THE GIFT OF TONGUES

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God.

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you?

Wherefore, let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth.

Wherefore, tongues are for a sign.

Wherefore, brethren, forbid not to speak with tongues.

Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not tongues, I am nothing.

For to one is given, by the Spirit, various kinds of tongues.

And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is tongues.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas day started with Santa hats and with stockings filled to overflowing. After the stockings were emptied, we all broke for breakfast. Then it was time to open gifts under the tree. The remainder of the morning and the earlier part of the afternoon were given over to playing games and playing with new toys and gifts.

Mid afternoon took us to Skeeter and Becky's place where 23 people crowded into their 900 square-foot house for a potluck Mexican dinner. When the meal ended, the tables were folded and put away and we all exchanged gifts, white elephant style.

Finally, we sang a few Christmas songs together, filled the rest of the afternoon with visiting and with laughter, and then we all went home with a very merry day behind us.

Stockings on the mantle waited to be emptied by eager Santa Clauses.

Granny examines the contents of her stocking while Silas looks on.

Tim replaces his Santa hat with a new cap found in his stocking.

Bethany digs into her stocking while Devon is preoccupied with the parakeet.

Ashley checks out a couple of colorful pens that she just pulled out of her stocking.

Silas finds a stuffed animal in his stocking, which seems to catch Naomi's eye as well.

Devon dumps all the stuff in his stocking conveniently on the floor in front of him for easy access.

Naomi finds food in her stocking.

Adorned in her new hat and pajamas, Naomi waits for breakfast.

Granny, Bethany and Naomi gather around the tree for the opening of gifts.

Debra begins unwrapping something with her name on it.

I got much more than I expected or deserved: two CD's and a digital camcorder.

Devon creates beautiful artwork with his "Magic Light Brush".

Silas displays his talent with his three-dimensional "Color Explosion Glow Board".

Ashley and Silas square off in a game of checkers.

Bethany and Devon duke it out in a game of "Go Fish".

Before going to Skeeter and Becky's for dinner, the Weathersbys sit for a family photo in front of a now-giftless Christmas tree.

Twenty-three humans gathered together in a cozy little house for a fine Christmas feast.

Yes, twenty-three humans gathered together in a cozy little house for a fine Christmas feast.

Seeking to establish a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, twenty-three humans gathered together in a cozy little house for a fine Christmas feast.

A couple of one-year-olds were among the twenty-three.

A twenty-three voice choir filled the room with joyful noise.

Makiah used the singing as an opportunity to show off her dance moves.

Granny checks out the activity, Debra and Ashley talk, and three-time mother, Bethany, shares some thoughts with soon-to-be mother, Scarlet.

Andrew takes turns with Silas and Devon, flinging them into the air with his powerful legs.

The entire Christmas day was merry and bright! But the brightest spot in the day was enhanced by the flash of a camera.

CHRISTMAS EVE

We had planned on spending Christmas Eve alone this year, Originally, Tim and Bethany et al had planned on visiting us for Christmas but, due to severe weather in the Portland area, they told us earlier in the week that there would be a 95% chance that they would not be able to make the trip after all.

Then, on Christmas Eve Eve (December 23rd), they decided to make the trip anyway. Four hours of driving got them only 25 miles from their house. Over nine hours of total driving time finally got them to Medford shortly after midnight. They brought Lucille (aka Granny) with them.

I had to work on Christmas Eve, but got off early and arrived home to a houseful of happy Christmas celebrators. We ate pizza, played games, and opened a few gifts.

We also got on the Internet at around 3:00 p.m. with a web camera attached to the laptop and talked to and saw all the Moffit clan while they were opening gifts on Christmas day in the Philippines. They are 16 hours ahead of us. Fourteen of us who were huddled around two laptop computers got to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together!

Rylie, Silas and Baylee play a game of "Trouble" together.

The audience for Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" included Tim and Silas and . . .

. . . Papa and Devon.

Naomi, whose height while sitting down is shorter than the height of our coffee table, plays with a ping-pong-ball-shooting gun without actually figuring out how to shoot ping-pong balls.

Granny and Bethany recover from the exhaustion of a very long drive through a whole bunch of snow.

Silas helps Nana make a tasty treat.

Devon enjoys the fruit of Silas' labor.

Silas enjoys the fruit of Silas' labor, too.

There's always one in every crowd.

The Weathersbys have a tradition of always having each kid open one gift before going to bed on Christmas Eve. That gift is always the same. That gift is always new pajamas. Naomi shows everyone how soft her new pajamas are.




The packaging is often more fun than the gift inside the packaging.

Tim and Silas laugh at a bag lady wandering through the living room.

Identity of the bag lady revealed.

While the children were nestled all snug in their beds, Tim worked on a sudoku puzzle. Apparently, Santa had already descended down the chimney by this time, had done his stocking thing, and then disappeared.

Ashley wears her new hat, a gift from the Moffits.

Debra basks in the glory of her "Instant Manicure", a gift from the Moffits.

I was thrilled to receive a Dave Barry book from the Moffits. Unfortunately, however, I was not able to read it for several days. Bethany held the book in a vice-like grip and would not share it. Instead, she chuckled, giggled and guffawed in her own little corner for long periods of time.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, Daisy got a skateboard from Papa, Nana and Aunt Ashley.

Ally, a blossoming young thespian, got a bunch of face paints and costumes from the same trio.

And Neo, a blossoming young sneak who still loves to chant the word "Papa", succeeded in lifting a wrapped present from a big shipping box when no one was looking and then unwrapping it all by himself.