Christmas 2018

As time goes by and our kids are getting older Christmas Eve and Christmas has become a lot quieter. It gets me a little sad because I love how fun and exciting holidays (gatherings) are when children are little. Everything is exciting to them which makes the experience that much more fun. Change is inevitable but it also leaves one melancholy on how life used to be. Can't stay stuck to the past but it's nice having those past memories and remember them with fondness and gratitude.

Sydna and Nathan usually work on Christmas Eve and even when they're home they're in the their rooms. Jacob always takes Christmas Eve off since that's the day I've always celebrated since I was a child. So on the 24th we had my in-laws over. We ate tamales (from a restaurant) with beans and potato salad. We all got so full that I encouraged my in-laws to join us for an evening walk around the neighborhood. My mother-in-law wasn't too thrilled about it because she says the cold makes her cough. I can't remember if she had a scarf with her but that helps to not breathe in the cold air by wrapping it high around the neck. That's how I wear mine when it's very cold outside.

The colors of the sky were pretty on this evening. I like the nakedness of the trees in Winter, they look pretty to me.

This simple yet profound Christmas display helps to remind us what Christmas is truly about, Jesus!

After our walk I felt much better. Jacob also enjoys these evening winter walks. We're cold when we start walking but as soon as we're back on our street I begin to unzip my jacket because I get hot, lol. That's why layering is good!

We got home and freshened up. We then headed out for the 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service at our church. During worship I couldn't help but think of our babies. It happens during meaningful occasions that I get overcome by emotion for my two angel babies. It's sad to not have been given the opportunity to enjoy them here on earth. This is something I will struggle with until I die and when I will have the answers to my questions.


Christmas Day
December 25th is a mellow day at our house. We acknowledge Jesus' birth then it's pretty quiet around here. I like quiet 80% of the time but on Christmas I want to be around my parents and siblings. It's unfortunate that we can't be together. To me and Jacob it's just not tradition to travel for Christmas. It would feel so alien to us even if we were among my family. I guess I'm gonna have to rely on past Christmases when we lived near each other and just be thankful for those times. And here we are again, change is inevitable.

I don't like elaborate decorations. I'm all about simplicity and for this particular Christmas I wanted to decorate my mantle with glass candle holders, a pine garland and a cross. I began collecting glass candle holders in October. I visited several Goodwill stores and picked different sizes and styles. I ended up buying 12 glass candle holders which took me close to three months to collect because I wanted them all to be different from each other. I had fun doing this.

Thankful to God for providing for all the gift giving. Grateful for the many blessings God bestows on us daily ... especially the every day simple ones. Those are the ones I am the most grateful for.

Christmas can't be made, like people can't be self-made, 

like dreams can't be forced-made. Everything is given from 

heaven. Everything is a gift. Your life becomes a masterpiece the 

moment you see it as a gift of grace to willingly receive.