a DIASTER travel story but AWESOME Indiana Christmas

We had a fantastic Christmas this year! Chase and I flew to Indiana to spend it with my family for the first time in 3 years after having spent the last two in Vegas with Chase's relatives (I worked last Christmas Day and Vegas was drive-able from Phoenix, sadly not really from the bay area).

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve service at College Park Church - over 20 Murphy's got to hear the Gospel!

We had a terrible time getting to Indy from San Jose though. Let me tell you about it.

We arrived at the San Jose airport on Dec. 20th having already known our 2pm flight from San Jose to Vegas (our connection) was delayed until 4:15pm due to a mechanical issue. We were going to miss our connection by 15 min. Do we take the chance? It's a little too risky for us. "Ok, so what's the next flight to Indy from Vegas?" we asked. 

Southwest gate agent: "All the flights from Vegas to Indy are booked until Dec. 24th."

What?? Christmas Eve? All because we are missing our flight because of a mechanical issue with YOUR plane?? That's what we thought in our heads...and I may have voiced. We asked if they could get us to any city within 4 hours of Indianapolis. "Well, we can get you to St. Louis on the 23rd."

By the sheer grace of God, Southwest just happened to add a flight from Vegas to Chicago as we were speaking to the gate agent. Like they JUST added it on while we were speaking with her. I know this because several people in front of us were looking to go to Chicago and there was nothing Southwest had available. The executives must have just gotten together to authorize an added on flight to Chicago that didn't exist seconds before, and there were like 8 seats available for our gate agents to access. Thank you JESUS! Prior to this, I. was. so. upset. I hadn't seen my family for Christmas for a few years partly because I'm a registered nurse and people get hurt and sick on holidays and need us to take care of them, which I happily do. But it doesn't go without consequences that are really tough - like being the only one from my large family missing for Christmas every year.

So we are re-booked on the flight from Vegas to Chicago. We arrived in Vegas with theoretically enough time to make our original flight from Vegas to Indy, if our plane hadn't been sitting on the runway for 20 minutes waiting for a gate to open up.

Fast forward a few hours and we are in Chicago at 1am (2am Indy time, 11pm CA time). We decided earlier to just go ahead and rent a car and drive through the night to Zionsville (where my parents live). 

Lets just say because of the severe weather and all the accident on I-65 what should have been a sub 3 hour drive turned into a 7 hour drive. One of the accidents had us sitting on the interstate without moving an inch for three hours. We decided it would be safest for me to drive the entire time because I know how to drive in snow, wind, ice, etc. and it's very specific. Thank goodness I brought my kindle and had the most fantastic book series to read (Mark of the Lion series...everyone will benefit from reading literally the best fictional trilogy of all mankind).

We arrived in Indy at 9am EST.  I was borderline breakdown.

But the fantastic Christmas we had with all my dad's brothers and their families in town more than made up for it. Let's just say it was lots of delicious homemade food and plenty of fine wine, like the really, really good stuff.

About left: Cousin Kelly Ruth, Grandma Jean, cousin Brian and his wife Megan, my mom, my sister's husband Spencer, and my brother Patrick. Middle right: Uncle Don and my dad, identical twins. Below left: More shots of family during prayer time before meal. Below right: the deliciously fine wine of which I spoke of earlier.

My handsome husband being the odd man
out and asking for "white wine."

Get it?? My married last name + our maiden name + my sister's married name (Irwin)??

My favorite part was opening up presents Christmas morning with just my immediate family. Because it was such great quality time and we all genuinely enjoy giving gifts to each other. My sister got my mom this really special coffee mug with a picture of her and my late Grandma Jackson on it. (She passed away this past May, you can read about the wonderful person she was here). My oldest brother Sean was so lively and hilarious the whole time and (as I was his "secret person" this year) got me the greatest thing ever - a dutch oven (which I just used to cook my first pot roast). My sister also makes these awesome calendars for my parents every year that they display in the kitchen. Above every month has pictures of the family. This year, rather than having the cover say "The Murphys," she did something a little more creative now that Stephanie and I no longer carry the Murphy name. I'll let you take a look below!

My parents beautiful tree in the sunroom!

My sister and her husband, Spencer.

Left: Little peachy (the youngest of the 5) Right: Old Seanson (the oldest of the 5)

The traditional "Murphy kids Stair Picture" on Christmas morning. We have expanded to include
 our spouses. This would not be complete if Sean (hidding in the back) didn't absolutely look
 bored to death every year this picture is taken.

Before we left - Chase and I had our own little Christmas. We exchanged gifts and opened the ones his parent's sent us. Every year we read the story of Christ's birth from the gospel of Luke. It was really special for us.

Chase reading the gospel of Luke at the tree

Our little living room decorated for our Christmas together in San Jose. Lots of candlelight!