Christmas Eve Memories!

I. Love. Traditions. I love that every family group has them, whether they acknowledge them as traditions or not, as humans, we are creatures of habit. Habits make us feel safe, secure, and traditions usually derive out of. . well, we did it that way last year. So, each Christmas Eve we venture to our church's candlelight service, which always brings me to tears. The trouble with this year is that I was asked to sing with our church's new praise team group. "In Christ Alone" and "Silent night" about did me in. There was a moment in Silent Night that I literally could not get out the words because the room was lit with 500+ candles. . I was speechless. The candlelight tradition sung to Silent Night will always be one of my favorite traditions.

From there we travel across town to J's parents' house for an appetizer party. The kids dress in their finest and fanciest and dig in to a feast of finger foods. After that we take the "traditional" family photos in front of the fire. The kids then all receive one gift to open which is traditionally their Christmas PJ's.

We then head home all hyped on sugar and sheer excitement. . and the kids always check NORAD to see where Santa is on the radar. Luckily he was still in Canada so the kids had time to settle to bed.. . I tried to document as much as I could on camera.

Enjoy!

Sweet baby girl! Now 18 months, her 2nd Christmas proved to be a delight. She really loved looking for our "elf" every morning. . when did she get so big?

This was taken "pre-pj's" and still dressed up from church. I appreciated every one's efforts to look nice for the occasion!


A quick photo with Nana and Papa. They have been so faithful to keep the tradition of hosting our annual party!



A fun moment once the some of the girls changed. . aren't they cute!

The kids are always such good sports. They know I love the tradition of getting a picture of ALL of them all ready for Santa!


M. E. and Daphne (sweet cousin) were doing handstands and flips they were so happy for Santa to come!



Sweet cousins. Poor boys, they can get lost in all those females!

It was finally time for our evening to come to an end. . Santa was coming very soon. . we rushed home and hit the sack. . and finally Not a Creature was stirring, not even a mouse! Or a Whitley!

Christmas Past

It's absolutely crazy to think of Christmas 2010 in the past tense. For months we have been planning, anticipating, organizing, and waiting for the event. It came, it went. . now it's gone. BUT, we have the HOPE of Christ because of Christmas. This year on Christmas Eve Eve. . we watched The Nativity Story which then led to a viewing of the Jesus film. Little J was a bundle of questions THE. ENTIRE. TIME.

I was weary of answering him until I realized at bedtime, it was the Holy Spirit prodding his little 5 year old mind. He. got. it. From birth to resurrection story, he wanted in, and I mean in. He didn't want to be on Satan's team and even told me in his own words. Right there in his bed, he prayed to receive Christ and be HIS forever. What a Christmas gift. Yes, the first Christmas has come and gone, but the HOPE of Christ makes it present for ALL of us today. This year will forever be etched in my mind as one of my very favorite Christmas's, (the White Christmas made it a little better!) BUT the best part of J's little commitment to Jesus due to his understanding of HIS birth and why HE came HERE.

I am feeling led to make a New Year's resolution to ramp up my blog posts. . hopefully I will follow through and not fail :) I hope to post Christmas photos soon!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours many Christmas Blessings this Holiday Season!
From our family to yours,
Merry Christmas!







The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows - light! sunbursts of light! Isaiah 9:2 The Message

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Our dance studio performs a precious show every other year, so glad they give us a year off. . Twas the Night Before Christmas. They do a great job of having several acts which include Santa's workshop, then the reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas. . we had elves, dreaming girls in nightgowns, an ice skater, and even Donder the reindeer. Even our own Papa wore a nightgown and performed as the Papa to the nightgown girls. The show is always the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and I am so grateful it does not fall during the hustle and bustle of December. I wanted to post a few photos from the weekend performance, such a fun time!

M. E. was the deputy elf. . are you surprised? She even had a clipboard she carried with a giant pencil. Does she remind you of anyone?




K as a Nightgown girl. . this is a precious "dreamy" dance. . she even danced with her Emily American girl doll. . we love this dance!

S performed a very hard tap dance to "Sleigh Ride". . it put me in the spirit!

Sweet S. . skating away on a river. . it was a beautiful dance!



And here's. . . . Johnny! Papa will probably hate that I did this. . talk about a grandad giving his support. We love you Papa!

Now. . I must go trim some trees, mail some Christmas cards. . and make that figgy pudding!