That evening after a difficult day and a week that seemed like a wild ride in MANY ways, Truitt and I were set to babysit while Clarke and Jennifer went to their small group Bible study. Though we were tired and stressed, we decided to take the kids downtown to see the Christmas lights.
That was the best decision we had made all week! Before we could get out of their own neighborhood Huston was exclaiming excitedly over each lighted house. "Look, Grandpa, look at those lights!" We stopped by "Old McDonalds" to get some cookies to go and headed down Hulen. Each business that had even the most modest Christmas decor or lights was a total joy to Huston. We had the radio on and he really lit up when "Joy the World" filled up the car with its happy Christmas melody. "Joy to the Wold! Joy to the Wold!," he cried in his "can't say my r's" kind of way.".
When we reached Fort Worth's most lighted home in Rivercrest both the kids were glowing with that very special childish Christmas joy. We got out to walk around it and Huston immediately noticed the one our of "zillions" of light bulbs that was out. "Why is that one bunned out, Mimi? Where do the lights plug in?" He wasn't satisfied until he saw at least one plug outlet, then he could relax. Arden's little face glowed brighter than the lights and Huston ran up and down the sidewalk in amazement.
We then drove downtown, walked past "daddy's office building" and found our way to the big city Christmas tree. The whole time Huston was wearing his sunglasses so he looked like "Joe Cool". Everyone who encountered him laughed and told him that he was a very "cool dude".
He really lived out his reputation when we encountered a street jazz musician playing his key board. Huston danced around while Truitt put dollar bills in the talented man's money jar.
Lastly, we drove past the incredibly colored trees around the Pier One building. When we asked Huston what he thought about those he said in an awestruck voice, "They are beautiful!"
He also informed us that the red ones were his "flavorite".
Joy to the Wold, INDEED!
