so it’s not about what you get for Christmas but yesterday while doing gifts with Melissa’s family I was totally overwhelmed when I opened this
I own a PS3 – not in a million years did I think I’d own one. I have some cool in-laws (and you can’t borrow them!)
I’m now off to play Guitar Hero 3 with Grant.
I’ll admit it, I’m normally not much of a Christmas guy. I think I can trace it back to my days of working retail. It was very hard to get into the spirit when you were dealing with mean people who were more interested in a useless gadget and seemingly went out of their way to make your day miserable… but I digress. But for some reason I’m not much of a Christmas guy. I don’t like putting up the tree, stringing lights, wrapping gifts (i do enjoy shopping for them), or much else that many people seem to enjoy greatly.
However, this year that is changing in simple ways. I’m enjoying most of the Christmas music I’m hearing (remind me to tell you about the James Brown Christmas song I came across – just remember, “James Brown loves ya, Merry Christmas!”). As I sit here I’m watching the Bare Naked Ladies/Boston Pops Christmas special and am just enjoying the day. Today we went to the Michael W. Smith Christmas concert with some friends and I loved it – great music, great company, great food, etc.
I know Christmas is really about Jesus, about God entering humanity as only He could and begining the physical work of redeeming His people (the spiritual work had been going on for a long time before that). I am less focused this year on what I/we are getting people (and on the other side what I am getting) and am more focused on God, His incredible plan, and how I can share that with others. I’m looking forward to spending time with family and friends so I can tell them about Jesus and why He was born.
This Christmas I encourage you to reflect on why you celebrate it (is it the gifts, time with family, God, a combination of all). Please don’t hear me say don’t enjoy time with family or give gifts but do hear me ask what is most important to you? This post has gone so many different ways and I originally intended to put a picture of Smitty and say I liked the concert so enjoy the rambling and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
My nephew Grant is quite the character. At 3 years old he has great charm, focus (most of the time – he is only 3), and a knack for saying the silliest thing at the right time.
Over Thanksgiving we had some good time with Grant and being the great uncle I am (and as far as I know, his only uncle) I cemented by place in his heart by bring Guitar Hero and my PS2 down with me. There is nothing as scary as as 3 year old singing at the top of his lungs, “She my cherry pie.” Fortunately he has no idea what the song is about. Here is how playing GH would go – we’d set it up, Grant would pic his controller (red or white guitar), and then point to the song he wants to play (of course he doesn’t know names so he’d either point at a picture or say the Tiger song or say a line. Then we’d have to either figure out the song or tell him that was the song he picked.) I’d start playing the song, he’d act like he was playing the song, and about 12 measures in he’s trying to find someone to watch him cause I can’t watch and play at the same time. This would normally result in Melissa or Papa being pulled over to the TV to watch or to “play” themselves. The song would end, he’d yell he’d won and then want to switch guitars (which we had to find creative ways to say no since his guitar wasn’t plugged in). This would go on for an hour or so before I’d need a break because I’d played the same song 10 times in a row. We’d put it up only to repeat it a few hours later. It was great to be able to play video games for long periods of time and know that everyone was OK with it because it was time that Grant was occupied.
Christmas is coming up and I’m being told I need to bring GH2 back down but I’m stating this now, unless Guitar Hero 3 is waiting for me there probably won’t be a PS2 making the trip! I love my nephew greatly and can’t wait to see what great games and toys he pulls me into in a few weeks!
My wife is great! Just wanted to share that.
A rare thing happened today, I took a sick day.
Upon waking up at 7 this morning I noticed a small headache but figured it would go away quickly. 30 minutes later I’m laying on the couch feeling like a small child had crawled in my forehead and was kicking the living snot out of me. I’ve laid on the couch all day trying not to have any light hit my cornea because that seemed to result in massive pain. I’m on way to better but still feel like I’ve been 20 rounds with a Tibetan kick boxer.
Hopefully some sleep soon will result in me being able to sit in front of a computer tomorrow and write lesons and edit video.
