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