Several hours later, Jack and Sue arrive at his parents’ house. Christmas lights are turned on outside and on top of the lawn there is a nativity scene. A Christmas wreath hangs on the front door. And as usual his mom is already waiting outside for them when they walk up the front steps with Levi behind them. Jack kisses his mom on the cheek and lets Sue enter the house first. His dad comes over and they embrace. He tells his dad that he has suitcases in the rental car; he is going to bring them in.  His dad goes out to the car and helps Jack carry in several large suitcases.

Jack and Sue packed Christmas gifts in one suitcase for his family. They went inside and Matt comes over to help carry the suitcases upstairs. Sue is in the living room looking at all the family photographs on the wall. A Christmas tree has already been decorated with white and multi-colored lights, popcorn strings, icicles, candy canes, tiny silver bells, and colorful ornaments. Pine boughs and holly trail down on either side of the staircase. Potted red and white poinsettias are placed throughout the house. There is a star on top of the Christmas tree. Everything looks so beautiful.

Jack’s mom tells him to put Sue’s things in Meg’s old room. Meg and Matt have their own house five blocks down the street. Abby comes from the kitchen with Sarah and Tom. They rush over to hug Jack and Sue. The kids take Levi out to the backyard and play with him. After the suitcases are put away upstairs, Jack comes into the kitchen to join his family. They are eating chocolate chip banana bread. And Jack’s mom has apple cinnamon pie baking in the oven. For dinner, Jack’s mom prepared some of his favorite dishes like shrimp salad with pineapple and pecans, corn with basil butter, vegetable soup, grilled steak with cabernet, and crab stuffed mushrooms.

After dinner, Jack and Matt clean up the kitchen. They went into the living room, Jack’s mom serve apple cinnamon pie for dessert and drink coffee. The weather channel forecast at least 12 inches of snow for Christmas Day. Sarah and Tom are excited about getting to play in the snow. They want to go sledding and have a snowball fight. It is getting late so everyone goes to bed. Tomorrow morning, Jack’s mom has to prepare her Christmas Eve dinner. Before that everyone goes to  Elkhorn Mills Children’s Center  to spend time with the children there and give them a Christmas party.