We intentionally had a more Advent Conspiracy Christmas in terms of gifts as a family. We did still have a gift exchange and much to my thankful delight, the gifts I received from Becky and Katie and Claire and my mother were:
The shoes are bowling shoes that my mother got me. Becky and the girls got me the bowling ball (which is nicely called "Clash" like one of my all-time favorite bands) and the Rudolph book which is a behind the scenes making of and origins sort of a book about the 1964 stop-animation Christmas special. And my friend Lilly sent me a Christmas gift which is a very interesting refrigerator magnet which is now on our fridge: 
I am procrastinating a bit here - as I am about 2/3 through grading a significantly large stack of papers from the theology and practice of worship class this semester I taught at Western Seminary. All the grades are due next week. It is 1:40 AM and needed a quick distraction and had nothing to really write but thinking about bowling tomorrow for the first time with the new Ebonite "Clash" ball. I had the finger-holes in it drilled yesterday. Back to grading papers.
