The DeBrys Do It Again

 Another "Saturday before Christmas," another awesome DeBry party.  Even though we were all just here in September for Nana's 96th birthday, it is great to see everyone.  I just love these people.  "Kind" seems like a boring and benign word, but it is the word that comes to mind when I think about the DeBrys.  Nana and Opa have always been so kind, so gentle, and their progeny is carrying on their legacy just brilliantly.  I think Opa would be - and is - very proud.  We feel him close and know that he watches over us.  To think that Opa knows each one of the 50 kids who were here tonight, and the couple dozen who weren't, and their parents, and their future children...it almost gives you a sense of the love Heavenly Father must feel for His children, and the capacity for love He must have, to know us each individually and to bless us each according to our needs.  That Opa and Nana could impart to us a glimpse of heaven as their legacy is all anyone could ask in terms of success in life. 

 Marilyn with Katherine and Clark, who were terrified of Santa, i.e., their own dad!

 Jessie, Eliza, Golda, Ruby at the teen table.  Marilyn and I had a good discussion with them about dating, in Utah vs. Tennessee.  What a sharp group of kids, including the others:  James, Matthew, Erik, Danny, Mike and Brittany, Anthony, MacKenzie, Keaton, Preston, Parker...and on down the line...

We had a last-minute substitution when Trajan got delayed.  David filled in and was a great Santa, even if some of his own kids wouldn't come near him!  Clark wouldn't even take a chance.  He had no idea it was his dad!  Thanks, David.  Sorry you got roped into it after all, but everyone was glad you did it.

 Jon, Laura, Sydney

 Danny, Mike, Frank

 Stewart and Anthony.  Anthony is waiting for a heart transplant.  We're with you all the way!  Anyone who wants to can donate here.

 Frank, Eli, Danny, Erik

 Malinda brought a copy of her new CD!  She is a world-class fiddler.  She has won many competitions, and now her students are winning them all.  Hey Malinda, I wanted a copy of your CD!  How can I get one?!  And congratulations!

 Uncle Mark, Uncle Jim and Uncle Bob, three handsome, classy guys.

 It was a huge treat to have David and Marilyn and their eight kids here from Tennessee!  I was so excited to see them.  They drove over 36 hours to get here, and we are so glad!  We had a little after-party, when the kids broke into the ice cream, the egg nog and all the neighbor treats.  Scott even went to the store for more ice cream!  I loved it!  With kids eating ice cream, who could leave, especially when they came so far to be here!  We sat down with Coco, Laura and Gordon and David and Marilyn and covered some hefty subjects.  Laura was asking me about my "dark" past, and Scott said later, "Do your cousins know all about you in college?"  I said, "DeBrys only see strengths.  They turn a blind eye to the negative, so they probably don't."  (Just for the record, I was a model citizen in college and never did anything that isn't perfectly legal in Colorado.  So Erik, when you go to college next year, just remember:  The Debrys think you're wonderful, and nothing can change their minds.)

It is a blessing to be surrounded by such unconditional love, and it goes along with what Laura and I were saying about our kids.  That each of them has been blessed with innate strengths and abilities which are unique to them, and that they are all going to be just fine.  We love them so much.

I just LOVE this little thing!  Her strength is cuteness.

 Xanthe is Uncle Jim's favorite...besides the others.

His strength is being irresistibly adorable

 Coco and Samantha.  Samantha has always been a breath - sometimes a breeze, sometimes a tsunami - of excitement.  I always want to be in her orbit, to see what's cooking.  She takes after Aunt Pat so much, I think.

 Waiting to see if any fun cousins come!

 MacKenzie and Nana

 Uncle Jim brought his family directory, determined to sort out which kid was which.  With 60 kids, that is an ambitious project!  The kids crowded around, eager to be acknowledged by Uncle Jim.  Here are Adaline and Grace, with maybe Peter and Eleanor, and James on the side.

 There goes Santa, up the "chimney!"

 Cuties!

 Ari and Aunt Rita.  I think Rita was behind the BYU computer scheme!  hee hee.  She look so innocent...or does she!?

 We pulled up a picture that Samantha had posted on fb, with Opa and Nana, Bob and Pat.  SOMEBODY (Gordon) changed the background to a BYU log.  Ari was outraged.  Gordon, I can't believe you would vandalize our computer like that!  You'll have the last laugh if any of our kids get into BYU!  :)

 David's kids like him, now that he's not wearing the beard and weird outfit!

Erik, Eli and my cousin Jon.  We missed Sandra and Peter!  We missed everyone who wasn't with us.  I feel lucky to have this family, as well as my dad's side, The Kings, and the whole slew of Dopps and Hills I claim as my own.  If you have family, take good care of them, do everything you can to hang onto them, and treat them like they are everything.  Because...they are.