Christmas Chaos

The last two weekends have been full of parties and events while at home the construction (and destruction) continue to require that three downstairs rooms remain quarantined by plastic and blue tape and Ashley's old bedroom is in disarray as a new closet is constructed and leaking patio doors repaired. There are very few places not impacted as furniture and items from the now empty rooms fill the remaining rooms to overflowing.

Two weeks ago, it was a friend's Christmas gathering where a twenty foot juniper had been chopped down and all of its 700 pounds somehow wedged through the single entry door and propped and braced in the two story living room. During halftime of the USC-UCLA game, the men mounted 12 and 16 foot ladders to hang the lights while the wives steadied the lower rungs. We all brought a few ornaments to help decorate the "larger than normal" Christmas evergreen. Then it was off to a get together of those going on the artist's cruise to Mexico in later January. While the artists got their itineraries and supply lists, the non-artistic spouses plotted excursions to be taken such as an ATV tour or zip line over the jungle.

This weekend, I spent my Saturday continuing to work on the guest bathroom stripping the remnants of the wallpaper (I have a little more to go) with a deadline to get it completed before our family comes to spend Christmas Eve. Then it was off to the company Holiday party again held at the Fairplex in Pomona. We had a good time, but the dinner serving was somewhat indicitive of the problems within the real estate industry. The salad literally had three leaves and the vegetables consisted of three string beans and one baby carrot. Good thing I like steak!

Sunday, after church, we drove up to Pasadena to visit Ashley, Bryce and Ezra. Bryce was kind enough to take us over the classic city hall where we five took a family Christmas picture although I'm not sure Ezra looked at the camera very often. Then we went to Pei Wei for an early dinner before dessert at the Hales and then home.

Ordination Sunday

In the past, the 15th of April has always been a day of destiny re taxes as the Federal government demands that we provide them with the remainder of any monies due them. Now, it will mark a new and better anniversary, and of destiny, the ordination of Bryce Allan Hales into the Presbyterian Church of America!

Wanda stayed over night with us so we could head up to Christ Church around 9 a.m. to witness and be a part of the service which would include Bryce's ordination. We arrived to find John and Sally, Margaret, and the Crocketts already there and Bryce, Carter, Oliver and Ken dressed in kilts. Bryce's and Ashley's friends from Edinburgh, Craig and Judith, even managed to arrange their vacation to attend.

Scott, a PCA pastor from Santa Barbara, gave the sermon which centered on Acts 16 and the various types of people encountered by Paul as he preached from the rich (Lydia), downtrodden (slave girl), and hardened (jailer). He spoke on how all of these types will be congregants or persons seeking Christ in Bryce's future calling. The sermon was followed Bryce's responding in the affirmative to his call and the laying on of hands by the elders.

The service was followed by a brunch hosted by John and Sally where we all congratulated Bryce on his accomplishment and prayed for his usefulness in the service of Christ.

Easter

A long and fun day at the Hutchins' home this last Sunday, Easter. We were out of the house quite a bit earlier than the normal Sabbath as we drove to Monarch Beach to pick up Wanda for the 10:30 church service. Since it was expected (and turned out) to be a more crowded service, we got there about twenty minutes early before enjoying both the worship and the sermon.

Then it was home to put in the glazed ham, the potato casserole, and stuffed zucchini for our mid-day meal. Lisa and Katie made it to the house around 1:30 and Ashley and Bryce about a half hour later after Bryce had preached at Christ Church. The meal was great and we enjoyed catching up on Ashley's pregnancy and Katie's college and spring break plans.

Lunch was followed by an egg hunt (mostly chocolate) and then by our Easter tradition of a game of croquet on the common area lawn overlooking the lake. I think I've found my hidden sports talent as I with my black ball streaked through wicket after wicket traversing both 'fairway' and 'rough' so that I was able to reach the last wicket before any of the others had made it halfway. Then I chose to become poison by not hitting the last stake, and instead, searched out the others in my version of a death star. I eliminated them all only to be chastised for my malevolent level of play! Oh, the competition!!

After a second round in which I gladly set aside my mallet, we went back to the house for dessert and then a new game that Ashley and Bryce suggested. We split into two teams, the dream team of Bryce, Katie and Tor, and then the Others, and each person provided a slip of paper for each of four historical/current persons. A team then gave hints to each person's identity and points were awarded for each one ID'd correctly within one minute. Each team taking consecutive turns until all the people were identified. The second round used the same people, but this time, you only could give a one-word description. So, it helped to be able to remember the twenty-eight possibilities. And, finally, the third round used the same people, but this time you had to act out the person with charades. The breadth of pop culture was evident when both Britney Spears and Harry Belafonte were included as choices.

It was pretty funny to watch the charades required for Fannie Flagg or Calvin Coolidge! Everyone had an enjoyable time and all left with leftovers and chocolate.

Christmas Eve

The Regal Beagle - Francis.







Pictures from Christmas at Ashley and Bryce's apartment with the newest Hales.

UPDATE: The full series can be found:
http://flickr.com/photos/fisker/