Monday, December 15, 2025
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Catching a ride to Jesus’ manger
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
your encampments, O Israel!
They are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
How fine does it feel to sit down on an easy chair and close my eyes? There’s been so much to do the last few days, and it’s been great. Now it’s great to sit and smile at each other and thank you, Lord, for the people and places around us. The world is wide and life is rich and God, you are good.
Ah … a little folding of the hands to rest. I lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. After a little sleep, I see so much more clearly. Advent is half past, every hour is speeding by, and Christmas is coming.
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel.
On Thursday after a class-and-family field trip to Laguna Gloria, a wonderful indoor-outdoor museum in Austin, Miles competed in his first Austin Classical School fencing tournament. We watched him win several matches. Aki brought Jasper from his wushu class, wearing his just-earned red belt. Margaret and I spent most of two hours holding Finn; we didn’t expect this to be such sweet family time.
Friday morning the boys finished their home school homework and then came to our kitchen to make marshmallow fudge for their teachers. They measured, poured, stirred, cut the squares and did not get burned, with Christmas music in the background … more than a little like heaven. But we had to leave heaven and meet good friends for dinner. Getting to the Saltgrass restaurant early, we were given a table in front of the roaring fireplace. It was 70 degrees outside, but that fire still felt good.
After dinner we spent the rest of Friday evening at our monthly game night, but instead of the usual games we played Christmas Charades and shared answers to questions from Table Topics for Grandparents & Grandkids. Questions like, “What’s a great thing you remember about your mom?” and “What do you remember about camping as a kid?” The questions elicited lots of laughter and some very touching tears, while all the while our hosts’ personal buffalo head watched us from above the fireplace.
Way back in September Andi suggested that we repeat our adventure on the North Pole Flyer. In 2021 at the tail end of covid season, just a few months after Margaret’s heart infection, brush with death and life-saving surgery, our whole family jumped on the afternoon Flyer for two hours of train travel with Santa through Hill Country scenery.
It was cold on December 18, 2021. We wrapped up and wore our covid Christmas masks. This Saturday Andi, Jasper, Miles and I dressed up for Christmas, but the temperature at noon was well over 70 degrees. Too hot to be Christmas cool, so after the photos off came the coats. Mrs. Claus served cookies and hot chocolate while a kilted Christmas minstrel, Santa, a story-teller and creative balloon-twister in Christmas knickers strolled through our Silver Pine car, circa 1948.
Andi read The Wump World to Jasper while Miles and I played war. He won in less than five minutes. What?? When their turn came for a balloon Miles chose a candy cane, and Jasper a Rudolph hat. The balloon man smiled and twisted away.
And the balloons did not break on the way home!
During Advent and Christmas there are stories, there are always more stories, beginning and ending this year with nine-month old Finn, who loves his nativity. His head might not know what it all means, but his spirit knows, and is alive and well.
We’re narrowing down the list of 42 Christmas toys we’d like to give him the morning of December 25. Until then, there will be more great moments. We can’t wait!
Show us, Lord, your love
And grant us your salvation.
(Numbers 24, Psalm 25, Psalm 85, Matthew 21)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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