The Children

Meet Roxy, at age 3 1/2 weeks.

Christmas Day around our house (or, I should say, not much time spent at our house) was an eventful day. Big family = big day, made successful only by major coordination. Elder Son played guitar Christmas Eve in a church in O’Donnell, Texas, and then spent the night there. ETA our house scheduled for 11 a.m. Younger Son had early Christmas morning breakfast and packages at his mom’s house, ETA same as Elder Son.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, neither son made it on time. TTA (true time of arrival) was around 12:30 p.m. for both, leaving us exactly 30 minutes to open packages, enjoy, and load up and go to the in-laws’ house for lunch. Younger Son received a new American Deluxe Telecaster for Christmas, and MLH received a new Fender deluxe tube amp…so, out came the cords & guitars, all three of my guys plugged in, and started jamming. I had to grab the camera, because times like that demand preservation.

Needless to say, we were about twenty minutes late to Mom’s. Another couple was running late, so all was good. We had a great time visiting with family and friends, and time just sped by.

It was time to head to my brother’s house in Big Spring! We left town at 4:20 p.m., and had supper there. Mexican dinner – green beef enchiladas, homemade tamales, and homemade salsa – it doesn’t get any better than that, unless maybe you were with Eric.

Then we had our crazy stocking exchange game, which was fun. And then…we adults bowled with my nephews’ new Nintendo WII system. Toys are for…adults! My brother and my husband made huge fun of my bad bowling form…they were agreeing on things such as “Janie bowls with the WII just like she bowls for real – she walks up to the line and chunks the ball.” Whatever, men!! I bowled strikes! Form, schmorm…it’s the score that counts, right!

And then, Elder Son begs us to go help him pick out two pups from a litter of pups Zack, our German Shorthair Pointer, fathered. MLH is really gifted at choosing hunting dogs, and Elder Son wanted to tap his expertise. It is cold and MLH has been a little under the weather; however, choosing hunting pups is important. So, at 8pm, we head to Coahoma. By flashlight, five fat-bellied bird dog pups attack us, tumbling over our shoes, each other, and chasing shoelaces. They are so cute! We pick two, and Elder Son loads them in his pickup, headed 3 hours north to his deer lease. No crates, no box, just leashes, collars, and puppy food. (By phone, I had tried to ready him early Christmas Eve, advising him what to buy while PetSmart was still open.) He thinks he’s prepared, “Mom, I’m good, I’ve got it handled.” MLH and I look at each other, smiling while skeptical. We head back to Midland with Younger Son.

An hour later, Elder Son’s called us at least four times. He’s coming into Post, after stopping numerous times – one of the pups is carsick. He’s stopping at a car wash to clean it all up. It’s going to be a long night for this young man. MLH and I look at each other and smile. Parenthood. It’s good Elder Son learns it now. We get back to Midland, and go to bed. At 11:16 p.m., I’m asleep. My phone rings, jarring me awake. It’s Elder Son again – half scared, half-adrenaline.

“Mom, I just hit a huge buck. I’m good, Mom. Really. My truck’s okay, the pups are okay, but the deer is dead.” Thank God for front replacement bumpers. I hate it that the buck had to die that way, but I’m thankful the Elder Son’s okay. He’s about 30 minutes from the deer lease, and the puppies (now named Roxy and Rusty) have settled down and are sleeping.

Tuesday update: Roxy and Rusty are doing well, eating and traveling well. Elder Son said whenever they’re on the ground, they’ve got their noses down, hunting. Roxy already went on a hard point. Elder Son is very excited about these dogs and their hunting ability. Boys and pups are now heading into Lubbock for their first vet check, shots, and … dog crates.

It was a great Christmas. I’m thankful – for the gift of Jesus, and family, and pups...and front replacement bumpers.