With the relatives visiting for the holidays, we needed some way to keep them in their exercise routines. Grandpa Bill needed his coffee and a walk everyday.
Our hills were a little too much for a 76 year old flat lander, so we opted to take them to the base gym. The last time we went to the base gym for the holidays was years and years ago with the Nelsons for a bit of basketball on New Years. Rod ended up breaking his foot…that was a very eventful day in more ways than one.
This year was nothing in comparison. The kids played soccer, then ultimate Frisbee on the indoor soccer field. Aaron and Anna joined us for the morning.
After lots of good exercise, we headed over to the volleyball court for some painful attempts to play. Everyone was a bit rusty, but we got more good exercise chasing the volleyball, and the relatives had some good chuckles.
We headed for home and lunch while Aaron and Anna headed out to join the Nelsons for the traditional Christmas Eve disc golf tourney. Caleb Nelson started the tradition many years ago with his brothers and invited Aaron along. Caleb probably felt sorry for him with all those sisters. Aaron has gone with them ever since come snow or shine. This year was balmy…no lost discs! The disc golf tourney fit in with Aaron’s other plans for the evening…he, he, he!
Mr. Rehm had given Aaron permission to ask Anna to marry him. We had discussed plans and prayed for God’s inspiration for Aaron to make his proposal memorable. God answered above and beyond what we asked or thought. We heard about it when the lovebirds got home with the ‘rock’ firmly insconced on Anna’s ring finger.
They came in the door during dinner, just glowing. Anna had called about 20 people to let them know so it was Aaron’s turn to relate the story. After disc golf and lunch, he took her up to the Dana College campus in Blair…the park there has a beautiful view and some lovely swinging park benches. They strolled along to one of them, where Aaron let Anna read his most recent journal full of letters to her. In the last entry, Aaron copied the words to a favorite country tune called 'Remember When.' He made up a new last verse which included the words, ‘Anna Rehm, will you marry me?’ She, of course, said, “Yes.” Praise the Lord for inspiration.
They came home to our traditional Christmas Eve Chinese dinner.
We had 18 for dinner this year…it gets bigger and bigger. The lady at the restaurant requested we call them the day before with our order so they could be better prepared!
We broke out Betsy’s pretty pottery bowls and chopsticks and after a very grateful thanksgiving, we dug in. The dining room table was taken up with the traditional Christmas puzzle so we ate on the floor in the living room…no disasters, thankfully.
The children tried to get our guests to eat in the traditional Chinese manner, though they were not willing to themselves. The pretty bowls did not hold much so some folks spent more time going back and forth to the kitchen than actually eating.
Aaron and Anna would not be with us on Christmas day so we had them open their gifts and stockings after dinner. A2 received hair cutting implements…a gift that keeps on giving for the rest of their life. ..well unless you drop the razor. I speak from experience!
Tootsie had Aaron for Christmas this year...she was very interested to see how he liked his gifts!
Aaron did a plumbing job for Bike Masters and traded it for indoor trainers for he and Anna to help them keep in shape through the winter. She was very happy with her gift, and he only had to spend his time! Good job, Aaron.
The next thing on the agenda was watching our traditional Christmas Eve movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’
It was VERY late when the movie was over and all the littles and middles willingly went to bed. We waited a minute or two and headed down to Betsy’s room to bring up the presents. It's almost Christmas...right around the corner!
Christmas Eve Candids:
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