Erik Gray's journals
#journalgems
January 16, 2017
#journalgems
January 16, 2017
Christmas:
Christmas was really great this year, probably the best
one overall. It was just me, Mom, Dad, and Justin at home. The
married siblings went to their in-laws and so it was simpler than
most years. We decided to focus a lot on the who of Christmas rather
than the what and that’s what made it so special.
With it being my
last Christmas on earth, I am grateful that we focused so much on
each other. Yay, we did get some nice toys and stuff but a lot of
the gifts were homemade. Justin gave me some coupons, I got a lot of
food, and Sister Kristine White used a plaster of Paris mix and made
a hardened outline of me and Mom intertwining our fingers so that you
could see my CTR ring and her CTR ring. When she first came up to
us with the idea, we said, “Huh, that’s interesting” but now
that we have it, and especially as the years pass, I think it will
become a very special momento.
We have been shown so many gifts of
gratitude from so many people. Chuck Hohos and Joanne Brattain paid
for a airplane ride. Justin, Mom and I flew with the pilot over our
house, over Kolob, circled around Zion National Park, up past Cedar
Breaks, Brian Head, Parowan Gap, and then turned and landed at the
airport. The scary thing was that the Pilot let Justin drive for the
good part of the last half. He explained the controls and then sat
back, folded his arms, and Justin was flying the plane. He flew it
up until the last minute before we landed. That was a really neat
opportunity and I’m grateful that we got to do it. Between riding
in a helicopter and a plane, the plane was a little bit more scary.
I’ve noticed over the last few months, that my taste buds have
really changed, especially with seafood. Mom bought fried shrimp and
I ate probably the most out of anybody. That stuff is dang good and
even when I went to Hong Kong Buffet (just last Friday, with Dad)
most of my plate was full of seafood- which is not me-but I guess it
is now.
We went sledding Christmas Eve night. Dad didn’t want to
go because it was cold and he was in his shorts but with a “YOLO” he did it anyway in his
flip-flops. I also went too, but it took me a little longer to walk back up the driveway with my lung issue.
We continued the
tradition of watching the Grinch and eating Captain Crunch for
breakfast. Church was at 11 am so we opened our presents from Santa
before and opened our family gifts after.
Family Christmas party: because Christmas was with the married
in-laws this year, we had the gray family Christmas party on the 29th
of December. We did white elephant gifts and a talent show. My white
elephant gift had a bunch of candy and a pineapple stress ball, silly
string, and lots of other cool stuff.
It was my turn to decide how to
exchange. We were welcome to stand up and cheer and just have a good
time. I played the Lava song on the Ukele for my talent in the talent
show. Allie has it recorded. Everyone had really fun talents and they
were very creative.
Now that word can get out, Ashley and Hayden are
expecting a baby and I think they are going to make great parents.
From what I can see, their lives are really in order, they have
enough saved up for a car payment, baby expenses, house, etc. I
think this experience will only make them grow together. I wonder if
I will be able to meet baby Hawks before they do?
