Author: Tricia

We have had a whirlwind of activity the last week or so and have not posted much as a result. Now that the festivities are mostly over, we are feeling lazy, slowly taking down the Christmas decorations, and trying to put some 2008 resolutions into action, even as we diligently work on polishing off the still rather large pile of holiday fudge, cookies, chocolate and candy.

But before the new year gets into full swing, it seems fitting to remember some of the highlights of our family’s Christmas holiday. Here are a few of the things that come to mind as we reflect on Christmas 2007, which we are so grateful for:

* Houseguests aplenty to make the days around Christmas that much more festive.

* Major answers to prayer regarding the health of not just members of our immediate family, but also extended family, which made getting together with everyone, and celebrating a LOT more feasible!

* 53 pictures taken of the famous Baby Isaac sitting in his bouncy chair by none other than our own Nicolas, with his new Christmas camera. (They all looked pretty much like this):

* Baking with the children: pies and cookies, and enjoying eating the fruits of our labor!

* Advent devotions as a family.

* Lots and lots of sunshine-y days to help the cold weather seem not quite so cold.

* Jay home from work for two wonderful, long weeks!!

* Josiah’s two year old rendition of “Away in a Manger” – so precious!

* Visits throughout the holiday with TONS of family on both sides: grandparents, uncles, aunts, first and second cousins…and all the fun that went along with this.

* Christmas stockings finally sewn for the three oldest children (though my efforts toward this lasting until past 5am on Christmas Eve were NOT a high point for me!).

* Jay’s and my Christmas present to each other, which consisted of hiring some professional painters to finish out the common areas of the house just in time for the holidays. And the results of which we are enjoying SO MUCH!!

* The blessing of another year to celebrate the wonder that is the birth of Jesus, the Christ-child, our Emmanuel.

Here is an easy but really pretty little something you can put together with your children to bring a little more Christmas sparkle into your home. You will need:

silver platter or other type of tray

assorted pillar candles of varying sizes

small red ornaments or jingle bells

assorted nuts with shells on

paintbrushes

glue

glitter

The “crafty” part involves jazzing up those nuts with some glitter to make them SPARKLE!! My kids were able to do this step on their own (we let Josiah have a paintbrush and a container of water to encourage him in the illusion that he was helping too. which in fact he was since he didn’t get into the glue and glitter and make a mess!!)

So…give each child a tiny paintbrush, a small cup of glue and a little bowl of glitter. Paint nuts with glue (you don’t necessarily need to cover the entire surface), roll or shake them in the glitter, and lay them on newspaper to dry.

When the nuts are ready, arrange your candles on your tray at varying intervals, and fill in the spaces between with the jingle bells and sparkle-y nuts. Light the candles and enjoy the happy looks on your children’s faces when they see how clever and crafty they are!!

So last night while I tucked him into bed, I excitedly told Nicolas that I was hard at work on the top portion of his stocking, to HOPEFULLY be finished by Christmas Eve (such a terrible parent am I that my poor, sweet children have never had their own, “personalized” stockings, but this year, it’s gonna happen!!). Interested in this development, Nicolas said, “Great!! So — What’s on my stocking?”

“Well, there is a Mary and Joseph, and a Baby Jesus in the stable with the star of Bethlehem over them.”

“Huh,” Nicolas replied. And then without skipping a beat he declared in a disappointed voice, “You know Mom, I was REALLY hoping for a stocking with Santa Claus and all of his reindeer on it instead!”

It is my joy to announce that as of last night, “Mr.” Keith and Aunt Sandra are engaged!! We had a visit from both of them this afternoon, and all had fun congratulating them in person (and admiring the beautiful ring!). We look forward to having Keith as a member of the family, and the children are all very excited about “another fun uncle”! Congratulations, you two!!