Christmas in Memphis

This Christmas, I had the *ahem* distinct pleasure of being on call Christmas eve and missing basically all of my favorite parts of Christmas, namely Christmas eve at home with family, spending time together, eating, laughing, going to church and remembering Jesus and why we all can get together in the first place. So, I was not in a very good mood most of Christmas Eve, the ED (as always) admitted about 30 kids and 20 of them should have gone home (but that is a different and much longer post) and so they kept all of us up all night. But, I was able to go home a few hours early (and by few, I got to go after ONLY 27 hours in the hospital, not the usual 30) which made it sightly better. I have to admit that when I'm working and not getting to rest, it is very hard for me to keep a proper perspective on things, especially when I am missing things that I think are very valuable and missing times that I know I will cherish. I get very selfish, very bitter, and it is definitely a sin that God keeps bringing readily to my attention.
Anyways, my family came down, Kera on Christmas eve, then my mom and nonnie and poppaw on late afternoon Christmas day, then Dad on the 26th. Jaclyn, Kera and I were invited to eat lunch with the Jemison's, some of the mature members of our sunday school class, so we had a delightful lunch time with them before the rest of my family got here for Christmas.
The more I am working and made to spend time away from those I love most, the more I come to cherish the time I do have with everyone, specifically, my wife and rest of the family. There was not major news over Christmas, no very serious conversations, just excitement over being together, talking about the future, reminiscing about the good times of the past and of course, lots of great meals and treats to enjoy. It was a few days filled with those little moments that make life so precious. Sure, we did the presents, but that to me is secondary. It's nice to see people open gifts and flattering to receive them for sure, but the best part is just being together.
We were both sorry that Jaclyn's parents couldn't have made it down for Christmas. Jaclyn got to talk with most of her family on the phone, and while it is not ideal (a euphemism to say that it is terrible), she enjoyed getting to speak with them and wishing them all a very merry Christmas.