Christmas found the Annie Moses Band touring in sunny Florida, where the palm trees waved under a balmy blue sky in the merry cheer of the season. We were very happy for the warmth, and Mario and Javier even had the gumption to wear shorts and tees for most of the Christmas week.
As we would be playing Christmas Eve and driving back to Nashville on Christmas Day, we, finding ourselves stopped for a couple days between concerts in Tampa, decided to take advantage of a free afternoon to power-shop for presents. The younger children and Daddy spent the night amid swarms of wrapping paper, tape rolls, and scissors from the friendly neighborhood Target, trying to wrap the assorted gifts before the early Christmas on the morrow. Gretchen and Daddy won the neatness award, even though Camille struggled her best to come in second-place.
On the 23rd we sat back in a quiet little corner of Maggiano’s Ristorante, and, after a delectable Italian feast of salad, fried zucchini, ravioli, lasagna, and tira-misu, we all opened our presents and went around the table professing our thanks for the things God had been revealing in our lives during the past year.
The next day we drove into Clearwater, where we were received with overwhelming hospitality and generosity by South Biscayne Church. We were so grateful for the delicious food, the enjoyable conversations, the wonderful help, and the beautiful experience we had playing in their Christmas Eve services.
Christmas Day found us driving home. We read the Christmas Story and sang carols all the journey, while looking out for every Pilot or Starbucks Coffee, as these were the only relics of civilization left alive on the holy day. Once home we frantically rotated laundry and repacked, slept for a few hours, and flew out the next morning for Northern California. It was so very beautiful, and the people there were so kind and hospitable we enjoyed ourselves immensely. We played concerts on the 27th and the 28th, and then rested and worked for two days until New Years Eve, when we performed for a packed and rowdy audience. We had a wonderful time! Afterwards the very kind staff of Capital Christian Center invited us to their New Years’ party, where we partook of some yummy hors d’oeuvres and a whole lot of fun and laughter and fellowship. We especially enjoyed the dance-offs 
The next morning we flew back home to Nashville, bright in the New Year.
And that’s our holiday-in-review…
One Comment
Yall are something else, you know that? As busy as y’all are and yet y’all are so gracious and kind to write about your travels and are so thankful amidst amazing busyness. We love to hear how you went Christmas shopping and the wrapping contest and celebrated Christmas in a restaurant. Would I be that willing to have Christmas in such a different way? It made me think and ponder what my attitude might have been like. And singing Christmas songs on the way home and reading the amazing Christmas story… your eyes were focused on HIm as you travelled that day. Thank you for pointing to Him and in turn helping lots of people remember that it does not matter where you are Christmas day…we can be thankful we are with family and most importantly for what the day stands for. We are ALL pilgrims after all, aren’t we and we will be journeying until He calls HIs children home! Thanks for letting all of us know what’s been going on and we will continue to pray! Love to you all, the Halls