Christmas wrap up for 2022

I so love having these family photos from our gatherings.  I love seeing just how much the kids grow and change.  Christmas was so much fun.  We managed to avoid the bitter cold and snowy days by our previously planned date to celebrate of the 26th!  It was a great day weather-wise and everyone was healthy (which we do NOT take for granted)!  

 

We always make sure that one of the first things we do, is set up for the "photo shoot".  It is almost impossible to wrangle everyone once the present opening begins.   This year Micah, Lia's boyfriend, joined us for the Christmas celebration.  Our number keeps growing as the kids get older!

It is a good thing that Gwen and Tim have the "world's biggest sectional" since it fits most of us!  

It was so much fun just watching all the opening of presents. I receive the "Grandma and Jimmy" frame to complete the set of frames on my wall!  Susie began making these for me in 2008, when she created the first "Grandma and Lia" frame.  She has gifted me one for every grandchild since!  These precious keepsake frames mean the world to me.  I now have seven frames to look at each day!

It was a great day for some outdoor fun, so Grace, Anna and Zeke spent over an hour outside sledding.  Gwen and Tim have some perfect hills so no driving is necessary to get to a good place to sled.  

Warming up afterwards required some hot cocoa.  Just made the day even more fun.  Jimmy seemed to enjoy the dogs as much as the presents.  Sunny (who has as much energy as a toddler) and Jimmy, raced around the room chasing after each other.  Both Sunny and Jimmy were ready for a bit of "containment" so Sunny went to her crate and Jimmy....

And everyone had a turn at entertaining Jimmy!  It was so much fun seeing the excitement of the kids.  They love being together and everyone had a great time.  We played a few rounds of a new game "Would you Rather" and that brought many laughs.  We didn't take our usual dinner time photo- we simply forgot.  With all twelve of us gathered around their table set with their Avent wreath burning, the story of my "almost burning down our house on Christmas" was once again shared.  And we laughed (all of us adults) that the kids did not even know what an "entertainment center" was!  Our family Advent wreath story involves a plastic wreath, some (very) short candles, the top of an entertainment center, and a busy mom (AKA me) making a Christmas breakfast in the kitchen while the entertainment center burned! Just a little!  Thankfully, Ken noticed the flames before much damage was done.  We had a large burn mark on the top of that piece of furniture for all the years we owned it!  And also a great story to tell every Christmas for the last 37 years.  

The years go by so fast.  In a blink of an eye, the kids are all growing up.  It won't be long before my little family will grow so large it might be difficult to fit easily into a photo.  I can not express fully just how thankful I am for the love and care and concern I am so blessed  to receive from my family.  Over the last few weeks, I have read, heard and seen so many stories of families that are torn apart by conflicts and hurts. My prayer goes out to those who do not have family nearby or at all.  There is something about Christmas that makes family seem so important.  For me, it is all about sharing the love that makes the holiday so special.  It is the small little kindness' that happen that bring smiles and tears to so many.  It is the "secret santa" gifts, the ornament exchanges, the cookies shared and the candy eaten that express the truth of Christmas. It is the lights on trees and houses and yards that dispel the darkness of the winter night.  It is the smiles of strangers, the door held open for you, the extra hug that warm my heart.  It is the glowing candles in a darkened church and the singing of familiar carols and the ringing of the bell near the Salvation Army kettle.  Yes, this is the love of Jesus pouring forth  into our dark world.  Jesus said "I am the light of the world" and then said "You are the light of the world".  As we celebrate Jesus' birth, we shine forth our light into the world.  That is what Christmas is really all about.  May we all continue to shine forth brightly into the new year.  

Jesus, thank you for reminding us that you are the light of the world.  Holy Spirit, help us to see the light that overcomes the darkness that seems to be all around us.  Remind us to shine brightly and to not "hide our light under a bushel".  Keep us aware of others who might need that extra measure of kindness.  Give us courage and boldness to smile, to hug and to help.  Amen

Amazing how a picture triggers a memory

This morning I was getting ready to attend a baby shower for an expected grandbaby of a friend, when I happened upon this photo.  It had been stuck in an old jewelry box and I was looking for some Christmas things to brighten up my fashion choice today.  And then this photo dropped out of the drawer.  

When I picked up this photo, I remembered the day it was taken so clearly.  If you notice the upside down inscription - it was the first time we had ever seen a Polaroid Camera/photo.  This was just before Christmas of 1961 and the Polaroid was the "Big Deal" in the camera world.  This is what is printed on the back of the photo....

