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I knew this was going to be a good Christmas when while holding my five month old daughter about a week and a half ago standing in our living room watching the last fifteen minutes of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” I wept quietly to myself in one of those rare moments where suddenly I got it. I’ve seen the movie probably forty times, and wept on and off here and there in my years of viewing, but this time the feeling was totally different.  I suddenly understood why George Bailey was so excited to be home. Why he was so happy that he might be going to jail.  So in love with life that he kissed that old loose newel post.  I understood what he felt not because I’ve been so low that I needed a quirky angel without wings to come help me out–although help like that is always most welcome–but that I’ve been the stressed George Bailey just after he lost his $8000 dollars, worried about what he will do to take care of his family.  This year has been the fastest of my life, and my three months without a job frustrated me in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been before.

Having a child has opened up a new part of my soul that before she was here I didn’t know existed. Watching her grow and looking into those big blue eyes is something I highly recommend. This year has made me realize how blessed my little family is.  The love we have from parents and grandparents is truly staggering, and our ability to make it in Austin is due in no $mall part to their help.  Thank you!

The daughter’s first Christmas was a magical one, but a strangely one sided affair.  She is five months old and still not quite aware of what is happening.  Of course the presents are for her.  Of course we give so that she might have toys that engage and teach her new motor and empathy skills.  But the actual event of Christmas morning was for our–the parents and grandparents–benefit.  We were the ones oohing and ahhing over the new presents we opened for her. I find this funny because we were the ones that bought them, but our excitement in turn gets her excited, and that is why it was so much fun. This is the first Christmas that was not about us. At least that’s what we tried to do, but I know our ooing and ahhing was as much for us as it was for her. But not in a selfish way.  It helped us to realize that giving is always more fun than getting, even if at the end of the day the baby is more interested in the shiny paper the gift comes in than what is wrapped underneath it.

”No man is a failure who has friends.”

There are hundreds of Christmas tunes out there I love, and only a few of them really get me into the spirit of the season. I could listen to Perry Como and Bing Crosby all day, and Sufjan Stevens ‘Songs For Christmas’ is a set everyone would do well to own.  But the single tune that really fires up my yule fuel is this one, and it’s not even a Christmas tune per se, but a fine jazz piece:

I love it. Vince Guaraldi trio plus Peanuts equals Grubbs Christmas joy.

You may now put up your tree.

This year is going by so quickly. We’re already just under 3 months from being in Austin for a year. Two things have contributed to the speedy passage of time. Not having a job for three months is one of them. You’d think that would have made time pass slowly, but it’s amazing how quickly days pass into each other when you have nothing to do. Second, and more important, was the birth of our first child. Man she eats up the time, and wonderfully so. I’m amazed at how when I get home, the other stuff I think I need to do just disappears because I simply want to hold her and just look at her. That other stuff eventually gets done. Bills get paid and writing happens, but if I don’t enjoy her while she’s tiny, I’ll never get these moments back.

We drove to Alabama to be with my Father’s side of the family for Thanksgiving. 33 total hours in the car what with stopping to feed the baby, and eat lunch. I enjoyed the drive spending time with my brother, whom we met to make the journey together. This Thanksgiving was most special because we were bringing our daughter to meet that side of the family for the first time, and it was the first time that entire side of the family had gathered completely–no one missing–in about four or five years. We took lots of pictures, and it’s great to have some 4 generation photographs. These times are fleeting, and the emotions of the moment were simultaneously joyful and somehow maudlin and wistful. The encouraging thing is how wonderful I realized my family is. Over the years we’ve all gotten along spectacularly, and I attribute it to the loving example of my wonderful grandparents.

My mother’s father was also able to stop by on Friday, giving us the chance to see a little bit of both sides of the family.

I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.

I got tired of my old, weepy headers. Let me know what you think of the new treatment up top! Is it too futuristic? I just wanted to spruce up the site a bit, and decided to do something a little different.