Our 2010 Corks

This past Christmas season, our dining room centerpiece was a bowl full of red Christmas balls tossed with wine corks. But not just any wine corks. One of Charlie’s rituals after Sabbath dinners and other wine-worthy celebrations is to save the cork and Sharpie it with a nice title. Picture yourself back at the McDonalds play place in the plastic balls. You dropped something and you go digging against the quicksand. What a blessing it has been to dig through our bowl and remember some wonderful times around the table.



Let me now highlight our favorite cork of the year. Bulging at one end, it looks quite comfortable to be free from a skinny bottle neck, and stoutly bears the title “Charles’ Baptism Party 8/1/10.” This day was truly momentous. We were able to welcome our son into God’s family, surrounded by our families and our entire church body packed into our backyard. It is hard to top five smoking barbecues, over 40 pounds of tri-tip, a simmering mound of meat and rice cooked by our neighbor, a keg of good beer, a hammock bedecked with kids, 150+ brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate with, and our sweet little collared-shirt boy snoozing in Great Grandma Lois’ lap.



If we had to pick one word to summarize 2010, it would be fellowship. “Monday dinner with Amaanda; Sunday Lunch; Dinner from the Trues; Dinner with Sam; Settlers Game Night; PDF; Leslie’s B-day Party; Family Camp- Dowers Cummings Dowers; Sabbath Dinner….” I look back at the dates and people represented in our collection, and this is how I want to remember the year: resting and clinking our knives and forks and glasses with each other and the people we love. But now I am second-guessing myself. What about our work weeks? What about Charlie’s success as a tournament host/teacher/backyard remodeler/diaper changer/date planner? What about my triumph over the burnt stock pot, new swaddling skills, or accomplishments with the Magic Eraser? Should we Sharpie these events too? Perhaps.



But I am starting to see our work, too, in the bowl of corks. I do not think you can separate the work from the rest. As we grow in faithfulness, they become a beautiful rhythm, and gain more meaning from each other. The fellowship becomes sweeter framed by days of labor. It reminds us of a Savior who has said: “It is finished,” so that we can rest, who has done it all so that we can simply be His children, and who has spilled His blood to fill our glasses.



And so I would like to propose one final toast for 2010: To the King and His abundantly kind mouthfuls.

Christmas Eve Breakfast

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Day at the Ansetts

Mom created a beautiful Narnia centerpiece...

...Complete with white-chocolate sleds handcrafted by a friend from church. "Wow" is an understatement.

Charles tried to double as Uncle Eric.

And was doted on by his adoring handsome Uncles.

And this was the only present Charles received, besides the Bumbo tray, plastic keys, Gonzaga sweatshirt, cardboard books, plastic cups and bowl, new outfit, shoes, singing frog, and did I mention the exersaucer?

Uncle Spence needed some help. Notice I am using my left hand to oblige him.

Spence's standing as funniest Uncle looks pretty good.

Christmas Eve at the Dowers

Emily set a beautiful table, complete with red branches fresh from our walk up the hill. You will soon find out what Charles' favorite part was.

Two words that make this family happy: Prime Rib.

This is the best Christmas ever!

There you have it. After banging throughout the meal, Charles got his first taste of peppermint.

Of course this was the first take.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit...

...Can be exhausting! Here I am resting up for some serious partying with my security rings.

This tree has a story. We waited to go on the traditional Home Depot tree search until Charlie was on break. Upon arriving, we discovered only 2 choices of the live variety, both costing more than our last 2 Christmas trees combined. Margaret half-heartedly suggested getting one of the fat potted trees. This idea was quickly kaboshed as we realized that we had an adventure awaiting us. After a pit stop to feed our smallest searcher, Margaret called her Mom to test her memory of the Upper South Hill Christmas count. She eagerly joined our mission and called around, saving us some precious cell-phone minutes (we only had 20 minutes left for the month). With Mom's findings and new hope of success, we ascended the Hill. After several stops, one of which landed us with a free latte valued at $6 (that's another story), we found ourselves at Rite Aid. At this point, even the rows of dying clearance trees looked promising, and we soon selected the beauty you see below. But he bore no tag. Margaret went back to the car to protect our now-sleeping baby, and watched as Charlie and the saleswoman discussed the price. The verdict: $5. Yes, cheaper than the latte we happily sipped on our way home. This may be a new tradition.

Auntie Sam came home from grad school! Her story-telling is masterful. From the first page I could not stop biting my nails.

Auntie Sam and my first Christmas present ever!