I still haven't figure out how to add pictures here but I don't want to forget these moments.
We had a wonderful Christmas this year. I'd love to have a beautifully written post but my thoughts are coming as bullets so here are some things I want to remember from this year.
- tears this morning as James read the card from our oldest
- the beauty of the candlelight Christmas Eve ceremony
- the difference a year has made at our new church- I remember feeling so alone last New Years Day at the service. looking around and seeing no one we knew. Now a year later, we've connected with so many people.
- reading the Jesse tree each night and last night reading about Mary and Joseph going on a journey. the devotion asked what journeys we've been on and last night we had so many to list- EP, homeschool soccer, methotrexate, students group, ..
- Christmas caroling downtown and getting to go on the Santa carriage ride- V was so excited when they asked who wanted to go and he got to!!
- Rick's Place fun day! V running across to see Santa. Kids making friends. the beauty and peace of the place
- Free gift wrapping- a practical way to show God's love
- Christmas caroling at the nursing home. seeing a worker at nursing home in tears because she was watching the children interact with the residents. Feeling at peace as we sang carols with the residents.
- Seeing the joy in the kids' faces as they gave gifts to each other- homemade gifts, their own things, ... like one giving his brother a shirt he knew he'd like, another a knife he knew would bring a smile, another a game pad, ...
- watching the kids building with Daddy and making/ decorating cookies with me. K made beautiful frames, C made a "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" sign for Grandma/ Pops Leon, KG made beautiful ornaments in Elementary Art.
- meeting new neighbors as we gave them Christmas cookies and sang
- Bobby and Meta bringing gifts to the kids
- a wonderful EP Women's Night
- Celebrating Christmas Adam (even if not everyone remembered it )
- Driving around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights and inflatables
- Hearing excited kids wait until 7 am to get up and then cries of delight for nerf gun bullets. Thankful kids who were excited about getting their nerf guns and wii back after they'd be away for awhile.
- Watching the kids enthralled by the Best Christmas Pageant Ever and the Nutcracker.
- Having a super Students group Christmas party while the serve team enjoyed Michael Jr comedy and the kids enjoyed "Muppets' Christmas Carol"
- Reading "A Tree for Peter"
- Watching Christmas movies- lots on Pureflix
- Christmas Tree Miracle
- A Christmas Snow
- Christmas Angel
- My Dad is Scrooge
- Christmas Eve Miracle
- Angels in the Snow
- Christmas Child
- Silver Bells
- Watching the Polar Express with Daddy "Hot Hot Hot Hot Chocolate"
Here's a fun game for next year:
or these
