Merry Christmas!

WOW! What a great day! We awoke around 8:30 to the excited chatter of our 3 youngest daughters who were peering over the balcony at the bounty 'round the fireplace below. They were well aware of the rule: "No Going Downstairs Until Grandparents And Parents Have Coffee In Hand!" (It's our way of making sure we are present for the fun.) Our lovely girls get to open stockings first thing each Christmas. The wrapped gifts wait for breakfast and family to arrive, but the stockings are laid out and filled up waiting only to be discovered one treat at a time! I think they are enjoyed at least as much as all the other festivities.

This year "Santa" was tired when "he" put out the stockings, and mixed up a couple of things, but it all worked out. There were goodies from Bath and Body Works, there were festive pens, lots of candy and gum (chocolates too!), lip gloss, bangles, key chains, knee-high stockings, shiny rings, Lisa Frank portfolios, coin purses, and all manner of little treasures to be enjoyed. I must say, I do love this time of year. I love sitting in my jammies alongside my jammie-clad-clan, just enjoying these moments.

How long will they be little, those girls of mine? Two of them are bigger than I am already! These past 19 Christmases that I've shared with my honey have flown past, each one coming and passing faster than the last. This reality does not make me panic and get tensed up, rather, I am more determined than ever to just relax, do my best, not freak or stress out, and savor this life at every stage. I am tempted to view these years as the best, but that would throw the rest of my life into a lesser light in my own perception, and I don't want to do that. I had a lovely childhood and a magical romance with the man of my life. That romance-filled marriage has been blessed with 4 awesome daughters. They are growing in grace, and they fill my days with life. As they mature and leave, God will show me where to spend my time and energies, and hopefully my girls will not be far, and we will still maintain a good relationship.

In any case, this time of year is a wonderful reminder of the blessing of life and family. I endeavor to hold it all lightly and lovingly.

Sweet!

Christmas Eve'

I can NOT believe it's here again! Wow! We are at my in-laws' home as usual. I told my mil tonight that it just would not be Christmas if we were not with them. They are part of the season of celebration. Every married Christmas I've experienced (save for one) has been with them. My children would be devastated if we were not with "Granny and PaPa" for Christmas. Well, maybe not "devastated," but certainly sad. I am realizing how few years we may have left with my in-laws, and am enjoying them more and more. They are such a blessing.

Also my hubby's sister's family shares the holiday with us, and we have a blast together. I just can't imagine a more amicable family relationship. I truly enjoy my in-laws. They are fun, deep, reliable, caring people. I am indeed blessed.

Narnia

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We went to NCC Friday afternoon to see what my brother and his wife did to prepare for the Youth Banquet. They re-created Narnia with the wardrobe and the wintry land beyond. I tried to take some pictures but I'm afraid it doesn't do justice to the real experience. It was so cool!

'Tis the Season!

I finally have the Sitting Room decorated! It's been cold enough to have a fire there. Love that! I've not scrapped like I would like to. I'm looking forward to making tags for our Christmas gifts. I'm sewing some things, so it's taking some time.

I'm also in the process of making mini albums for the guests of my oldest daughter's birthday celebration. I had all 8 girls make a small blessing note to each of the other guests, and I'm assembling them into albums with pictures of each writer for each note. I've made the albums complete with sewn pages, but have yet to assemble the notes and pics with embellishments. That's my favorite part! I asked each girl what three of her favorite colors were, and have made it my own challenge to combine those colors into her "blessing book" from her other 7 friends. How cool would that be to have a reminder of an awesome time together, eh? Call it vicarious if you will, but it gives me joy to be making this small contribution to my sweet girl's friendships.