Christmas Day

This Christmas was like no other in that I was just incredibly thankful to be here for it. My perspective on life and living is forever changed and each day, each holiday, each hug is cherished just a little bit more.

Not knowing how I would be feeling, or who would be sick, we tossed around several different scenarios of how Christmas would happen this year. In the end we decided to host at our house, which is how we've done Christmas for the past 18 years. It was so important to me to keep with tradition and not have something like stupid cancer throw everything off. And while it was here, I really didn't do much in the way of hosting...all the ladies outdid themselves with the food they made and brought and of course, Uncle Lee the bacon master!

And we had a legit Christmas miracle...everyone (except my mom's husband) was present and feeling well. I think its safe to say this has never happened. This year we had 15 adults and 15 children and usually putting all those people together for a couple days creates a germ free-for-all. God is so good to work out those details!

There are entirely too many pictures here (taken by me, Amy and Elizabeth/Tim), but I deemed them all essential for telling the story of the day. You can just do a quick scroll through, or skip them entirely, but I wanted to have them forever.

Many of the cousins slept over and the girls woke up and got right to looking at the tags on presents.

If there are any "stocking rules" in existence, we've definitely broken them. And hanging by the chimney with care? Impossible!

Miss Sadie Lou Who was so fun to have around. Such a good, sweet baby!

Cousins...the only thing any of these kids want for Christmas.

The kids all pick one name and the adults all pick a name.

The adult swap....ALWAYS good for some gut-splitting laughs. Its a secret swap so there is often some clever packaging and tagging.

Some Aunt Bonnie and Amy goodness right there.

And then the ever-popular "talent" show. As you will see, its an "anything goes" kind of event.

With the work of some strong men, the dining room is transformed into a theater, live and unedited.

My dad and Kiki playing the part of Madison and Renna doing a dance.

C4 has mad juggling skills, the glow-in-the-dark balls adding an extra "awe" effect.

All on their own the kids put on a play of the night of Jesus's birth.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days of the year. The start of the day is usually filled with last minute preparations, with electricity building in the air and winds down to a sweet reunion with family and a quiet, reflective time of what Christmas really means to me and to the world. A Savior, my Savior has been born!

I was fully prepared to stay back at the house and get food warmed up while the rest of the family was at the Christmas Eve service at church, but it really meant a lot to my brother that I not be left out, so he arranged to bring the service to me, which was just incredibly special!

It just so happens we have a myriad of pastors and singers and musicians and ushers and scripture readers in the family. And Amy's homeschool room and from entry serve very nicely as a make-shift chapel. Everyone worked to pull the pieces together and it was a holy night.

The oldest child from each family was asked to read an assigned passage.

And I got to see the girls perform their recital song live, Casting Crowns' Peace on Earth.

Dad led us in several traditional Christmas carols. The four 3 & 5 year-old men served as ushers to pass out communion and then our candles.

The "back pew" group.

Then it was party time and enjoying good company and the delicious spread of dinner and desserts that Amy put on....she and Colombo make a great team and are incredible hosts.

  My brother Tim and his sweet young family.

My sister Amy and her precious brood.

Yours truly with our crew.

And one Texas sister and her family is missing. :(

Packed in Amy's car headed down to my house to play Santa....stuffing the stockings is no joke around here.

Thanks for many of the pictures, Elizabeth!