Christmas 2008

With so many in a family-Christmas isn`t just a 24 hour event.  This year it began on December 20 when 11 of us ventured to Cowtown-Ft. Worth.  Some spent the night with Josh and some with Anna.  Christina entertained her houseful with BarBQ and Anna had pizza.  Sunday 19 of us drove 45 minutes to Grapevine`s Great Wolf Lodge with huge indoor waterpark.  We enjoyed the waterpark, arcade, buffet, visit with Santa, bedtime story with lifesize animated characters, and back to our room where everyone brought their room`s chair for gift exchange and cookie decorating.  I`m afraid the maid had to pick up more trash in our room than usual but we did leave some of the decorated cookies.  The kids spilled out in the hall with remote control cars and other toys.  Fortunately there wasn`t alot of traffic in the halls.  The next morning was again spent in the water.  Papa Bill even tried the approximately 3 story winding water slide.  The only casualities were Baby Jett 4 months old got water dumped on his head from a tipping bucket on the lazy river, Andrew 18 months did not like the frowning animated tree in the lobby, and Josh on crutches from foot surgery got his bandages wet.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve when 12 (even years are special because Sarah`s kids are able to join us for evening Mass) joined us for midnight Mass at 5:00 p.m.  Father Mickus is afraid too many will have too much Christmas cheer by midnight.  I think it`s because he flys home to Chicago Christmas morning.  Angie`s family ate pizza with us afterward.  The following 2 days were very untraditional with chicken fried steak, a perpetual open house and 70 degree weather. 

Altho Nate was not here we are pleased he arrived safely home from Iraq to N.C. about a week ago.                         

Big Bad Mike

Mike is my baby brother 10 my Jr.  He was a thin baby that spit up alot of his milk after a full bottle.  He eventually grew to over 6 foot and 350 pounds altho in recent years his weight has pared down considerably.  I`m writing this because after many years of torment and long hateful accusing letters I received one with little hate spewed.  I beg to differ on some of his family memories but I must say most of the 3 pages of notebook paper were filled with happier things.  He sent a Christmas card from "Boy`s Ranch"  founded in 1939.  He noted that was the year Mother and Daddy were married.  He wrote his memory of May 31, 1974 (the day of Daddy`s accident) and noted Mother was the one whose life changed the most.  I quote from his letter "the true test fell in our Dear Mother`s Hands.  She gave it her best.  But the true Secret about that date.  Add the digits.  They tally to 2005-the year she was set free to rest.  Great set of Parents......."  Bill remarked wish he could have said it to her face.

Now Big Bad Mike (many of the children actually feared him) is spending time in prayer ( he quoted many phrases from Bernard`s prayer book), trying to figure his next move, and pondering what life would have been like had they stayed on the farm.  Is he changed?  Maybe not but but hopefully it`s a start.

No Sisters I`m still not ready to move him in with me!