Our Christmas in photos... - 02:08, Saturday, December 27, 2008

We were blessed with a lovely and peaceful Christmas this year.  We began the day with singing carols around the piano and the reading of the birth of Christ in the Bible.  The kids then exchanged the simple gifts they had for each other ( they drew names so each child had one sibling to purchase or make a gift for).   We enjoyed a quiet morning.... Christmas is very very simple in our home.......

Here are a few snapshots chronicling our day........

We began our Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve. Our church sponsored the anual town Christmas service & nativity pageant.

Here is our Sarah Grace as a "sheperd" .. sore amazed when the angels appeared.......if you look below sarah on the ground are the "sheep"..... they were precious! Dressed all in white and with furry backs......

Bowing down before the baby Jesus..........

Sarah Grace, Peter & Paul enjoying their Christmas treats....... check out those smiles!

 Peter very very happy with his farm tractor he received from his lil' sis, naomi .......he ended up fililing it with Christmas candy.......

Dru working hard on getting our hearth / chimney completed for our wood stove.......yes , he did work on Christmas day! He got the chimney re-mortered ( it was in disrepair) , replastered and got our hearth layed out and tile installed!!!

Hannah, holding up Jesus' Birthday cake!!  She is my "right arm" in the kitchen!

 Big brother Jacob, taking out little sibs'  Naomi, Sarah & John to go sledding on the "big hill"......yes, we enjoyed a white Christmas!

My "big" helpers on Christmas day were Rachel Anne & Hannah Elizabeth! They were indespensable to me! We baked and baked and baked........ good job girls!

Oh yes, I can't forget our #1 dish washer -- Miss. Rebekah! She did load after load after load......

After all our hard work....... we sat down for a lovely Christmas dinner of Spiral Honey ham...... mandarin orange salad...... swedish cardamon braids....... vegetable medley casserole &  yams & pecans.......

And here is the "resident cook" ......... "your's truly"...... taking a minute to enjoy the presentation of this bounteous feast before we devour it!   Yes, I do look tired..... I worked hard all day to create this feast! :)

I so enjoyed spending the day at home - baking and cooking with my girls...... while little ones played with their new toys and big boy jacob and dad worked on the hearth..... After our delightful dinner we bundled up and caroled again..... we got back about 10 pm and then sang  "Happy B-day Jesus" and enjoyed our delicious Rum & Pecan Cake, yummy Christmas cookies and homemade eggnog!  We ended the day watching The Christmas Carol, one of my favorite Christmas movies.

It seems like just yesterday we were anticipating this special day and here we are "looking back" to yet another Christmas past......... and looking foward to another Christmas yet to come.......

I always feel a little bit of sad when I realize Christmas has passed again........ I love this time of year.... and the girls and I all sighed sadly as we started to clean and take down decor........I keep reminding them that there will be yet another Christmas again and of course each and every day is reason to celebrate the JOYous news that our Lord lives & reigns!  I know many folks are relieved that Christmas is "over" but not so for me. I love this time of year.... I love the carols, the lights, the sounds and smells..... and most of all I love the focus on Jesus.......... ahhh....... I will miss Christmas...... every year I feel this way........

Praying & hoping that the beauty  & memories created this season  warms our hearts all thru the coming  year.... until next Christmas.

~ gloria ~