It's hard to believe that the Christmas season is basically over now. The signs of Christmas are still here. There are opened presents scattered around my room, the decorations are still up around the house, the Hallmark channel is still playing Christmas movies, but the "Christmas anticipation" is over. What a busy season it was! Christmas is more than just an event celebrated on December 25. It is indeed a season which can be enjoyed throughout the whole month of December!
One of the things that always gets me in the Christmas spirit is being involved in whatever Christmas production we do at church. This year we did a cantata entitled "He Gave Everything". It was definitely a touching, eye-opening story with a powerful message about Christ's sacrifice for us. If you would like to watch it, you can
view it here. My mom, sister, brother and I enjoyed singing in the choir.
Another thing that always gets me in the Christmas spirit is preparing for the Elementary Christmas party. This was my 4th year planning all the games and activities, and it was a lot of fun! Go
here to the school blog if you want to see what games we played and all the pictures that were taken.
On Christmas Eve, my Nannie and Aunt Cheryl came over, and we opened presents together. We then went to Perkins for dinner. When we got home, we had some of my mom's yummy blueberry pie.
Later that night, Andy and I introduced the rest of the family to a new game called "Kings & Queens". We had just learned how to play it at a friends' house the night before. It was a lot of fun!
As is tradition, we had our own Christmas Eve service before we went to bed. The only lights on in the whole house were the Christmas tree lights and a few, flickering candles. We sang Christmas carols and my Dad read the Christmas story.
Christmas morning was rather crazy, as we opened some presents, and then got ready for the church service at 9:30. It was a special service with the children's choir and teen choir singing, more Christmas carols, and a powerful message. After the service was over, we came home to have a quick lunch, packed some belongings and were off to my grandparents' house.
Waiting to open presents...
Chit-chatting around the living room
Getting ready to enjoy Christmas dinner
After dinner, we played Scattegories, Kings & Queens, and our traditional game of Phase 10. Lot's of laughter. Lot's of memories. The next afternoon we got together at my Aunt and Uncle's house to play even more rounds of Kings & Queens - definitely the popular game of the season. :-)
Well, a whole lot more happened this Christmas season that I could mention, but suffice it to say, every year that we spend Christmas together as a family is priceless.
