my kind of lullabye.

Christmas Eve:

- last night i got to fall asleep to the soothing sounds of a thunderstorm. a texas thunderstorm. they are, of course, more magical. i sleep like a baby in thunderstorms, because i grew up with them. i'm glad this trip included one.

- my dad has the day off, and he chose to watch garfield. he was also laughing hysterically when my sister watched bewitched. the movie. you never know what will make him laugh. he's a very serious man. but whenever he sees something he thinks is funny, he can't hold back. it's always unexpected. love it.

- i mentioned yesterday that i'm going through a "surprise" phase. last night i wrapped presents and remembered this is not so new. for several years now, i have been leaving labels off the presents i wrap so my siblings won't know which one is theirs, and therefore...cannot guess what it is. to preserve the surprise! AND, when we were younger, my mom let each of us pick one present to unwrap on Christmas eve. i never did. i saved them all.

- Christmas threw up in this house. everything is red and green, santa themed, or sparkly. this is not your normal Christmas decor. i'm sitting next to a tissue box, which has a knitted red and green cover. there are nutcrackers, gingerbread men candles, musical trinkets, and four sleighs with different functions all within eyesight.

- i am looking forward to the service tonight, even though it takes place in a church with a culture that is the opposite of the one i attend. it's the main event for me this year. this year i have felt renewed wonder and excitement about what happened that day in that stable...