All the Halls have been Decked

This Christmas has been a little odd for me. Not to say it hasn't been good, it definitely has it's cheer and good will toward men (and women, not discriminating), but a lot has been going on in my two families. My sister-in-law Amy committed suicide this past spring so this is the first Christmas without her around. My dad was laid-off from his job just a few days ago due to budget cuts and general thickheadedness by people who are above him. These things have made it a challenge to communicate, relate, and balance cheer with sensitivity.

It hasn't been uncomfortable for me, and I didn't really expect it to be, because the people that have been affected by the tragedies are so secure and solid that they don't lash out at the people around them. Love has become the focal point and the driving force behind all the interactions in family experiences. Despite my father's current job state, and consequent state of mind, he has treated everyone around him with the same respect and humor that he always has. My wife's family, instead of feeling sorry for themselves and shutting people out, have opened their home and been just as gracious and hospitable as ever, without making the people around them feel like they have to tread lightly.

This Christmas vacation has probably been one of the best holiday trips we have taken up to Virginia so far.

And a big congratulations to my older sister Autumn, and her husband Matthew on the birth of their first baby, my first niece, and Isaiah and Zoe's first cousin: Isabella Aurora Jane Bender. Happy birthday, can I call you Izzy?

Heather and I are now preparing for an impromptu New Years party at our Fortress in Fort Mill.

Fondue + Fireworks + Guitar Hero = Explosive Dipping Karaoke. At the Bethune House on Durand Road, the last day of the year. You can come if you want.