For months we had anticipated a family gathering in DC with Matt, AJ and Ainsley hosting.
To get there meant planning. Well plans were made by Laura and Cindy. Gifts were purchased and time slowly went by.
It also meant that I led my final Christmas worship service before retirement. That was on my mind a bit.
Cindy and I drove to The Denver airport to hook up with Laura, BJ, Lily, Ben and Ryan. We helped with bags and kids and made it just fine.
The flight went great. The grandkids are such great travelers.
We arrived in Dulles where we met up with Matt. Then it was home to their place.
It was so good being with everyone. AJ and Matt were such good hosts.
Ainsley and Ryan are so very cute. Ryan was more familiar with us but Ainsley hadn't been with Cindy and I since her baptism. But she had no problems with us. In fact I got a smile or two out of her.
During our time there we did a number of things. The National Arboritum on the Mall was great. The weather was perfect - warm. We managed to see a beautiful exhibit of trains among the plants. We ate out some, celebrated Christmas with presents, watched the kids and their excitement, talked, laughed and simply ate up the time shared.
I know it was long for our hosts and by the time we left we were ready to go home.
