Tad's Life

Sunday we were at the Phare in the morning and for lunch for the Ouakam congregation's worship service and feast. I've posted on that already over on the Phare blog. That night the UWM misionary team and friends gathered at the Duttweilers. We had several visitors beside Allison and Matt. Nabrissa Oliveira-Bard surprised us all. She is here for the wedding of one of Pastor Tim's daughters this coming Saturday, but Jose and France-Lise somehow neglected to tell us she was coming! The Cotarelos are here, too, for their six-month internship out in Thies. He was a teen when we were in North Carolina for our training back in 1990. After teaching at DA a couple years, they went back and did some training in horticultural development. Eventually, we may have them for the long-term. Also, of course, this is Aaron and Sara's first Christmas with us. Aaron is the new UWM guy who actually grew up here. Anyway, we had a wonderful time visiting and singing and doing a "Chinese gift exchange." [I'm sure that offends someone. Sorry. I don't know what else to call it.]

A couple of days later and skipping over many stories of shopping wonders and vehicle adventures , we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas morning at home. Allison and Matt have posted photos and descriptions, so I'll try not to repeat either. We still have a tree, though this year it suffered in the process. The barrel we store it in ended up outside at the Phare and rain got in a bit. So we had to clean up a bit of rust! And then I went to straighten what I was sure was a metal piece and found that wood doesn't really like being bent that much! Now the top of the tree lists a bit to the north.

We did Christmas stockings, as usual... Well, honestly, that does sound better than Christmas sweat socks, doesn't it? We have no fireplace now, so they ended up suspended from the entertainment center doors.

We took turns opening the gifts in the stockings and those new to the custom (Matt and Ouseynou, Gretchen's husband) joined in with lots of spirit. Gretchen introduced us to the Pfeil practice (Shawn's invention??) of making wildly wrong, but humorous guesses. A pack of gum must certainly contain keys to a new car. An obvious pencil must contain a rolled up treasure map.

We eventually worked our way into the major gifts and that too proceeded in good order and patience. I continue to apply my father's sadistic approach to unwrapping Christmas presents: one-at-a-time, slowly and with politeness. It really is more fun that way as we enjoy each other's pleasure!

In the end it was a wonderful time. Jonathan, in fact, declared it his best Christmas ever!