Memory-Making Moments: Christmas Days and Beyond

For the past several years, we have had our family Christmas Gathering on the Sunday before Christmas. As the family has grown and the grands are getting older, this concession allows the individual families to celebrate Christmas Day in their own homes. 

(To my children: turn away while I have this little discussion with my readers. 😉)

Even though I would love for our celebration to be just as it was for many years, I believe that it is important - and even necessary - to be able to give and bend and change and concede as the family grows, as life changes and as circumstances are different. To refuse to change is not reality. To refuse to change is to miss out on new joys! 

(Okay, kids. You can pop back in.)

On the Saturday before Christmas, Ryan and family arrived! It was Kati's year to spend Thanksgiving with us, so she and her family were not here at Christmas. 

Some highlights from our celebration . . . 

✨ Our own chamber music! 

Before the meal, Eve and Nora played some beautiful music. It was almost surreal to hear the glorious strains of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" coming from our sunroom! 

Here is an excerpt:

✨ Some surprise entertainment! 

During the party, there were some unusual things happening. Ryan kept sharing bits of trivia about aliens. Kristin started rounds of applause. Several times, Peter began to make an announcement, and then changed his mind. Ben began singing a Christmas song and everyone joined in. Owen kept making toasts! 

Although some of us wondered, no one said anything. Finally Ryan told us that many of them had one random thing to do and they were waiting for someone to question it! We had many laughs thinking about all of the craziness that had happened while we thought we were having a "normal" party! 

✨ There was a screaming goat! 

I had come across a little "screaming goat," dressed in an ugly Christmas sweater, no less. 

Anyone who wanted the goat put his or her name in a basket and then the winner's name was drawn. 

It was four-year-old Joanna! 

At first, she felt shy and was hesitant to make him "scream," but by the end of the gathering, he was screaming a'plenty! 😂 

✨ A prize! 

Ryan brought a large jar filled with Skittles. The one who guessed the closest to the actual number in the jar won the jar of candy plus a $50 Visa card. Owen's guess was only ONE over the total, so he took home the prize! (And Gran did not get any photos of his victory.) 

✨ The precious faces of my dear ones and the joy of celebrating together! 

And isn't that the very best part of a gathering? 

The days following brought more joys: playing games with the little girlies (before breakfast!), watching Katrina ride her new birthday scooter, party leftovers, simple meals, Christmas movies, conversation. 

After Ryan and Sarah and the children left to return home, there was still Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! 

We went to our church's Christmas Eve candlelight service.

Christmas morning began with our traditional breakfast. 

Where once we had a table filled with family (Ron and I, Kati and Bekah, Ron's parents, and my parents), this year there were four of us. Life continually changes, doesn't it? 

Make the memories! 

We enjoyed watching Bekah, our "only" (only child still living at home, that is, although she is certainly not a child) open gifts. An espresso machine was a hit . . . and all three of us can enjoy this gift! 

And beyond . . .

There was a visit and goodies at Mom's house, slow mornings in the sunroom (sipping coffee from a vintage mug, a gift from my sister), a visit with Kristin and family (in which I took no photos 🤦🏻‍♀️), a delightful New Year's Eve party with friends (although we were home long before midnight), a day spent with our seven-year-old grandson Judah, a trip to visit my sister Linda and celebrate her December birthday.  

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