My dad was fascinated by this concept.  I remember him inspecting the photo, hoping to find something to complain about. I also remember that he had a very long conversation with the salesman trying to sell him the camera!  But that is not the entire memory of this day for me.  

My dad, my brother and I were at the "big" Montgomery Wards store in St. Paul, Minnesota.  It was the evening after the last school day before Christmas and my mom had to work late.  My dad brought us with him to pick up my mom after work and to do a bit of Christmas shopping.  It was a memorable day for me because my dad never brought us shopping, and we got to see where my mom worked!  I was in second grade that year, and my mom had started working full time in the spring of my first grade year. I was the only one in my class with a mom that worked.  I didn't have any friends in the neighborhood that had working moms.  My mom worked in the payroll department that was on the top floor of the store.  I was very impressed by her desk and all the machines she worked with, as well as all of her co-workers. It was the first time that I actually could visualize where my mom was everyday and what she was doing.  Since she still had work to finish when we got there, she suggested that my dad take us to see Santa Claus.  This was my first and only time ever seeing Santa.

Now my brother Greg was 12 and in seventh grade.  It was pretty clear that he was not happy waiting in the line to see Santa.  I remember so clearly when he turned to me, with a very big grin on his face and said, "Santa isn't real.  This is a just a man in a costume.  He doesn't really bring toys.  It's just a game that parents play to make us beg for toys."  My dad never heard this conversation, but by the time I got to the front of the line, I had noticed that this could not be the "real" Santa.  He had a poorly fitting paste on beard and his hair was showing under the while wig.  I didn't want to believe Greg, but some of the magic went out of Christmas for me that night. I never spoke to my mom or dad about this, but I suspected that all the gifts were really from them.   You just have to love those older siblings that spill the beans for all the younger ones.

We didn't get any photo with Santa that night.  It was 1961!  If you had asked me when I stopped believing in Santa, I might have told you the story that I just shared.  But I never realized that there was a  photo from that night. Photos are so powerful. It really is about preserving the moment for the future.   I think that is why I love scrapbooking and have my home filled with pictures.  Recently someone asked me how many scrapbooks I have.  I just counted them and there are 65 scrapbooks on the shelves in my living room. I am still working on the second half of 2019 so this isn't even current!  And I still have boxes and boxes of photos from my life and boxes of older photos from my parents.  

Yes, that night some things about Christmas changed for me.  But it wasn't exactly what my brother might have intended. That year was also the year that I was in a Christmas program at our church.  My class sang "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" and the program was actually about Christmas around the world.  For me it was one of those special moments when a story just "clicks".  There was something about seeing that the birth of Jesus and knowing it was celebrate around the world.  It was the first time that I understood the meaning of Christmas.  It really didn't matter to me that Santa wasn't real or that my parents provided the gifts under the tree.  Something in that Sunday school program opened my heart to the wonder of Jesus, coming to us as a tiny baby.  

Today, as I was reflecting on this (very old) Polaroid picture and the events of that night, I was struck by two interesting facts.  One, it was the only time I actually "saw" Santa and two, it was the only year I was in a Sunday School Christmas Program.  Isn't it interesting that Jesus made sure that I understood the true wonder and mystery of Christmas when my child's heart had lost the excitement about Santa. I especially love that Jesus brought this picture back into my hands today.  It explains why I just love seeing young children singing and celebrating Jesus' birth. Something that was certainly meant to ruin Christmas for me, and then God making sure the truth was revealed.  Isn't God's timing wonderful!  

I am sure many of you may have stories of your own about Christmas' past and I am sure that there are many photo memories filling your albums, boxes, drawers and phones.  Take a few moments in these days leading up to Christmas, and look over those memories.  Let Jesus bring some revelation to you that might just change how you feel about those photos and Christmas.  If possible, watch some children put on a Christmas play.  Hear the story of the birth of Jesus.  It is all around us if we stop and look for it.

Jesus, thank you for always bringing to us what we need, at exactly the correct time.  Holy Spirit encourage us to stop and listen to the message that is in the air around us during this season.  Give us open hearts to receive the truth and wonder of Jesus' birth.  Thank you Jesus for children, for songs and carols and the joy of Christmas.  Thank you for coming to us!  Amen

Advent - waiting and preparing for Christmas with hope

 This is a small "Village" that is actually one of the last things that Ken gifted to me.  He made a trip to Home Depot (I don't know exactly what he actually went for) and came home with this set.  I had never had a Christmas village and he decided that in 2019 I needed to have this set.  So it is one of the newer Christmas things that I display.  Since Ken's passing in 2020, this has taken on a different meaning for me.  I will continue to display this for many years to come.  My sister Julie had an amazing collection of "villages" and kept them on display year around.  One of her son-in-laws constructed special shelves to hold all of the different scenes.  After her death this year, her daughters each have parts of this village to display in their own homes now.  It is a great way to remember our loved ones and keep them close in these special ways during this season.

