The lights across Holly and Bevan's back yard.

Christmas has come and gone at the Clarkes in their new home deep in the heart of Texas.

I missed the 14 inches of snow by about twelve hours, arriving to 77 degree temperatures on Wednesday, the 23rd.  The family met me in Dallas where we spent a couple of hours before the two-hour drive to their home farther south.

On the way, we stopped to buy fireworks--don't ask me why except that the two kids--Holly & Bevan, that is--wanted some.  They spent way more money than I ever would have buying enough fireworks to last an entire year.

We ate at a great Mexican restaurant, finally arriving at their home about 7:30 p.m.  Holly and the girls had cookies prepared for some of the neighbors, so they decided to deliver those.

Bevan went out back to split some wood because the temperature was supposed to drop the next day with rain.  I followed him out because he wanted me to see the lights in the back yard.
But I was getting an urgent call from nature, so I decided I had best go back inside.  When I tried to open the door, it was locked.  Their home has three entrances from the back and every one of them was locked. 
 Naturally, the front door was also locked. 
We're locked out!
And I had already waited too long!
I spent the next twenty minutes pacing and practicing self-control waiting for Holly and the girls to return.  By the time they finally got back, I was in serious pain! 
 In the meantime SIL offered to ask the neighbors if I could use their bathroom, but I told him the nature of my business was such that I really didn't think it would be appropriate to go into a stranger's home for that purpose.
When they FINALLY returned--that twenty minutes seemed like forever, I can tell you--I made a mad dash for the nearest bathroom. 
And that was Day One of my visit!!