I’m not sad to be going home; to our kiddos and our house, to Christmas in Minnesota (where there’s snow), to familiar. There’s a certain midwestern set of sensibilities that exists sparingly on the west coast and deep, Californian vanities that serve as subtle, yet constant reminders of the fact that I am a stranger here. I’m 100% okay with that.

So after 4 days in SanFran and Sausalito, our transfer trip is concluding. I ask the wife way too often how she’s feeling, if she’s feeling anything. Her responses have eroded from “I’m fine,” to things like “Super transfery,” or “Transferrific!” My life is a sitcom.

It will be nice to have one more day to rest and do family things before a short work week followed by another holiday weekend. I’m excited to be with my littles and do Christmas with them; California produced some fun novelties to put under our tree.

What’s next? Tuesday is when a pregnancy test will likely be telling. Anything before then is too unreliable to trust. After Tuesday, a couple of blood tests will defend the claims made by the pee-stick of life. Fun times ahead.

Anyway, I’ll leave you with this:

“‘And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Merry Christmas!