This past Christmas Season,
We honored a few traditions and embraced a few new ones.
A few bittersweet moments emerged as we looked ahead to next Christmas Season,
When our eldest daughter may be away at college...
Early on, Mom and the girls and I partook in an evening filled with
Memories and light sponsored by local Hospice program.
Chris played Santa Claus and we welcomed unknown and close neighbors into our home
We felt honored and blessed as children came and went…
One who was very shy and preferred to whisper in my ear to tell Santa, but
Was yelling, “Bye Santa!” by the time she got back in the car…
A little while later, a mother and her three daughters visited…
Told us that their cousin had called them and told them, “you have to see Santa…he really is Santa!” Of course, the cousin was the shy little redhead who had just left!
The youngest of these had never seen Santa before, so we felt doubly blessed to participate in her first Santa visit!
Morning dawned one Sunday and we were invited to make a snowman…
Friends of Kylie’s had brought snow back from the mountains the day prior from their Grandfather’s Memorial Service.
They live a few streets over and we had a ball building a snowman in their front yard!
You never know what opportunity comes knocking each day…
Even a chance to fellowship in the snow!
This year, we did not miss nor get rained out of any parades!
Chris met Mom and I after work for downtown’s nighttime parade
Then she and I cheered our girls and their band members on for the
Morning Oildale Parade!
Throughout the month, we celebrated Kylie’s Sweet 16…
She didn’t want any big fan fare but did have a few friends over
The following weekend for a “Cookie Bake” and
Kayla’s turning 18…
Half a dozen friends joined Kayla after school for macaroni & cheese and festivity!
Long gone are the days when we must keep little ones entertained during the party.
Mom and I didn’t quite know what to do with ourselves!
Of course, set up and clean up is still needed!
The past few weeks, Chris and I have learned an invaluable skill of sneaking away with one another.
Now, we weren’t really sneaking away, as Mom and girls knew when we were leaving, but we have carved out time precious needed for one another.
Whether shopping or eating or just driving around looking at Christmas lights,
We were together just he and I.
So as the Christmas Spirit flowed and Christ’s light shone,
We also learned to keep the love light burning!
Looking ahead to the New Year, I am not sure what God has in store.
However, I vow to take Christmas with me and
Keep Christmas with me every day…Somehow.
Happy New Year 2010!