the many blessings bestowed that day. :)

Today I look back on this Advent/Christmas season. I had to trust, wait, prepare, and do things a bit differently than in years past.  And when Christmas came, I realized God had prepared for me to see Him everywhere!  I guess I  just needed to open my eyes and see the Goodness of the Lord!