Memory-Making Moments {Christmas 2016}

Memory-making moments. 

There were many during this Christmas of 2016.

It was our first Christmas at Pineapple House! We so enjoyed the gathering space (twenty-one of us, and not a bit crowded), and we were grateful. It was also the first Christmas in many years that Ryan and his family were here to celebrate with us. How delightful that was!

It was a time of . . .

          gathering

          loving

          feasting

          rejoicing

          worshiping 

          giving

          celebrating the One who came to redeem! 

Christmas Eve

Those faces! 😁

Christmas Day

So blessed to share breakfast with our parents!

Gotta love a little boy with chocolate on his lips!

The latest edition of "What will Ryan do with his gift wrap today?"

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was the time of special music, 

singing and playing the story of Messiah come to earth!

Kristin accompanied four of her children as they sang a medley of "Away in a Manger" and "Happy Birthday to Jesus." So beautiful!

Ryan sang and played a stirring rendition of "Advent Suite,"

and then "Unto Us a Son is Given," with harmony added by his daughter Eve (9) and his wife Sarah.
Wonder-ful!

Bekah played "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (her recital piece). Owen (10) played "The Twelve Days of Christmas. And Nora (7) and Bekah played a piano duet of "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee."
Delightful!

And after a day of joyful celebration . . .

our bodies were spent, but our hearts were full!