This holy day is almost over, but I want to wish you the joy of the season, which my family certainly has enjoyed. While their mother was at home preparing for a big Christmas day, Robert and Laurel spent Christmas Eve day at our house decorating gingerbread houses.  They absolutely love this activity.
Christmas Eve, Laurel bottom left and Robert (blond) far right, littlest one, Caroline, front row with white hair bow
<< In keeping with the sewing theme of this blog, I will mention that I altered several of these robes, hemming up two, adding 6 inches to another and altering one from a child’s size 12 to a lady’s 14. Then they were all pressed. Does that make this a legitimate post?>>
At the candlelight service, our church’s newly revived children’s choir sang with the sweetness and innocence that is heard only in youthful voices. It was just beautiful.
What an incredible opportunity this was for the children of our church. The volunteer director, Dr. Ann Small, is a master choral director and professor from Stetson University. She has taken her children’s choirs on tour around the world. The volunteer pianist, Susan Dean, is another music professional~ pianist, organist and piano teacher. Each has decades of experience and a gift-given rapport with children. With a staff like that, it was surprising that every child in church did not join in.
The messages from the pulpit were meaningful, the adult chancel choir sang like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and we all came away with glad hearts.
It was an extra long service, an enormous challenge for our fidgety Robert. After the children sang and were seated in the front pews, time moved like molasses for him. Seated next to Caroline, he wiggled and squirmed and dropped his hymnal at least 4 times. With each book’s bang on the uncarpeted floor, she got in his face with her little finger at her mouth and issued a loud SHHHH!!!!! AND a threatening look after the second drop. Robert was undaunted, but it is clear that this darling little girl is a force to be reckoned with.
Vivian Rose loved her pink trike. She spend a lot of time climbing in and out and waiting for someone to push her back and forth.
After church, we drove across the state to spend Christmas day with our daughter and her family. Gourmet cook (SIL) Harvey prepared a fabulous meal with a roast goose and all the trimmings, including his homemade apple pie. Rebecca is a gracious hostess, anticipating and attentive to each guest’s need, and whose house was beautifully decorated. The table setting could have been a picture in Southern Living.
With little ones, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a cousin, it was a large, happy, family gathering. I was too busy enjoying the children and family to take any pictures but everyone else did and they will share. Bob snapped this one of Vivian Rose, our only image of the day.
Now we are home, exhausted from the whirlwind. I hope you all were surrounded by family and friends, all the while experiencing the gladness of the season.
