Our Christmas Day

Starting with yummy breakfast:

Then stockings before church:

Christmas Dinner with friends and family:

Opening presents:

Yes, we had a wonderful Christmas! How about you? :)

December Daily - Day 25

He is the reason we have to celebrate!!

December Daily - Day 24

Wrapping presents!

All done!! (Well, for this go-around anyway...) :) 

December Daily - Day 23

Just some fun and games with friends. Gracie thinks she's got this game conquered! :)

December Daily - Day 22

Just a few caroling pictures... :)

The Perfect Christmas

Each year I wish for the "Perfect Christmas." I'm not sure what that would be. Although I do have a good idea...


As a little girl, I'm sure my perfect Christmas was probably defined by getting just the right toy. As I got older, of course, the definition has changed a bit. I remember the first Christmas after we were married. Buying our tree, hanging ornaments we both had collected through the years. (We both were given ornaments each year as we grew up, so our tree was pretty full our first year! I always think how special it is that Mark and I both grew up with this tradition!)

Our First Christmas Together - 2005

Every year after that first Christmas together, I think that my "Perfect Christmas" will maybe come "next year." Because, of course, "next year" there wouldn't be just the two of us. Certainly by "next year" there would be at least three. But all those "next years" have come and gone. Some have been harder than others. I remember after that first year or so, thinking that there was no way I could stand it for five years like some people - missing that little person that wasn't there, or never came to be. But here we are. And again I think "next year."


But then, we have come so far "this year." There is a small matter of a home study to finish.... then a little more paperwork. But maybe "next year." Maybe even now our little one's heart is beating. God knows where he (or she!) might be. Maybe our "next year" will be "the year." "The year" of the perfect Christmas.

But.

Maybe it won't.


I guess, really, we aren't ever promised a perfect Christmas. Of course the First Christmas was brought about by a very special birth. But that certainly wasn't the perfect Christmas either. A stable. Hay. Just a few shepherd visitors. Then later fleeing to save a life. No. I guess really, there never has been a perfect Christmas. Not for everyone. But someday there will be. When all things are put to right.


So when I think about my "Perfect Christmas" and all that I want it to be - for me - I start thinking about how it isn't just about me. Maybe the perfect Christmas isn't in what we have, but in what we give. What we share. Our homes. Our joy. HIS love.


So maybe this year can be the "Perfect Christmas" after all!

Our "Perfect Christmas" 2011

December Daily - Day 20

Chocolate cake with peppermint frosting.... YUM!!

December Daily - Day 19

...looking at Christmas lights with my hubby after a day of Christmas programs!!

December Daily - Day 18

Shouldn't singing "Away in a Manger" be a required part of every kids' Christmas program? :)
The program went very well! Of course, there were a few slip-ups and silly moments, but that's what makes any kids' program a success, right? I told them that we were going to have fun! (and I think they did!) :)

Days of Christmas - Day 17!

Whew! It's been an exciting, fun-filled day!!!! This evening we welcomed Angie back home!! I think she's been singing "Home for Christmas for quite a while! :)

But before that we celebrated some special little girls - especially the youngest two, since we celebrated Gracie's birthday back in Sept.

This little sweetheart turned five today.

I think she likes her glasses from "Auntie" Chari and "Uncle" Mark! :)

Like I said, it has been a full day! Now I just need to put my kitchen back in order after all that cake decorating!! Tomorrow morning - our children's Christmas program!

Finished Object Friday - Christmas Pins!

Yes, it is FOF day!! :) I've been going strong all day, and didn't even get my computer turned on before I left the house! But I wanted to share my new Christmas card display!

I Mode Podged (is that a verb?) :) Christmas paper to some clothes pins. (I found some at the dollar store! Love that place!) ;)

Then hung ribbons from my pantry door to clip my cards to!

I don't think I'm the only one late getting cards out this year! :)

How about you? Got any Christmas-y crafts done - that you can share before Christmas?? ;) 

December Daily - Day 15

Lots of busywork around the house today. Fun stuff - like laundry! ;) This picture is of my Aunt's tree - displaying the ornaments I have knitted for her. I didn't get her one made this year - I did a washcloth instead. But I think it's a fun tradition and a neat thank you for them opening up their house for the family to come each year!!

December Daily - Day 14

More work on the program.... windows for our shop! :)

My friend Lorie cut our the letters on her Cricut. I think it turned out really cute!!! :)

Here's the "big picture"

It's not quite all done yet. I am going to bring my wood "stable" from home for the manger scene. It will help things look more put together. We had a rehearsal last night with the kids. They did a great job and I think it's going to be a really fun program. Come and see us Sunday! :)

December Daily - Day 13

Just a favorite vintage ornament...

December Daily - Day 12

On the way home from our family dinner on Saturday, we made a quick detour through a small Texas town. 

I really felt as though we made a quick trip to another time and place - that we were observers of a special Christmas tradition. Children dressed in costume performing a live nativity - then getting their hot chocolate after.

The town Christmas tree festooned with homemade decorations: 

Maybe America hasn't changed that much in the last 50 years after all? :)

December Daily - Day 11

Our Sunday School Christmas tree.

I love the ornaments that really come from the heart like this one:

It's wonderful to make a difference!

December Daily - Day 10

Visiting at our annual family Christmas dinner.

So wonderful to see everyone!

December Daily - Day 9

And the stockings were hung....

(and yes, our living room is quite small....) :)

December Daily - Day 8

 

Work on the Christmas program for our Sunday school kids! (This picture is from last week - thankfully! I'm glad to have the songs written and they are already learning them!) Our kids program this year is the Legend of the Candy Cane. We actually did this program back in 2007!! :) The kids are doing great with it - so excited to go over it and learn the songs - we have 8 kiddos, but they sound like a big choir when they get singing!! :)

December Daily - Day 7

Cookies and cider at Auntie Chari's house! :)

(The little one really isn't mad, just chose not to smile.) 

They sure didn't want to leave!

December Daily - Day 6

 

Growing up, Mark and I both got a Christmas ornament each year. So when we got married, we already had a lot of ornaments for our tree - our combined histories! :) Now that we are married we try to get an ornament each year that reminds us of something from that year (such as a vacation etc...). This year I wanted something with the word "Hope" on it. I found this one at a local Christian store and thought it was just perfect! We have a lot of hope in what all we have accomplished this year and hope for the year to come!

December Daily - Day 5

My other Coca Cola tree - baby one in the kitchen!! (Thanks, Brittany, for the little ornaments! I think this tree looks a lot better than it did last year!) :)

December Daily - Day 4

Fixing up the Sunday School room.(I wish I had thought to take a picture of our special Christmas tree! I love their ornaments! Maybe on Wednesday.)

December Daily - Day 3

Fun time at our Church Christmas party!! (I was there... you just don't usually end up in the pictures when you are taking them!!)  :) This was just our table... we had a great turn out for our little church!

Finished Object Friday - The OTHER hand...

Well, I have been knitting something for my sister for *ahem* quite a while now... :) I gave her the first mitt for Christmas LAST year! :)

Now she will have TWO! She just needs to come get them! :) We are looking forward to having her home for Christmas!

(This project is on Ravelry with a link to the pattern.) I'm glad to finally have finished them, and I'm sure Angie will be too when she gets them. They are quite warm! :)

Do you have a project to share?