Memory-Making Moments {Christmas 2019}

There were so many moments to treasure during this Christmas season.

Be forewarned: This is going to be a grab-yourself-a-cuppa kind of post! You won't hurt my feelings if you click away. But I need to document these moments before the time gets away from me, so here goes! 

If you're a regular visitor here at Thinking About Home, you know that there have been some big changes here this year. The holiday season reflected those changes and some things were hard. But there was (there is) much to celebrate and so we collected those sweet and special moments, the gifts from His Hands.

Ron's family Christmas party was a mix of somber and sweet. Our brother-in-law lost his father the week before, and another brother-in-law is having some serious health struggles. But we were thrilled that Ron's 91-year-old mom was able to come to the party! She has declined in health during the past several months, so it was extra special to have her with us. Here she is with her eight children . . . a memory-making moment indeed.

This is a group who loves to sing! I'll share a little sample with you . . .

Ron, Bekah, and I, as well as Kristin, Maddie, and Owen, had the opportunity to sing in our church's Christmas cantata this year. Singing in a choir is my happy place. It had been many years since I had sung in a cantata and, oh boy, did I enjoy it! I have no photos or videos to share with you, but here the three of us are enjoying some down time afterward. 

Since Ryan and Sarah were traveling to her parents' home for Christmas, we gathered with their family a few days before they left.

We shared a meal and some Christmas goodies and a long conversation about a man from our church who died in a car accident in December of 1989. Thirty years ago. Although Ryan was just a small boy, he remembers. Thirty years ago . . . and it was good to reminisce and talk about life and death and what is really important, because that is why He came. He came to redeem us. He came to bring us eternal life. 

We also shared gifts, those tokens of our love for one another. I loved seeing the smiles!

My own face had a big smile. (Papa's did too.) Look at these beautiful handmade gifts, made by the hands of my grandchildren: a quilted throw made by Eve (12), a wood burned sign made by Nora(10), and a wooden spoon whittled by Peter (9). Delightful! 

Aunt Kati had knitted hats for all of Andrew's and her nieces and nephews and for Andrew's young cousins (who are nearly like his nieces and nephews) . . . SIXTEEN hats in all!

It was an evening to treasure!

After our Christmas Eve service . . .

. . . it was home for pizza (is that the easiest Christmas Eve supper?) and the opening of gifts between Ron and me. 

Our new fur-boy's first Christmas toy!

Christmas morning seemed especially quiet without our Kati. But knowing that Andrew and his family were making her first Christmas with them a special occasion was a real comfort. 

So Bekah was the center of attention. Not exactly her cup of tea, but she managed . . . especially when one of her gifts was the promise of a trip to visit Kati! 

The menu for our Christmas breakfast is the same every year,

including these orange rolls made by my mom. Yum!

We were a smaller group this year, missing Kati and Ron's mom. (Ron is the photographer in this one.) 

Around midday, Kristin and Brian and family came to celebrate!

More "Aunt Kati" hats. I think Kati may have knitted her fingers to the bone! But aren't all these babies precious in their hats?

Judah had lots of fun with his!

Judah got a box of board books from Papa and Gran. He unwrapped the tissue from the first one . . . and ran over to big brother Owen! Sooooo cute! (It took him a  l o n g  time to open his package, because someone had to read each one to him.)

A "little" treat from Ryan and family . . .

When my parents returned and my sister arrived, we set up the Christmas buffet, including Bekah's Scarlett O'Hara punch.

There was another memory-making moment during the afternoon, although there is no photo.

I connected the Bluetooth speaker to my phone and we all gathered around for a special announcement from Kati and Andrew! The previous week, they had learned that their baby is a BOY, and now we were to hear the name that they had decided on! It is . . .

CALEB MARK 

and we couldn't be happier! It was exciting to hear that news in the middle of our Christmas celebration!

Our grandson Gavin drew this picture of Gammy and Gampy's cat, Pilgrim! (Don't we have some talented grandchildren?!) 

A decadent dessert finale,

and then our dear ones departed.

With such a late Thanksgiving this year, the Christmas season seemed to fly by and it was all I could do to keep up some days. (I have made a note to have a stern talk with my autumn-loving self next year. I will tell her that it will still be autumn even if she does start thinking about Christmas a little bit ahead. Do you think she will listen?)

But so many sweet memories were made during this season, the Lord was faithful to fill in our empty spaces . . . and we are grateful. 

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

Galatians 4:4-7