Home for the Holidays

Ellie was enlisted.

One posed photo happened.Buck and Bill on the hill.

Photo Op at church

Heels well down.

Telescope assembly competition.

Handicapped after heavy meal.

Young enough to appreciate fruit fully.

We endeavor to influence our grandchildren toward horses.And our nieces.

Clancy went for a brief carriage ride.

Our Christmas greeting combined images taken by our good neighbor, Linda (of us) and Nathan of snow at Vista Verde.

Family portrait: Rosa, Fuddrucker & Dad Dillon

Nathan & Grace

The Christmas season this year was spent on our own turf for the first time in several years. It began with the Christmas program at our church. Hub and I were 'persuaded' to direct it. We went through three revisions of the script. Kevin worked overtime on the set. Then, the day before our 'dress rehearsal', he came down with the flu! I took the unfinished pieces to church and appealed to those who were there to rehearse. I need 'goose wings'; I need the 'barn' carried in from the trailer. The barn needs a roof. The roof needs some snow. The door needs some touching up...For an intense hour everyone went to work and the set got set. The play got rehearsed. I substituted for Kevin who had the lead role. Admittedly I ad libbed. After asking for assistance in directing, I frustrated the poor person trying to 'direct' me! But, we persevered and the play (once we showed the kids how to use microphones without touching them) came across quite well. Once that was done, I went home and went to bed (after realizing I was running 100 plus fever). The next day, Monday, I was home ill and Kevin drug himself out of bed to tackle the chores. He went back to work. I stayed home Tues and then returned to work on Weds (with just two days to try to get necessary things done before the 'break'.

We had invited family to come stay with us for Christmas. On Christmas eve and Christmas morning we were frantically cleaning, straightening and bringing order to our house before folks arrived. That, too, was accomplished. The LORD gave us strength, and folks came a couple of hours later than we'd anticipated. Mercifully!

The guys got to go shooting; the women stayed behind to get the meal ready for their return.

We gathered together (20 of us) to celebrate at the Fire Department (which has a pretty nice set up for large group meals). The meal was bountiful; everyone overate. They left too many leftovers! Each saying, 'I can't take that home; we shouldn't eat anymore!' So, we were left with enough to do the dinner all over, but there were lots fewer to partake!

I learned a lot from this undertaking (usually my sister or my Mom host these family afffairs).
1. be specific about what you want people to bring
2. scope out the seating in advance
3. capitalize on finger foods
4. root beer is the preferred beverage
5. accept help from all who offer it
6. plan a fun activity (not Monopoly; it takes way too long to play). I can't actually think of a single activity that would appeal to all. I am going to start looking for one for next year!
7. add two rooms to the house

Photos in this post were from the whole interim/break/holiday. There are none of the Christmas program (I was wearing too many hats to take any pictures).

Infancy of an idea

God didn't start with babies. He began with adults. They were created already capable of comprehending His character; hearing His voice; following His directions; knowing His love. This ability to know Him without upbringing is divine.

In our Sunday school lesson last week we were studying the creation of Man. God created Man: male and female He created them.

I was suddenly accosted by an idea I had never entertained before. Those who know me best will tell you that I give huge parties to entertain ideas. If you have never attended one; consider this an invitation!

God created Man (male and female) as adults. They were fully grown (past puberty) and they (like most of the creatures they were naming) were told to procreate and fill the earth with others of their kind; in their case Man Kind.

God could have done things entirely differently. In fact, He did. There are examples, even in His creation, of alternative means of reproduction. There are organisms that simply divide; they make more of themselves from themselves. That seems efficient. And so simple! No conflict. No arguing over who is in charge. Then, there are creatures that reproduce asexually. Even occasionally, a critter is male and female in one body. So, it isn't actually essential that there be two separate "parents" to have "offspring". Perhaps the point of parents is nurture? Well, what about animals that hatch out of eggs or come out of cocoons and never know their parents: turtles, butterflies, fish, flies, spiders?

Wait, some spiders DO know their parents.

I think I'm getting a bit off topic here. So, populating the earth could have been done without a need for males and females that merge and then produce a baby which must be nurtured if it is to survive.

Why did He do it this way? Ahah! There's the rub! Ponder that. Pause to contemplate what existence would be like without babies. I'll give you a moment to get the wolf spider out of your mind.

Scroll on down. What aspects of our relationship with God would be lost if there were no babies?

What purpose DO babies serve?
I know, you will say they are cute and cuddly and irresistible, but that assessment, in itself is odd when you actually look at it. What makes them cute, cuddly and worthy of self-sacrifice? How do they earn our devotion and attention? Babies are actually the most selfish creatures in existence. Yet, just by being so utterly helpless, they twang at our heartstrings. Why is that? I'm not being silly here. We don't feel the same pull at our core when we see snakes or lizards or turtles or flies newly born.

You'll say that those are not humans; that it would be unnatural to be inclined to care for them. True, but puppies, kittens, bunnies, lambs...aren't human either, but they are still considered cuddly, cute and irresistible. Why lambs and kids, but not wasps or toads?

Creatures which come into this world helpless and totally dependent on their parents fulfill an ordained purpose just being born. Unlike Adam and Eve, we enter this existence clueless. So much of what we come to realize about God is explained, illustrated, experienced and passed along in the progression from birth to new birth.

As with God's faithfulness, maternal devotion preserves the relationship even when other commitments change. Children exemplify an ongoing plea for emotional comfort and security: the need for a safe haven.
Babies have to be shown where to go for nourishment. As do we, spiritually. They model total dependency.
They are given opportunities to learn to learn in the minute details, a task at a time.
In route, they are given hands on instruction in how to design things, build things, fix things...
They are emboldened to touch other lives; to share their existence; to seek companionship.
First physically, then mentally, then SPIRITUALLY...

They learn the importance of having SOMEONE at your back when you face the unknown.
SOMEONE to hold you up so you have a whole new perspective.
SOMEONE willing to get dirty to keep you clean.
SOMEONE to show you how to walk in step and when to follow.
SOMEONE who seemingly leaves you unattended, but is actually keeping a close eye on you at all times.
SOMEONE who allows you to make mistakes, knowing you'll end up wiser for the experience.
SOMEONE that shields you from predators.
SOMEONE who watches as you explore dimensions, heights, depths...



SOMEONE who cares who you reflect.
SOMEONE who shows you that you must be born again!
SOMEONE who celebrates when you grow up to begin the parental cycle again! Knowing His Love, knowing how to love as He does, we are ready to bring forth a child!
This is His way of revealing Himself to us. He came as a babe into our realm so that we could perceive Him as a parent!

Social skills

Well, Fuddruckers may not seem the best place to begin teaching a not-yet 2 year old social skills, but, everybody's gotta start somewhere!

Men and gadgets. Learn from your elders; they know all the shortcuts.

Look in the mirror (that's Biblical). Practice expressions.

Be content with what is already in reach.

Let loved ones back you up.
Don't keep score.

There are many expressions which can be interpreted more than one way. Practice those. If you get down a half dozen of them; they'll serve in all kinds of circumstances.

Appreciate Who has you in their arms.

Study humor.