It's Boxing Day and I'm at the farm where I grew up. Yesterday my brother Malcom, his wife Sandra and their (adult) children--Scott and Tanya--hosted most of the Campbell side of the family here. There were 25 people, including lots of small children, which was great fun. I helped with preparations, which gave my legs lots of exercise moving things up and down the stairs. The basement was the only part of the house that was big enough to seat everyone. December 24 was my birthday. David and I drove out from Saskatoon and had lunch here (or "dinner", if I revert to my rural roots) before David drove to lead Christmas Eve services in Shellbrook and Leask. He's coming back to the farm today; then we'll drive down to Regina Beach to visit my sister Brenda and her partner Greg, who were also here yesterday. I'll take a bus back to Saskatoon from there--because I have to finish packing my stuff at work before the Saskatoon Open Door Society moves--and David will drive down to Minot, North Dakota to visit friends he went to university with. I usually go with him. When I told him that I couldn't go this time, he said, "Well, I might as well not go. It's YOU they want to see, anyway." He was joking, at least to some extent!