My tree is up and my Nativity is on display.  I have been playing Christmas music and doing some shopping.  But, if I am being truthful, it has been difficult to really feel in the "Christmas Mood" this year.  There is really no reason at all.  I have been doing the usual activities and have had many chances to see some very bold and busy Christmas light displays.  I have started wrapping  presents and shopping for those last minute stocking stuffers.  Still, it seems that I have been only 3/4 in the spirit of Christmas.  

Every week, I spend a day at Gwen's house.  The addition of this sweet little lady, Sunny, has made every visit more busy than usual.  Gwen always walks Sunny first thing in the morning, so I have also gotten a nice (sometimes chilly) walk with them.  The fresh air and exercise have helped to raise my spirits a bit.  And Christmas is on display at their house as well.  Any room that you sit down in, has a tree to capture your vision. The reflective lights and amazing views from their sunroom help to lift my spirits. 

Bing with Grace and Jimmy certainly helps, also.  I snapped this photo on "Red and Green Day" at school for Grace.  She was delighted to have a dress with "Red Roses" that she could wear on that day.  The kindergarten Christmas happiness is infectious.  Her favorite song is one that I taught her last year - The Twelve Days of Christmas - and she insists that we sing it ALL every time I see her!  This grandma certainly regrets that decision!

Jimmy is just in love with their Christmas tree.  They have (very smartly) put all unbreakable ornaments on the bottom of their tree and he has a few favorites that he always picks off of the tree.  I love when he hands me (his dads) saxophone ornament that I purchased oh so many years ago!  Maybe someday he will want to play the saxophone also! I snapped this photo (actually Jimmy was trying to take the picture) on my cell phone and Jimmy just laughed and laughed when I showed him the picture.  It was certainly random but I love it so much!  Jimmy is VERY TALL for 18 months and can reach every counter in the house and all the doorknobs.  It's an adventure every time I am with him!  They have a kid's nativity set and after the third or fourth time he handed me the manger with baby Jesus, I got him to say Jesus - or at least his version of it!  For the rest of the day, he would run to the nativity and point out the small figure and yell (loudly) Jesus!  So I guess my job as Grandma was done for that day!

This past week was especially difficult since there were two deaths that impacted many people I love.  The sudden diagnosis and death of a 41 year old Pastor's wife and the unexpected death of a 72 year old women who had struggled for years with various types of cancer are both devastating during this holiday season.  I knew both of these women personally and have talked and cried with friends and family over the last days.   Damian McCrink, the pastor who lost his wife this week, has a special place in my families heart.  He married Doug and Susie and he also did the funeral for our sweet baby Lucas.  All week, the words of my own blog from that time in 2014 kept coming back to me.  It was Damian's words that I have been praying back to him this week.  You can read my entire blog From joy to sorrow to hope by clicking this link.  I want to share just a bit from that blog....

Susie had chosen Psalm 56:8 for the service... "You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in a bottle!  You have recorded every one in your book."   Pastor Damian reminded us all that Jesus is with us in our sorrow.  And he said "Jesus will need a very big bottle after this event!"   Damian went on to remind us that God is not the author of these terrible events.  Death entered the world through the fall in the garden of Eden.  Damian reminded us that those that believe in Jesus will see our loved ones again and we will be with them one day.  And there is the hope.   

And I speak these words, now, back to Damian and all who loved Nancy so much.  And I speak these words to Christine's family and friends. And to all who are struggling with the lose of a loved one.  Just as it was in 2014, I go from joy to sorrow to hope.  I am so grateful that all of these emotions are okay with Jesus.  He gets it - he understands.  And for today, that is enough for me.  

Jesus, thank you for understanding.  You know when we are feeling sad, lonely or depressed.  You feel the depth of our emotions with us.  Holy Spirit, you comfort us when we cry and when we rage with anger at the situations that we can not understand.  Jesus you do collect those tears and give us reminders of your plans for us.  Be with all those who mourn, this week especially be with Damian and his children and his family and all of Christine's family.  Remind us all of the hope in Jesus!  Amen