I think I've mentioned this before but just in case you missed it, Christmas Eve is my most favorite day of the year....hands down. There are other days and events that come close but overall Christmas Eve wins.
Favorite day for multiple reasons.....family time, check....great food, check....great food that includes my grandma's chicken pie recipe, check, check, check....kids running crazy, excited for what the next day will bring, check....red velvet cake, ummm check....Christmas Eve service at my home church, check....tears on Christmas Eve, especially during Silent Night, check.....watching my babies stare at the lights of the candles burning in unison in church, check....hugging people who have been important in my life from the start but unfortunately don't often get to see, check....Christmas PJ's, check....cookies for Santa, check....and a reading of 'Twas the Night before Christmas, check!
Christmas Eve hasn't always been the most perfect day in my family but despite the sadness it still wins - and maybe, the sad memories help make it that much more special. In 1999 - My Nannie Helen (who I don't have a picture of on my computer, I will have to scan in soon, she is most definitely blog worthy) passed away on December 13th, leaving our family a little sad and lost for the Christmas Eve that was fast approaching. In 2003 - My Aunt Libby (also no picture....grrr....oh how I would LOVE to have digital pictures of them!!) passed away completely unexpectedly on Christmas Eve....yes, on Christmas Eve as we were gathering as a family for our annual celebration. Tragic indeed....but surely pulled my family closer together and I think overall has helped make the night that much more meaningful each year. I must admit, these two events are never far from my mind (or heart) as Christmas Eve rolls around each year. Especially when we sing Silent Night on Christmas Eve....I ALWAYS cry like a baby!
2011 - This year, my cousin was faced with a tragedy of her own (again!) - her fiance passed away unexpectedly 4 months before Christmas. To say the holidays were hard on her would be an understatement. She is the STRONGEST person I know - period - and she amazes me with her ability to carry on with her life, especially for her kids. As the Christmas Eve service approached, I found myself sitting beside of her - and even before the annual playing of Silent Night with candlelight, the tears were streaming - the more she cried, the more I cried - I know it was so HARD on her and if I could take one ounce of pain away I would.....but, even with this, even with all of her sadness, even with all of the tears, Christmas Eve still lands as my favorite day of the year. I'm not sure she would agree this year but hopefully the family time helped a little.
We drive A LOT over the holidays - and people "don't know how we do it" and sometimes, I want to throw in the towel and quit all this traveling, packing, freaking out over which present has ended up where....but, bottom line, this is why I (we) do it...I LOVE my family time and I would not trade it for anything (for now at least). As an only child in a small town without side walks and neighborhoods, my cousins were my best friends and while we may not speak every week and know all the minor details of each others lives....we vary in age but we have ended up with children around the same age.... and I love being with them....and I love them...and I love all those crazy kids running around wild, freaking my mom out....and I LOVE spending Christmas Eve with each of them. They don't all read my blog....if you see them, please let them know how much they mean to me....I guess, in order of importance, my cousins, aunt and uncle are the 4th most important reason that I love Christmas Eve most of all....just behind Christmas Eve church service, Chicken Pie, Red Velvet cake....then comes family :) Priorities, right!
This year, we started Christmas Eve in East Bend and ended up in Sherrills Ford mid-afternoon. Due to our time with Chad's family, I missed being able to help "assemble" the chicken pies (usually my dad and I do this together). Unfortunately, I can't say they tasted any worse without my help. The chicken pie is the best - even better than my church's BBQ - and that's a compliment, especially coming from this southern lady!
Who loves KIDS?? Welcome to our family gathering!
Owen snuck away for this one but we have:
Rachel (5), Wil (5) Moses (6), Payton (3), Maddie (2), Noah (6), Connor (9)
Cute kids....my grandma would be so proud!
Presents!
All the little kids draw names and exchange one gift - one gift for each child. It works out perfectly. They are all excited and we kept the expenses and gift giving to a minimum.
Payton really liked Rachel's Strawberry Shortcake gift - its in his blood, my toddler bedroom was Strawberry Shortcake! This is as close to a girl as he will ever get!
Owen's favorite part was probably the food - especially the "crak-ur"
Uncle Alfred with Owen
Two of my favorite boys!
My Dad with Moses
Two more of my favorite boys!
Sweet baby boy loving family time on Christmas Eve!
We paused here and went to the Christmas Eve service....as mentioned above.....great service, great reminder of the reason for the season, advent candles, Christmas songs, moving solo's.....fussy, wiggly kids....tears, lighting of our candles and Silent Night by the candle light...more tears. A wonderful, wonderful night. We said goodbye to most of my family after the Christmas service.
A few more came back for the third best part of the night - Red Velvet Cake (1st - Christmas Eve service, 2nd - Chicken Pie, 3rd - Cake!)
Payton agreed....gotta love that cake!
Chad and Grandpa disappeared to the basement briefly while Grandma and I got the boys into PJ's, got cookies out for Santa and took a few annual pictures.
Payton and the plate he made for Santa - 1 cookie, 3 gumdrops and 1 piece of cheesecake...Santa loves Cheesecake!
Around 10 o'clock we loaded up our sweet (exhausted boys) and headed to Meme's. Staying with our tradition, I read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas as we headed up the drive way. They both stayed awake to listen and within a few minutes both boys looked like this......
Sleep tight! Santa will be here in the morning!
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