As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Monday, January 7, 2019

Memory-Making Moments {Christmas 2018}




It seems I am later every year in gathering my thoughts and my "moments" from the holiday season. This season was particularly busy. From Thanksgiving right up until now, there have been recitals, gatherings, visitors, parties, events, and a husband on vacation. We had a couple of days of school last week, but starting today, my plan is to hunker down for the long haul. The winter term is actually my favorite, simply because there are fewer days off, fewer interruptions, and more inside time. I like to "dig in" to our studies in January and ride it out as long as possible, hopefully until we get spring fever! (And it's our last winter term. ~sniff~)

I realize that many of you have put Christmas away for another year (me too). And most of you are probably already working on your plans and goals for the new year (me too - some). But I am going to take a bit of time to gather and reflect before forging ahead.


Here are some highlights . . . 

Because Ryan and Sarah were traveling to visit her parents during Christmas, we gathered with them before they left. We shared tokens of our love, lots of laughs (especially when the kids opened the game that Aunt Kati gave them), and treats from both houses. 




Homemade eggnog ice cream . . . 

and lots of yummy cookies!






On Christmas Eve, five of our grands (Maddie, Owen, Ben, Alaine, and Macie) and our son-in-law Brian acted in a nativity play.











Christmas Day began with the girls opening gifts,




and then the grandparents joined us for breakfast. The menu is always the same: Christmas Morning Casserole (sausage, egg, and cheese mixture with a hash brown crust), crock pot oatmeal, orange rolls (Gammy brings this; we couldn't have Christmas breakfast without it!), sausage balls (also by Gammy), fruit, orange juice, and coffee. 
Gammy's orange rolls



Mom wears her necklace of Christmas lights in honor of her sister,
my Aunt Lynn, who passed away on Christmas Day several years ago.
Lynn loved Christmas and wore her own necklace of lights during her final days on earth.


In the afternoon, Kristin and Brian and their kids came to celebrate!

It was a first Christmas for baby Judah. This sweet boy melts Gran's heart!



You gotta love when your shirt matches your gift! :) 






Then it was time for Gammy and Gampy to come back, and for my sister Linda to join Celebration Round 3! 








(Round 3 included desserts.) 


All the girls who wore burgundy and gray on Christmas Day!




The days after Christmas were full too! We visited Kristin and family in their home . . .

♥ oldest and youngest brothers ♥



. . . and my parents at their home! (Yummy things at both places!)

The evening after Christmas, Andrew arrived for a nice long visit!
I was able to find toy tardigrades to give to this nature-loving pair.
(Google tardigrades if you must, but don't say I didn't warn you . . . )

Andrew's parents also traveled to Maryland to visit family and to meet Kati. We were delighted to have them for dinner one evening so that we could get to know them a bit ourselves.


I already told you about the New Year's Eve party that we all attended . . . you know, the one in which Kati and Andrew served octopus?



Tonight, Andrew is back at home. (But Kati has plane tickets for an upcoming visit.)

School is back in session. We're on the home stretch. (~sniff~)

I was in my nightgown before Jeopardy. (Ahhhh . . . )

Christmas season 2018 is past . . . but the memories linger . . . 


18 comments:

  1. Oh and a lovely lot of memories there are! I really enjoyed seeing the interaction between Ron and the baby grand. Sweetness! Bekah’s red dress is so pretty and she looks wonderful in it. Smiling to see Kati looking so very happy. Not saying any more about that. Enjoy the studies. Whatever will you do next year? Hmmmm...I’m sure that The Lord has plans.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Ron and Judah were sharing laughs! Kind of makes up for this past Sunday when Judah bawled when Ron tried to hold him. Such is life with babies! :)

      I am sure that the Lord has plans too, but it is hard to imagine being on a different path!

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  2. I love it all! Love seeing the beautiful faces of all these dear ones! You had a wonderful Christmas!

    We need to have a visit soon! Let’s talk about it okay?

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  3. Every photo is full of Christmas Joy! I'm always amazed at how well you document every event. My goodness your grands are really growing up. I couldn't believe how big the wee one has gotten. He is adorable, but so are all of them! ♥

    ReplyDelete
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    1. They are growing up so fast it makes my head spin! I must agree that they are adorable!

      Sometimes, I don't take as many photos as I'd like to, and they aren't always the best photo quality, but I love capturing moments . . . memories recorded for posterity.

      Delete
  4. You do a good job of documenting it all! I even enjoyed seeing your Christmas wrapping! Everyone looks happy! I hope you have a good winter season of your last homeschooling (hey, I know grandparents who homeschool!)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. As I said to Martha Ellen, I love capturing moments and recording the memories!

      Thanks for the good wishes for our winter term. My daughter and my daughter-in-law are both doing a fine job of educating our grands! I am, however, planning to keep our homeschool girls' book club running as long as there is interest.

      Delete
  5. What a delightful collection of memorable photos.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great pictures, wonderful memories! Love Bekah's red dress. Blessings to you and your family! Sharon D.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you, Sharon, and I'll pass the word along to Bekah! Blessings to you and yours as well!

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  7. Glad you had some downtime in your nightgown before Jeopardy. Wow, you had some lovely get togethers for Christmas and New Year celebrations. The best of family times for sure. Always seems like a blur once it is all over. Now I'm off to google tardigrades.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It does seem like a blur, doesn't it? I think that's why I take the time to record it . . . for my own memory anyway!

      What did you think of those tardigrades? 😮

      Delete
  8. Interesting about the tardigrades, never heard of them before!! Glad they you all have a sense of humor. Nice to see a picture or two at your parents house also. We had some of the same foods it looks like. My daughter-in-law makes a similar looking beverage in the clear glass mug...seven-up, cranberry juice? Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I had never heard of tardigrades before this fall. I am not sure that I wanted to know that those things are in the moss in my yard! Eek!

      The drink in my husband's mug was Sparkling ICE Spring Water, Cranberry Frost flavor, a sugar-free drink. It is pretty, isn't it?

      Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  9. Lots of laughter and good times are evident in these photos. A great collection of memories to add to the store. I noticed someone wearing a finger splint - broken finger, perhaps?
    Happy New Year, Cheryl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy New Year to you too, Lorrie! (Somehow, this comment got lost in the shuffle so I'm late in responding.)

      You are a notice-er! Yes, Maddie broke her finger just before Christmas, so she wore the splint as a holiday accessory!

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