Christmas with Friends

Dear Jack,

Life is full of choices.

If you chose not to live near family, you do get to have the exact hometown experience you want for your family, but you don't get to have family close by during the holidays.

It's always bothered me, that trade off. I hate Houston. A lot. But I love a lot of people who live there. In fact, I think your sister said something very similar today as she was talking about how far we were driving and said she liked Round Rock because it's not far. "But I hate going to far away places," she said, "But I don't hate Houston, because Uncle Dave and Aunt Suzanne live in Houston." She then proceeded to name off all of the other people we know and love in Houston, but that's the crux of it right there. I want to live in Georgetown, but I want a teleporter.

This year, we had already seen all of the family and I knew I wanted you and your sister to get to have Christmas morning at home. That's really important to me, as is you guys getting to have Christmas Eve at your home church. But then how do we have this holiday which is so much about coming together with people you love and care about by ourselves?

The answer is really good friends.

On Christmas Eve, we played with Andrew and his mom at the park (which we did last year, so I'm calling that a tradition now) and then Helen and I worked out a plan to have Christmas Eve dinner with them as well.

On Christmas Day, we went over to Abigail, Emelia, and Sean's house. Your sister and Sean ran a muck for the better part of three hours, while Abigail and Emelia took turns spoiling you by offering you every new Christmas toy in the house and following you around entertaining you.

Then we went over to Mrs. Ford's parent's house for Happy Birthday Jesus cake. It was a family tradition for Mrs. Ford growing up and her parents and sister were sweet enough to let us join in their family celebration.

So I guess, son, if when you are a grown man, if you really need to move to the seashore or to the mountains to raise your family and I can't be there for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day with you, I hope you find friends to celebrate the season with.

But I also hope you remember that I took you and your sister to see your Grandma this Christmas and every other, so don't forget to leave some time somewhere in December to come visit your mama.

Love,
Mom