CHRISTMAS EVE 2009

Our family celebrated Christmas this year in Oregon at my parent's home with my brother and his family visiting from Wisconsin and my sister with her family visiting from California. The memories made this season cannot be adequately described. A feast of turkey and ham accompanied by traditional sidedishes and family recipies began the celebrations on the afternoon of December 24th. My grandmother, now 94 years in age, joined us for the celebrations, completing four generations of family members. The joyous sounds that came from eight children, all cousins around the table, cannot equal the sounds of the most famous symphony in the world. Grandmother still enjoys giving to her family, so after dinner, we sat around the Christmas tree, sharing in her awe that God gave her one more Christmas to experience four generations of her family. We may not have her much longer and we cherish each and every moment given to us. Following gift giving by grandmother, the family took in a Christmas Eve service at Evergreen Presbyterian Church where my parents serve and we attended when we lived in the Portland area. Dale joined us for the service after returning home the previous weekend to work for the week. Celebrating together the gift of Christ through carols, readings, prayer, and meditation will be memories to cherish for years to come. The children could hardly contain themselves for they knew what awaited them when they returned to grandma and grandpa's house. But before anymore gifts would be passed out, my father, now the patriarch of our family took time to bestow blessings upon each family, giving a passage of Scripture for each one to take home with them. Following these blessings came a prayer for each family, which was presented by mom. The gift giving ended the day's festivities. Full of memories, this season will forever stay in our hearts and minds.