12 of 12 - December 2018

A number of years ago, I ran across somebody's picture collage called the 12 of 12. The idea was to take 12 pictures on the 12th day of every month. I did this for a couple years and it was fun to look back at the end of the year on these 12 collages that encapsulated one day each month. The only thing I didn't like was that some months, the 12th was just a boring day and sometimes it was hard to get 12 good pictures for the day. But as I was looking back at the 12 of 12's on my blog, I enjoyed the pictures too much to let it go. All of that to say, I am resurrecting the 12 of 12, but with a twist...I am just going to pick 12 pictures from the entire month. At the end of the year, I will have 12 collages with 12 pictures each.

Because December 2018 was so exciting for us, I'm starting with December rather than waiting till the new year. So, here are my 12 of 12 pictures for December 2018.

November 18 - OK, so on my first month I cheated with a couple pictures that aren't actually from December. But this was the Christmas tree lighting in Sundance Square in Ft. Worth. It was a fun date night and we talked about bringing James, the April-arriving grandson, next year :)  #JamesMayBeSpoiledByHisGrandparents

November 29 - Almost December. We went to Enchant with our friends Jeremiah, Taylor and Grayson (see next picture). It was enjoyable, but the general consensus was, "Lots of fun but WOW, glad we didn't pay $30+/each for this (we went on a free night). #LoveDateNights

November 29 - Went to Boomerjacks for dinner after Enchant. Yum! The burgers were awesome as were the Jeremiah-recommended Boomer Chips (fried Jalapeño slices with Ranch). While I did know that eating spicy food that late would not sit well with my stomach and I did know that Tums was not cutting at 2 am, what I did NOT know at the time was that  Milk of Magnesia is not only an antacid, but also carries certain laxative properties. Around 7 am the next morning, I could no longer say I did not know this. #ThatWasSomePowerfulStuff

December 14 - So, we have HUNDREDS of wedding photos and it feels impossible to pick just a few, but here's my best attempt. Love this picture with my Mom. It will probably end up on the front of a Mother's Day card for her (I make birthday cards, Mother's Day cards, etc and Mom really likes them). #ThankfulForMyMom

December 14 - Yes, I certainly did tear up when I saw my daughter in her dress, ready to walk down the aisle. The photographer captured a moment when I got to pray with her before the ceremony. #WowSheIsBeautiful

December 14 - Walking her down the aisle. A moment 20 years in the making. As I was stressing about the wedding a bit a couple days before, this is what the Lord spoke to me in my journaling time: "I love you, Rob. I am walking with you. I am rejoicing with you. This is a day we have been working toward for years. Since Amanda was a little girl, you have been praying for a godly husband for her. You prayed, you worked, I saw what was best and I provided... Lastly, focus on Me and let's walk through this celebrating together." How awesome that God would remind me that we had been discussing this day for the past 20 years and it made me tear up when He said, "Let's...celebrate together". Let us...Jesus was celebrating with me that He brought my daughter the godly husband I had been praying for since before Amanda was born (tearing up even now writing this). #GodIsGood 

December 14 - What a thrill be get to officiate my daughter's wedding. This will definitely be one of the highlights of my lifetime. #WillNeverOfficateAnotherWeddingAsSpecialAsThis

December 14 - So here we have father/pastor, mother/wedding coordinator (bless her heart, she was working the whole evening), most loved daughter and her husband/our new son. #WeAreBlessed

December 24 - Christmas Eve candlelight service at church. I love this tradition at our church and this year had some incredible moments (the worship team's rendition of Little Drummer Boy was incredible!) #ChristmasEveWithMyLove

December 25 - Christmas Day morning, just Brooke and me...and the doggies! I believe Sammy was helping Brooke wrap a last minute gift before the kids came over in the afternoon. #ChristmasPreparationWasALittleCrazyThisYear

December 25 - Delilah is always in the room where people are. I'm not sure, but she may be peeking at that package to see if it's for her. #HappyToBeWithHerPeople

December 25 - I love, love, love this picture! Look closely so see Paris (aka "Weenie") in Amanda and Canaan's lap...she blends in with the dark shirts. #DogsAreFamilyToo

A "Must Read" Book Recommendation

I enjoy reading...it is one of a few activities that truly relaxes me. One of my goals this year is to read more. I just finished what I would consider the second "most moving" book I have read (first place goes to Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship).

The book I just finished is pictured above, The Day The World Came to Town. When US air space was shut down on September 11, 2001, planes coming into the US either had to return to their airport of origin or find an alternate place to land outside the United States. The little town of Gander, Newfoundland was home to what was once the longest runway in the world and a former US military refueling station. In less than a day, this town of approximately 10,000 people had 38 planes hosting 6,700 "visitors" drop in.

Gander, and a few smaller neighboring towns, opened everything from churches, to schools, to the Lion's Club to the fire department to house these temporary refugees that had no place else to go. Some people were on the their plane for nearly 24 hours from takeoff until they were cleared through security and given a place to stay.

This books is FILLED with stories of the hospitality shown to total strangers from 70 plus countries from around the world. It is nearly impossible to summarize all of the stories of selfless hospitality in this little Canadian province, but Mayberry has nothing on these "Newfies" (as they call themselves).

I will share just a couple snippets from this heartwarming account and then suggest you get the book (currently only $1.99 on the Kindle) yourself. Newfoundland had no known Orthodox Jews, so when meals were prepared for their guests, fixing kosher food was never even considered. Four Orthodox Jews never complained, but for nearly 24 hours they did not eat because they could not eat the food being offered. They did not say anything because they did not want to appear ungrateful. When another passenger found out why they were not eating, they told their Newfie hosts (they were staying at a school) and an entire kosher kitchen was set up for these 4 guests.

The Red Cross, Salvation Army, et all could not provide enough bedding, towels, etc so the townspeople (the WHOLE TOWN) immediately stripped extra beds and brought their own linenes and towels from home. At night, townspeople would stay up until 3 am washing towels for use the next day.

Townspeople took total strangers into their homes. One group of four came to a host home to find the spare bedrooms stripped of sheets and the hosts not having enough towels because they had already taken them to town. When asked how everybody in town would get their own towels back, the answer surprised them....they wouldn't, they'd just go get what they needed from "the pile" when everybody left.

The "plane people" as they were called by the locals, rarely had to walk any great distance because they were offered rides. Two girls were offered a ride and afterwards told, "I work all day tomorrow. If you want to borrow my car to go sightseeing for a break, you are welcome to it".

The last story I will share is about the local "tire company" in Gander. I do not remember the name of the store, but it seems like they were a sporting goods type store as well. When the parent company heard what was going on, they gave the store permission to give away "anything and everything the plane people needed" and if they did not have enough in stock, they could get it from a sister store. If there still was not enough, they could use company money to shop at "the competition" and buy what was needed. The store spent $20,000 from it's own store budget and another $10,000 buying supplies at another chain.

This book follows the stories of a number of passengers (including two families who adopted babies from Kazakhstan) from their point of origin, to Gander and finally to their destination in the US several days later. Some flew out, some took the ferry to Nova Scotia and drove back to the US, but they all had stories to tell. The stories and hospitality of several Newfies are also shared.

If you want a "feel good" book that shares personal behind-the-scenes glimpses to a story you may never have thought about, I highly recommend The Day The World Came to Town.