Journal Gems: Focusing on the WHO...

Erik Gray's journals
#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 29^th 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?