was very memorable this year.
maybe it was because it snowed all day on christmas eve!!!
for the first time in over 100 years we had snow on christmas eve and it was still covering everything christmas morning!! so beautiful!!maybe it was the incredible worship service that we attended at our church. it really allowed me time to stop and think about this special time of year and why we celebrate christmas. it allowed me moments to think about the incredible love and sacrifice that God demonstrated by becoming to earth. it made my heart smile to look down the LONG pew and see my family (bowlins and blanchettes) listening to luke 2, the story of christ's birth, and singing beautiful christmas songs.
maybe it was because mark was missing from our pew this year, but that was because he was on stage serving as the worship leader during the christmas eve service. what a gift to watch him use the leadership and musical talents he has to praise god on weekly basis, but on this special night as well.
maybe be it was because we continued our tradition of sharing a delicious italian meal with precious friends at maggiano's after church. the hopkins, drew, and the guys are some of our most cherished friends.
maybe it was because i get to experience it through my children...
growing up we always got to open ONE gift on christmas eve. i have continued that with my kids. they haven't figured it out yet, but it is always going to be pjs!! they just love the excitement of finally ripping into one of those gifts that have been lying under the tree!!
this year their pjs represented their favorite things!! jack got elmo pjs and olivia got owl pjs. they were both very happy with their new jammies!! :)
we had lots of fun making these cookies for the ol' st. nick. she had a very difficult time deciding which ones to leave. she decided on {in her words} "a rudolph, that's santa's favorite reindeer. a christmas tree, that was my favorite cookie i made. and an angel, that is from the 'activity scene' (navitity)"she also loves reading "the night before christmas" before she goes to sleep on christmas eve. this is one of my most memorable traditions from my childhood that i am so glad to pass on to my children.
she knows almost the entire poem. it was precious to watch mark read it and for her to "read" along with him. or maybe, just maybe it is all of it together that makes this day such a special one. how we can have fun and "believe" that santa is on his way, yet in the very next thought contemplate how my savior, jesus was born in a manger over 2000 years ago- and that takes my breath away! merry christmas eve!!
2 comments:
i wish i could have been at that service. i want to know EVERY detail. did the oboe make the program. i bet it was so awesome.
lilli LOVES her owl PJ's like O's. THEY WERE A TOTAL H.I.T.
Reading "twas night before Christmas" was my very favorite tradition....I'm so glad you're continuing with my precious GRANDS!
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