The Dark Side

From Director Jay Fear comes the thrilling tale of

Darth Dexter

Enjoy!

We Wish You a Fuzzy Christmas!

Christmas was wonderful! A day full of family, fun, and food ... what can be better than that?!?

Unfortunately, I won't be able to show you much of it because our camera was out of memory and the only pictures I took were on my new Christmas present (an iPhone!), which turned out pretty fuzzy and/or dark since I'm apparently a technology dunce.

Oh well. I was able to capture a few moments, but frankly I don't feel up to uploading them right now. Feeling lazy after weeks of Christmas prep and other responsibilities, I suppose. What I will show you is this:

Everyone's favorite present, the trampoline from Papa! There was much happiness all around when it was revealed (set up temporarily in the garage).

Later in the day, it was moved outside:

Then, it was placed in the hole Jay and his brother Jack dug out of the hillside over the last few weeks. (We had to tell the girls we were digging for a garden....)

Then, the enclosure was added (thanks, Jack & Chris, who did all the work!), and the jumping commenced!

We've only taken a break for Sunday, but you can trust that on Monday we'll be out there, bouncing again. It has definitely been the hit of Christmas! Thanks, Papa! Now we just need to get to weeding the backyard, creating a path to the trampoline, etc. By summer, I hope it is a place that the kids will gladly spend the majority of their days. :) I'm sure I won't be a stranger to the trampoline, either ...

Sometimes words aren't necessary...

(But close-ups are!)

Thanks, Macio & Aunt Kate!

Angel in Orangevale

Tonight, on our way home from cutting down our Christmas tree, we stopped to pick up a set of Jay's uniforms from the dry cleaner. The kids and I waited in the car as Jay ran inside. The minutes passed slowly. I could see through the large glass window that something was amiss, and Jay looked slightly frustrated. As another customer entered, Jay turned to leave the store - without his uniform.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Their credit card machine isn't working," Jay said with an exasperated sigh. We had been to the dry cleaner earlier, but were asked to come back because they were still working on Jay's jacket. The items were actually supposed to be ready on Tuesday. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal, but Jay needed his jacket for work, plus we were all hungry, including the kids. (And if you know anything about me at all, you know that patience is not my best virtue in normal circumstances, but especially when I am hungry.)

Just as Jay was about to start the car so that we could go to the bank and get cash, the other customer opened the store door and flagged Jay down. Wondering what the man needed, Jay got out and talked to him. The car door was left open, so I heard the man ask Jay if he was short on cash to pay for his dry cleaning. Jay explained the situation, and the man said, "Come back in, I'll get it for you." Jay protested, but the man very kindly persisted. They walked inside, with Jay still protesting. The dry cleaning bill was just under $30, so I knew Jay wouldn't actually let him pay for it.

I watched them through the large glass windows, wondering what was happening. The man said a few things to Jay, smiled a warm smile, and shook Jay's hand. Jay responded, and then the next thing I knew he was coming back into the car, dry cleaning in hand. "Why did you let him pay?" I asked.

"He insisted," Jay said. "He told me 'Merry Christmas, and pass it on.'"

It was one of those random acts of kindness you hear people talking about, but you very rarely experience. I was honestly shocked that a complete stranger would spend $30 of his hard earned money on us, but I was also very touched. What an example of selflessness and Christlike behavior. What an example to Jay and I, and to our children, about serving in the moment. And what a way to begin the Christmas season.

To the stranger at the Orangevale dry cleaners ... thank you. Your small act of kindness has made a lasting impression, and we will definitely "pass it on."