Christmas Memories....

Oh Christmas Tree!
Aleyna's Gingerbread Express!
Juliet and Jocelyn. I am rather upset not to see Jenavieve in her tutu!
Moriah, Aiden, Aleyna, and the ever present Bitty Baby!
James, Robert, and Edwin. Dryscha made shirts like this for all the kids.
My Ruger baby!

The Birthday of a King

A King. Born in a stable. Hard to wrap your mind around. I love to think, to ponder, about that day. Mary was quite young. Away from home. In a dirty place. This year Jenavieve was born amidst all the technology that we have to offer. What a contrast. He didn't have to be born. He didn't have to leave the cleanliness of Heaven to come to the dirtiness of earth. He chose to.

All is Calm??

The oldest and the youngest.
Mom may not use her new walker, but Robert sure loved it!
Does this look like calm? Some of my greatest gifts are under the tree.

I do love Christmas Eve. Maybe even more than Christmas day. Traditionally my mom and brother come over and join us. This year we had a soup and appetizer meal. Brad brought Lizette. Unused to our pandemonium, she was rather shocked to walk into the kitchen and see Max and I admiring Mike's new handgun. Really shocked.....

Brad and I got mom a new walker. It didn't take long for the boys to discover that it moved. It was hilarious to see them climb up into it and push each other around.

The girls always love being together. Moriah is coming out of her shell and loves Juliet. Jocelyn still bosses everyone around. Aleyna is still my sunbeam.

Christmas Eve is a blessed time . My family is so dear to me. I especially love seeing my kids follow the Lord and raising their children to honor Him.

Remembering

Darlene has been on my mind so much lately. I desperately miss her. At our store party yesterday, we talked about where she should be sitting. What she should be eating. The comments she would be making. The fact that we just can't believe she is gone.

As I think about it, she is sitting on the right hand of God. She is eating Heavenly feast. She is making a joyful noise. This is her first Christmas with Him.

She has met that little baby born in a stable. Only He isn't a baby any longer. She has seen those nail pierced hands. She has come face to face with those angels who announced His birth. She doesn't have to worry about what to wear this year - she is clothed in Heavenly raiment.

I still miss her. Merry Christmas sweet Darlene.

Miracle at Moreau

For the past few years we have had a tradition of watching Miracle at Moreau with Jocelyn. This was the first year she really understood the story and she was intrigued, curious, and thoughtful as it unfolded.

It is the story of three Jewish children trying to escape into Spain. Their parents had been killed/caught, and at a Catholic convent in France, their runner was killed. The children at the Catholic convent were at first frightened by the children and the threat they presented, but as they got to know them, heard their story, they knew they had to help them escape to safety.

As the children led the German soldiers into the woods on a wild goose chase, the French children returned to the convent for their Christmas pageant. The German Sargent angrily demanded that the youngest tell him where the Jews were. He pointed to Joseph, Mary, and himself, stating that they were the Jews. The head nun commented that the Holy family was Jewish.

Jocelyn wants to be a missionary. I told her this is a good example of loving someone who is different. Someone we may have misunderstood before. I also shared a little about the Holocaust and what hatred can do.

Jesus was born in a manger. He is a Jew. The King of Jews.

Pomander Pandemoniun

A new tradition might be born! I thought it would be fun to get together and make a craft and have pizza. Just enjoy being family. I am not sure pomanders were the best choice for our first endeavor, but the kids really did better than what I thought they would. The adults punched the holes and the kids put the cloves in.
The biggest blessing - seeing cousins together, siblings together, enjoying family during a sometimes too hectic time of year. Only had one casualty - Edwin who had a very upset stomach.

My Little Sheep

Our Children's program focused on Jesus, the Lamb. We are sheep. We need a Shepherd. We need leading. We need still waters. He meekly went to the slaughter. He was the Ultimate Sacrifice.

The program was very emotional for me. The children dressed up like lambs were cute, and the 4 cutest were mine. But, to hear Jordan sing again after so long made me weep. I long for my kids to do right. To use their talents to honor the only One worth singing to - and she did. I wept.