Getting Ready for Christmas at the Ranch
All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family. Steven Curtis Chapman song.
It’s December 5th. Yesterday, it was August 5th. Christmas is upon us. The boys are in the heat of school projects, tests, basketball season, and holiday spirit (some good, some not so). Kim and I are trying to round up all our decorations from “the shed”, the attic and who knows where. Our most special keepsake ornaments will remain in storage at Joy and Jimmy’s house—too many things tend to get accidentally broken in a house with eight boys.
Thanksgiving was great this year. We started off with two days of camping at Oak Mountain State Park. That was the first real camping trip for each of our boys. Kim and Haley even stayed one night (spent the other at Joy’s house). A lot of work but well worth it. Three of us hiked to the top of Oak Mountain. Then, a wonderful Thanksgiving feast at Joy and Jimmy’s. All of Kim’s family was there at some point during the day. The boys were on best behavior and none wanted to leave when it was time to go. No accidents that required us to spend the day in the ER (like Mike and one boy did last year).
Monday was “houseparents’ shopping day.” The ranch staff kept all the boys after school and into the evening so that houseparents could do their Christmas shopping. We shopped from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. I think we hit eight stores looking for everything from electronics to sportswear to toys. Most were sold out of what we needed until we hit the jackpot at Best Buy. Wish we would have gone there first… Buying for 10 kids (including Andrew and Haley) is a true adventure.
Dinner in the car as we rushed to get back to the ranch by the 8:00 deadline. We purchased all the “big items.” Another day should do it except for stocking stuffers and those “last minute” items.
Kim’s sister, Joy, donated some toys from Finn’s playroom. We took some to the ranch shed and kept a few for our nine year-old to play with. He didn’t have a lot of toys. He literally squealed with excitement—“This is so-o-o-o much fun!” He almost missed dinner for playing.
Yesterday, the boys assembled our first-ever artificial tree. Last year’s “real tree” made such a mess on the carpet (we’re still pulling out droppings) that we decided to give in to the lure of simplicity. The boys seem just as excited though…
We recently obtained an old piano. Very out of tune. Nonetheless, the boys have really enjoyed picking out Christmas carols. Sometimes, they argue over playing time. Kim put taped labels on the keys and identified the notes by pencil in the songbooks. They like “Silent Night” and “Deck the Halls.” More practice would be good…
This weekend, we’ll decorate and watch Christmas movies. Surprisingly, for teen-aged boys, they are looking very forward to it. We have that giant 12 ft. snowman they can’t wait to inflate.
School gets out on the 19th. Keeping the holidays filled with constructive things to do is always a challenge. We have decided to donate some time over the holidays serving food at the local soup kitchen. It will be a good experience for the boys to be on the “giving end” of things.
Three of our boys are starters on the Junior High “A” basketball team. Alex is the only 7th grader on the team and is one of the top scorers. He loves basketball above all other sports. It is fun watching all three of our boys on the court at the same time. They all excel in different ways. The other boys like to go to the games and cheer them on. They also love harassing them when they make mistakes.
Andrew is in the midst of finals at Cumberland (half-way through law school now) and Haley is preparing for hers at Auburn. She has changed majors to Elementary Education. ("I’ve really always wanted to teach”). Teaching is a great profession. We truly want her to go where her heart leads her. They’ll both come to stay over the holidays. The boys really enjoy having them here and treat them as “real” brother and sister. They’ll also spend some time with friends in Pensacola.
On Christmas day, most of the boys will leave at noon to go stay with extended family or “resource family” for a week. We will travel to Midland City and Pensacola to visit family and friends. We’re still trying to work out a holiday or January-February trip to visit Mike’s family in Tampa. Can’t wait to see everyone!
Holidays are very tough times for the boys. While there is a lot of activity and excitement, there is also a lot of pain as they think back to Christmases past. Sometimes those are sad thoughts, sometimes happy (then usually accompanied by longing for the times when things were “normal” in their lives). Nonetheless, the hurt surfaces and often takes the form of words or conduct that hurts others. We try our best to address it but only a true “turning over” to God will take the hurt away. That is what we try to teach them. Some are doing that. Others are hanging on, even if it is painful…
John Croyle recentlyreminded us that we are all TBTW-- Too Blessed to Whine. Amen.
We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas.
Mike, Kim, Alex, Haley, Andrew, Steven, Jordan, Nic, Steven, Bryan, Deundrea, and Aaron.
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All I really Want for Christmas.. Steven Curtis Chapman
Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone
I didn't come and talk to you 'cause that's never worked before
And you'll probably never see this letter, anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time
All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family
Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard, it sounds like the greatest gift on earth
Would be a mom
All I want for Christmas is someone who'll be here
To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years
And It's okay if they're not perfect or even if they're a little broken
That's alright, 'Cause so am I
Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed
Maybe next time I write you I'll be at home
`Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone, someone whose love will never end
Of all that I could ask for, well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family
