Bright and Cheery Christmas Morn

New Years resolution number one: figure out how to do pictures on blogger. They never come out like I hope they will, so these are in reverse order. The family all decked out for the Christmas Eve service at Holy Trinity Church in Colville. We sang carols and read through the scriptures promising the Messiah, and their fulfillment. It was lovely.

This morning we woke up at Fishing Grandpa's. Some of us woke up in the wee hours of the morning to make sure the tree was filled and stockings were ready. Fortunately Grandpa was sleeping on the couch and shooed them back to bed. The troops got up, and the coffee pot got started around 7. We opened stockings, did our advent reading, sang some more carols and then made breakfast.

This year we are having several family celebrations, which is really nice for spreading out the joy. We are now playing with the first batch of gifts, and preparing to jaunt over to the Gum Grandma's house this afternoon. Beach grandma will be arriving at our house in a few days, followed by UB and crew. And the grand finale will be Jubilee coming home.

The weather has been bright and cold. If I lay on the couch and look up through the trees to the sky, I can imagine that it is summer. Although when I sit up and see the kids trying valiantly to break the ice off the side of the creek the cold reality hits home.

A couple of notes to self. One, make a big pot of soup for Christmas day, with some cheese and crackers. My favorite gift so far, is called a buff. It is basically a leg warmer for your neck or head. I LOVE it. It is soft, lightweight, pretty, and keeps the parts of me that tend to get cold warm. I think I know others that would like it, next year. Singing a couple of carols before the opening fest was very nice, and reminded us all why we are receiving these gifts. Kids love pajamas and play doh.

May you all have a very merry Christmas, and a lovely day surrounded by the blessings of God.